“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

  ???

  The sun was slowly beginning to set, spilling golden rays across the floors of the twin princes’ shared bedroom, casting long shadows across the carpets, and the deep blue curtains that framed the tall windows.

  Rem lay on his stomach near the hearth as he giggled and pored over a picture book in front of him. Across the room, his twin sat with Yulia by the arched windows, with Luca watching Yulia carefully balancing a carved wooden soldier atop the sloped roof of a miniature fort.

  Luca, even as a toddler, isn’t one of many words. He rarely spoke, and when he did, it was often with a haunted quiet that unsettled even grown men, and drew fearful glances from the palace staff.

  Three nannies have resigned from their positions in less than a week before the Imperial Palace found one willing to stay—a woman who had once served House D’Aragon, one of the Ten Great Houses. At the queen’s request, Lady D’Aragon had summoned Eugenia Norman out of retirement and recommended her for the position.

  She had served as the wet nurse and nanny for several of House D’Aragon’s children, having had experience with children with abilities. Thus, unlike the three who came before her, she wasn’t alarmed or afraid of Prince Lucien’s gift. The first time Prince Lucien had spoken her private thoughts aloud, she had only raised a brow.

  “Prince Lucien,” Eugenia had told a four-year-old Luca sternly, “I know you can’t help it, but it is impolite for a gentleman, especially a prince, to speak the thoughts of others aloud. People deserve their privacy, even in their heads.”

  But now, in the fading afternoon light, Eugenia Norman observed from her seat in the rocking chair. There was a softness to Prince Lucien’s face that she had never seen before. He didn’t even look at Prince Rem that way. But now, he is looking at the girl whom he had only known for less than a day with such softness in his gaze.

  Yuliana Nightray had her cheeks puffed out in concentration, her eyes narrowed, and brows furrowed, as she carefully placed the last wooden soldier in her hand on the rooftop of her toy fort. Around her on the carpet, the floor looked like a battlefield, if the battlefield consisted of toys. Fallen knights, tiny horses, and even miniature flags were strewn around the carpet like casualties in her silent war.

  Eugenia’s lips twitched, though the idea of cleaning it all up later made her sigh inwardly. She’d likely miss at least one toy and step on it in the middle of the night. Her eyes went towards Prince Rem, who is gazing at his twin and Yuliana Nightray wistfully.

  The Nightray heiress carefully placed the soldier onto the roof and sat back on her knees. The wooden soldier wobbled on the roof for a moment.

  Then it toppled.

  Yulia gaped and then burst into helpless giggles.

  Luca, seated not far from her, smiled. For the umpteenth time that day. The Crownsguard stationed next to the door smiled, exchanging looks with Eugenia, who looked pleased and relieved.

  There was a knock on the princes’ door, and the door creaked open.

  Hamilton Nightray entered, being flanked by a Crownsguard. His gaze swept the room with his usual cool precision, but the Crownsguard beside him faltered when he laid eyes on Luca.

  “He’s smiling…” The Crownsguard whispered in a voice low enough for only Hamilton to hear him. But judging by the way Prince Lucien looked at him, the Crownsguard is probably speaking his thoughts out loud. “Prince Lucien… He’s smiling… He’s never smiled before. Not at anyone. Not even at Prince Rem.”

  Hamilton followed the gaze of the Crownsguard towards Prince Lucien, who is seated by the windows, looking not at the Imperial Gardens outside, but at his daughter.

  His gaze is soft and tender, looking at his giggling daughter, with Prince Lucien looking at Yulia like she hung the stars and moon.

  “He’s been like that with Lady Yuliana since they started playing,” Eugenia said, stepping over to greet the lord. “Good evening, my lord. Are you here to collect her?”

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  “Yes, my apologies for leaving her in your care all day.” Hamilton was apologetic, and Eugenia smiled, but shook her head.

  “There’s no need to apologise. It’s been a joy,” she admitted, her gaze going towards Prince Lucien. “I’ve never seen Prince Lucien like this before. For him to meet someone who isn’t Prince Rem… Someone who doesn’t judge him, and who isn’t afraid of him…” Her eyes drifted to Yulia. “And for it to be someone whose mind he can’t read… It’s a blessing.”

  Hamilton’s face softened. “Sweetheart?” he said gently, and Yulia blinked, turning around and looking at her father. “Come on, let’s go home.”

  Yulia frowned, clearly reluctant to leave with the way she looked at Prince Lucien, who also looked disappointed. Sighing, Yulia rose to her feet, straightening her tunic.

  Prince Lucien’s expression, too, had shifted. He is no longer smiling. He looked upset, staring at Yulia longingly, before he looked at Hamilton. “Can Yulia come again?” he asked softly.

  Eugenia looked surprised, but smiled. “Maybe if we ask the king, he’ll allow it, Your Highness,” she said gently, but Luca looked doubtful that the king would allow it.

  Hamilton’s hand came down to ruffle Yulia’s hair when she scampered to his side. “I can ask the king, Prince Lucien,” he said gently. “If he agrees, we’ll come visit again.”

  Yulia turned back to Luca. “Today was fun,” she chirped, and Luca smiled again. “You should come to Evershade someday. Rem, too.” She added, looking at the younger twin over by the hearth with his picture book. Rem had looked crushed in the beginning, but now looked hopeful.

  Hamilton nodded. “There are other children in Evershade, too,” he said gently, addressing both princes. “House Nightray’s children. And even the village children. They’re a little older than you, but I think you’ll like them. They often played with Yulia when they had the time.”

  Lucien said nothing, but he looked hopeful when he looked at Yulia.

