Chapter 3

Evelina came from Moonveil at this time of year, too.

She stood at the foot of the steps, so tiny that she barely seemed more than a kit. Only one tail had begun to grow. When she looked up, her eyes were wide with fear in this unfamiliar place.

I told her not to be afraid, that this would be her home from then on.

Back then, I thought she would grow up and learn, in time, who truly cared for her.

She did grow up. One by one, all nine of her tails grew in. They were beautiful.

And yet, I was never the one she looked at with love.

Sometimes I wonder if, without those words, I would never have come to see her in this light. I would have kept telling myself she was simply reserved, that she struggled to show her feelings and only needed time.

But now, I knew better.

A cold snap hit in March, and I caught a bad cold. I had been coughing on and off for days, but I still wasn't getting better.

Evelina finally came by that evening. "Your Highness, I heard you were unwell. I made this cough syrup for you. It's easier to take than the royal physician's medicine."

I took it from her. "Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me, Your Highness."

Evelina sat by my bed. For once, she stayed a little longer than usual.

"Your Highness, has the Treasury still not approved the supplies for Prince Alaric's troops at the frontier?"

I paused.

"I'm not trying to meddle in state affairs," she said, lowering her head. "It's just that Prince Alaric's life is at risk on the front lines. If his troops don't even have enough supplies, how can he fight?"

Her tone grew urgent. Only matters concerning Alaric could make her lose her composure.

"Your Highness has always been kind. Please…"

I cut her off. "Is this the only reason you came to see me?"

Evelina looked up, momentarily at a loss. "I came to see how you were, too."

I set the bottle of cough syrup aside and closed my eyes. "I'll look into the supplies. You may go."

She wasn't satisfied with my answer, and her brows drew together. "Your Highness!"

For the first time, I had no patience for her demands.

"Go back," I said sharply.

Her face flushed red. All her concern vanished, and she stormed out in anger.

Perhaps she had been angry that I hadn't pushed for the supplies to be released right away. Evelina didn't come to see me for half a month.

Unlike before, I no longer bent the rules for her, even though I was the crown prince.

The Treasury had to approve the supplies at every stage before they could be sent to the frontier. No matter how urgent the matter was, I couldn't break the rules with a single order.

She was so worried about Alaric that she couldn't bear to wait another moment. Evelina never considered that I could be impeached for it.

One day, an urgent report arrived at my manor. Alaric's army was trapped. Only then did Evelina, whom I hadn't seen in days, rush into my chambers.

"Your Highness!" She stumbled toward me and pleaded, her voice breaking with emotion. "Please send troops to save Prince Alaric!"

I set down the report. "I already have. 10,000 light cavalrymen left during the night."

Her legs gave way, and she fell to the floor.

"No, that's not enough!" Evelina shook her head in panic as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Your Highness, 10,000 men aren't enough. The enemy is 20,000 strong!"

"We can't send all the troops away from the capital." I kept my voice low. "Father is gravely ill, and the capital is poorly defended. If we send every soldier away, the kingdom itself will be at risk."

"Then I'll go." Evelina stood up and turned to leave.

"Stop right there!" I chased her to the door, but she had already disappeared into the snowstorm.

Yolanda came running over in tears. "Your Highness, Ms. Wrenwood took your horse and rode out of the city!"

As I stood in the snowstorm, I suddenly felt exhausted. "Get my horse."

Anthony froze. "Your Highness, you're still unwell."

"Get my horse," I repeated.

I ignored the mocking words before my eyes and mounted my spare horse, taking my guards with me to the frontier.

Ten days later, I found Alaric and Evelina amid the chaos of battle.

Alaric's battle standard lay tilted to one side, and bodies covered the ground.