“Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” — L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

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  Cassian kept throwing Nathan amused looks as they made their way down to the stables, where the stableboy was feeding Cassian’s temperamental horse apples.

  There wasn’t a soul alive in House Hunt who could handle the temperamental beast that Cassian had christened Thunder when they were kids. Even as a foal, Thunder had never listened to anyone but Cassian.

  Even the other horses seemed terrified of Thunder, much to Alaric Hunt’s amusement. It was obvious in the way the horses all shied away from Thunder, huddling together nervously when he was near. Eventually, Alaric Hunt had to commission the local carpenter to build a separate stable just for Thunder, much to the relief of the stableboy, Nathan was sure.

  “Are you heading out, Young Master?” The stableboy asked politely as the two brothers approached.

  “Yes. Are Thunder and Hunter fit to ride?” Cassian asked, referring to Nathan’s horse, who ironically, is Thunder’s brother. Unlike Thunder, however, Hunter had a calm and steady temperament. He was also the only horse not afraid of his volatile sibling.

  “Yes,” The stableboy nodded, feeding Hunter some apples. “I can saddle them now, if you’d like?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Nathan and Cassian waited patiently as the stableboy brought both horses out of their stalls, saddling them with practised ease. The two horses stood patiently as he worked, occasionally whinnying at each other. They looked nearly identical, with their sleek black coats and manes, with only one stark difference: Thunder had a white star in the middle of his forehead.

  “They’re ready for you now, young masters,” The stableboy turned towards Cassian and Nathan, bowing.

  “Thank you,” Cassian responded, before turning to Nathan. “All right, let’s ride. We’ve got a three-hour journey ahead of us.”

  Nathan nodded silently, mounting Hunter with ease, the same way that Cassian did with Thunder, with both brothers settling into the saddles. Then, with a gentle nudge of their heels, both brothers galloped out through the streets of Halberd Reach, and past the gates into the countryside.

  “Where are we going?” Nathan asked as they rode, easily keeping pace beside his brother.

  “Ashbrook,” Cassian said grimly. His face was unreadable, but there was something in his brother’s voice that made Nathan uneasy. “It’s at least a three hour journey. A village in one of the rural areas in our territory.” He gave Nathan a look. “When we get there, stay close to me. Hand on your sword at all times. And whatever you do, don’t give anyone food.”

  Nathan blinked at the odd instruction. The orders to stick close and keep his hand on his sword, he understood, though Nathan bristled slightly at being spoken to like a child. Like he was still seven. But what’s with the order not to give anyone food?

  Ashbrook, however, Nathan recognised the name. It was one of the villages within their territory, hovering somewhere in between the borders of the urban outskirts and the rural countryside. Protectorate had an outpost and watchtower there, and the village was regularly used as a resting point for soldiers en route to the Imperial City.

  It was also one of the territories that their father had assigned to Cassian to manage a few years ago.

  Nathan opened his mouth again, even as the trees and the countryside blurred past them, as their horses rode like the wind. “Cassian, back then, you didn’t answer me about what Leighton meant,” he said. “What don’t I know? What aren’t you telling me?”

  A muscle in Cassian’s cheek twitched, and his grip around the reins tightened. For several moments, all that could be heard was just of the sound of the wind and even the sound of the horses’ hooves.

  “You’ll understand once we get there,” he said at last.

  The rest of their journey was spent in silence. Cassian didn’t even consult a map, seemingly knowing where he was going without even looking at signposts. Eventually, they arrived at a worn and weather-beaten bridge that had clearly seen better days. Nathan hesitated, unsure whether it was safe to cross.

  To his surprise, Cassian dismounted from Thunder, tying the horse to a nearby lamppost. Nathan followed suit, and the brothers crossed the rickety bridge on foot, with their boots echoing on the wooden planks.

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  And at the entrance of the village was a wooden sign that read: Ashbrook.

  The village, however, had clearly seen better days. The thatched roofs of the villagers’ homes were blackened by old fire, with several homes having holes in the roofs. Fields were abandoned, with no crops growing, and no farmers tending to it. Emaciated children watched the two brothers from shadowed doorways, their glassy eyes vacant. The adults, too, aren’t looking all that better.

  A militia squad in patched uniforms paced the perimeter, wearing gear cobbled together from mismatched scraps. The soldiers all looked exhausted. Many of them were visibly wounded, with their movements sluggish.

  It was a painting in ash and silence.

  “Captain Hunt!” One of the members of the militia spotted Cassian just then, breaking from his squad. “What brings you here, sir?”

  “I’m here for an inspection,” Cassian replied curtly. “Don’t mind me.” He then noticed that the man was eyeing Nathan warily. “My younger brother.” He added, clearing his throat. “What’s the situation?”

  The soldier’s shoulders sagged, looking defeated. “Not good,” he admitted. “There’s barely enough food to go around. We got some help from House Nightray, but even they couldn’t send much. Can’t say I blame them, as everywhere is facing the same shortages in food and medical supplies. We just barely managed to fend off a bandit attack yesterday. Three of our own were injured. The village doctor is doing what he can. But without any medical supplies, there isn’t much he can do.”

  Cassian’s brows furrowed. “We’re doing what we can, but…” He trailed off slowly.

  The soldier nodded solemnly. “We understand, sir,” he said. “We know you’re doing your best. All the generals and the Ten Great Houses are. But the soldiers are giving up, sir, as are the villagers. They’re losing hope. We’re also losing soldiers who wouldn’t have died if we just had access to medicine and proper gear.”

  Cassian nodded. “I’ll see what I can do,” he promised quietly.

  The soldier saluted Cassian before returning to his squad. From where they stood, Nathan could still catch fragments of their conversation.

  “…Can’t blame him. He’s doing his best. He’s doing everything he can. Lord Hunt is as well. But without medical supplies, and even proper gear and weapons, there isn’t much we can do.”