  And Yulia smiled at him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

  ???

  The carriage swayed gently beneath the slowly darkening skies, with its wheels rumbling along the road that travellers and merchants take to and from the Imperial City. Lanterns lined the path, casting long shadows along the dirt roads.

  The hustle and bustle of the Imperial City was far behind them now, and it would still be a few more hours before they reached Evershade.

  Inside the carriage, Yulia was curled up against Hamilton, her head resting in his lap, as he threaded his fingers carefully through his daughter’s dark hair, his black cloak draped over her small body like a blanket. Hamilton’s lips quirked as he gazed at his child, clearly worn out and exhausted from the day’s activities.

  She probably hadn’t had her usual afternoon nap, either, so little wonder why she’s exhausted.

  “It’s been a long day for you,” Hamilton murmured, his fingers gently combing through Yulia’s soft hair. He’d undone her braids the moment they had said their farewells to the king and queen, and had climbed into the carriage. “We’ll reach home in a few hours. You can sleep until then.”

  Yulia mumbled something that even Hamilton’s keen hearing didn’t catch, though he thought he might have caught the name of his retainer. The little girl yawned. “…Okay.”

  Hamilton smiled faintly, gazing down at his only child, as the lights from the passing lamps flickered past the carriage’s windows. For several long moments, Hamilton only pressed one hand gently against his daughter’s back, with his other hand threading gently through her hair. The rhythmic sway of the carriage, the soft chirr of crickets, and the occasional hoot from a passing owl were the only sounds in the night.

  Then, Hamilton cleared his throat. “What do you think of the princes?” he asked at last.

  Yulia blinked open sleepy eyes at her father. “Prince Rem is nice,” she murmured. “He’s shy. Quiet. But he’s kind. Sweet.”

  Hamilton made a small sound of acknowledgement. “And Prince Lucien?” he asked after a brief pause. The Crown Prince was the one he most wanted her thoughts on. Would she be able to stand by Prince Lucien? To be the companion and guardian he needed?

  Being the guardian to the heir of the throne isn’t an easy affair, as Hamilton knew from personal experience when he was guarding Edric before he became the king.

  Thankfully, Prince Lucien does seem to have a better head on his shoulders at the age of five, than Edric had at the age of fifteen, so Hamilton isn’t concerned that Yulia might need to spend half her life chasing Prince Lucien out of taverns, or making sure that the prince don’t get himself kidnapped because he’s constantly sneaking away from his guards. It’s more likely Yulia will be chasing Prince Lucien out of libraries or the training halls, and making sure he actually sleeps and eats.

  Honestly, it’s a miracle Edric didn’t get himself kidnapped or killed, the number of times he’d given his Crownsguards the slip. The late king was forever scolding Edric, much to the court’s amusement. Hamilton had been the only one whom Edric could never seem to shake off, no matter how hard he tried, much to Edric’s annoyance.

  For several moments, Yulia didn’t answer. And just as Hamilton thought his daughter had fallen asleep, she spoke again. “He’s nice, too,” Yulia said almost quietly and wistfully. “But… He seems…lonely, too.”

  Hamilton exhaled slowly, his eyes drifting to the scenery outside the window. The lights were growing sparser the further they travelled from the capital. Soon, it’ll be pitch black darkness for several miles until they arrive back at Evershade. Hamilton, however, wasn’t concerned about bandits or outlaws. Not only is his carriage driver a trained assassin, like every person that served House Nightray, Hamilton isn’t the type of lord who sits in his manor and lets his men protect him.

  And that is if any bandit or outlaw is insane enough to attack a carriage bearing House Nightray’s emblem.

  His daughter was still too young to understand the burdens on Prince Lucien’s shoulders, and even the way the Imperial Palace staff looked at the young prince, especially King Edric. But even at her age, she had seen it.

  He seems lonely.

  Hamilton said nothing for a long while. He merely continued threading his fingers through his daughter’s soft hair, his other hand pressed against her back, her small body seeming more fragile than before.

  Finally, Hamilton spoke again. “Do you think you can be friends with him?”

  Yulia yawned again, almost burying her head beneath her father’s cloak. “I guess so,” she said sleepily. “It’ll be…nice…if they can come to Evershade. They’ll love it there, I think… Especially Luca…”

  Hamilton chuckled softly as he leaned down, pressing a kiss gently onto his daughter’s brow. “That’s good, then,” he said. “Prince Lucien could use a friend. One who won’t judge him. One who’ll stay by his side. One who would tell him off when he’s being foolish.”

  “Like Father does with King Edric?” Yulia asked sleepily, opening one eye. “Gareth said you do nothing but scold the king since you both were children.”

  Hamilton muttered something about his retainer being too nosy for his own good, and Yulia gave a sleepy giggle.

  If only Edric still listened to Hamilton the way he used to. These days, it seemed like the king paid more heed to his Finance Minister than either Hamilton or the royal advisor.

  And it’s the Finance Minister who gives Hamilton the creeps. Cyril Varence… Something about that man isn’t right. Hamilton couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but he hadn’t survived this long as a soldier, a spymaster, and even as the head of House Nightray by ignoring his instincts.

  He made a mental note to assign a few Stilettos to investigate the man.

  Outside, the silver moon had risen, casting soft light across the hills and valleys of the Alathian countryside. The stars shimmered faintly in the dark skies above, glittering like diamonds on black velvet.

  As the carriage continued its journey back toward Evershade, Hamilton was lost in thought.

  Wondering if maybe, Yulia’s friendship might be what saves that lonely boy.

  The boy who was also the future of the kingdom.