  “We had to deliver news of Riley’s death last week to his wife. I could barely look her in the eye, and tell her that Riley died taking a blade for me. And that he wouldn’t have died if we had proper gear and weapons. And even food.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “We’re not getting aid from the Imperial Palace, are we? It’s been years. The only aid we’ve seen came from our provincial lord, and he’s been dipping into his private coffers to do so, as he is doing for all his territories. We can’t ask Lord Hunt to stretch his coffers any further when others need more help!”

  “Just what is the Crown Prince doing?!”

  Nathan moved to respond, but Cassian’s hand clamped down on his shoulder, steering him away from the patrol and moving deeper into the village.

  Everywhere that Nathan looked, he saw the same glassy-eyed expressions of the villagers, and even the emaciated figures of adults and children alike. The same broken roads and empty lanterns. Oil lamps hung from rusty chains, and it is apparent that there is no oil within it.

  The entire village gives off a feeling of despair and desperation.

  “W-What is this…?” Nathan finally found his voice, looking at his brother.

  Cassian’s jaw tightened before he finally looked at Nathan. “You’ve read Parliament’s reports, haven’t you?” he asked quietly, and Nathan nodded. “About the recovery efforts? The improved harvest numbers? And even the stabilisation efforts since the war with Nuvelle?”

  Nathan nodded wordlessly. “Yes. I’ve read the briefs,” he said, his voice uncertain. “So did Rem. I even helped him to go through the paperwork and briefs that he received from Parliament.” Nathan’s voice wavered. “Parliament said that…the kingdom was recovering. That it’s returning to its former strength. That things are returning to normal. Not…this.” He looked around Ashbrook once more.

  Cassian was silent for a moment. “If it isn’t obvious enough, those reports from Parliament are lies,” he said at last, his voice cold. “Sanitised and polished. Tailored for the Crown. Parliament feeds the prince what he wants to hear. They played on his na?vety and his idealism. When all the while… Villages and people all over Alathia have been starving and suffering for years.”

  He sighed, looking at Nathan. “It’s not just Ashbrook, Nathan. It’s everywhere. Mostly, it’s the rural provinces like this one that were hit the worst. But even those in the urban areas are affected. The only place that isn’t starving and suffering is the Imperial City. The Ten Great Houses have been begging Parliament for aid since the war ended, but we never received it. It’s come to such a point that all of us have been funding recovery efforts out of our own private treasuries. Lord Kael, however, had it the worst, as his territories spans the entire northern region. It’s not just food and medicine. Our soldiers are dying against bandits that they’d normally crush with no problems. But because they lack the proper gear and strength, they are dropping like flies against enemies that they would normally have no problems against.”

  Cassian looked around the broken village again. “Even House Nightray is struggling. Despite that, Yulia sent supplies to Ashbrook three times last winter when I requested for assistance. Medicine. Food. Firewood. Because Parliament didn’t send aid. And Yulia knew people here would die if she didn’t.” His gaze hardened. “In that regard, Ashbrook is just a little better off than half of Alathia.”

  Nathan could only stare. For several moments, he couldn’t reconcile the image of Yuliana Nightray in his mind with what Cassian was saying.

  He swallowed nervously. “Why didn’t Rem know?” he asked, his voice hoarse. “If Parliament isn’t sending aid, why didn’t he know how bad it was?”

  How many people have died? How many villages have been suffering for years?

  Cassian turned to look at him, his eyes cold. “Because people like you,” he said coolly, “make sure he never hears the truth.”

  Nathan flinched, the words hitting harder than anything could. And then, for a moment, he remembered what Yulia had said to him after their impromptu duel. And even what Leighton had hinted at. And with sickening realisation, he finally understood. And what Yulia had been trying to tell him and Rem for so long.

  Cassian sighed. “You still think Yulia’s the enemy?”

  Nathan couldn’t answer. He could barely find his voice. His eyes took in the hollowed buildings and the abandoned fields. And even the way the villagers slumped against their doorways, having given up on all hope.

  The truth was laid bare around him, and Nathan realised that he had been so blind and so na?ve for so long.

  Cassian’s voice was sharper as he spoke again. “Open your eyes, little brother. The truth is all around you. At least half your schoolmates at the Academy knew the truth, especially those who resided outside the Imperial City. Have you never wondered why those from outside the Imperial City looked at the Crown Prince with such disdain? Especially the ones who were sponsored by Lord Kael?”

  Nathan flinched again. He racked his mind, trying to remember his first meeting with Kaela Merrin and Felix Carrington. It’s true that those two were never warm towards Rem from the beginning, even before they befriended Yuliana Nightray. Nathan had foolishly assumed that they were just taking cues from her.

  But if their own lands were suffering the same way that Ashbrook is… If they’d lived through something that he never had, then it makes horrifying sense now.

  Even Yuliana Nightray. She had been hostile towards Prince Rem even before they started at the Academy. But if her anger and frustration have to do more with the current state in Alathia, then it explains a lot.

  Nathan swallowed. He had a feeling that he’d made very stupid mistakes and assumptions.

  Nathan looked at Cassian. “What should we do?” he asked, his voice trembling. “The people… Our people are suffering and starving, and I…” His voice choked. “I’ve made a terrible mistake…”

  Cassian said nothing for several moments, steering Nathan by the shoulder, and guiding him back towards where they had tied their horses. “You let me and Father worry about it,” he said at last. “The Ten Great Houses are convening soon. A full council. In the meantime, you do what you can do, Nathan.” Nathan looked at Cassian. “You’re a Hunt. And someday, you’ll be part of Protectorate. And Hunts don’t just protect the Crown.” Cassian looked toward Ashbrook once more. “We protect the kingdom.”