* King Alexander* When King Alexander returned, he felt himself bursting with excitement. "Johan!" King Alexander barely undressed from his armor as he began calling for the butler. He was smiling from ear to ear. "Johan! Where is Anastasia right now?" King Alexander boomed as the older man made his way into his chamber. King Alexander had yet to notice the solemn look on his face. He was too happy thinking of Ana. "I didn't see her." King Alexander spoke while another servant boy pulled the armor over his head. The boy shot a confused look at Johan. Johan shook his head. "Go, boy." Johan nodded toward the door, and the boy quickly jumped down. He carried the armor plate with him and dashed from the room. Johan could see the relieved look on his face as he did. The boy knew he was lucky to get to leave. If only Johan could do the same. But someone had to tell the king. And if anyone, it would have to be him. "Your Majesty," Johan began, but his words seemed lost in Kin

*Ana* The blue wax must have dried out from the journey because I find it easy to slice open. It cracks and pills down to fall on my skirt as I split it apart. The flap opens, and I find two sheets of paper inside. I take them both out to study. There are two? Another surprise. What would need two pages? I look to find one written in fathers hand. The other, though, has me pause. What? “A drawing? “ I voice before looking up at both women. They look at each other just as confused. “A drawing?” Maddie repeats as Aunt Funda furrows her brows. “IS that it? A drawing?” She goes, sounding annoyed. “No- there’s a letter too, but-” Again, I look back to the drawing. If I lift it up toward the light, I think I can better gather the meaning. It doesn’t help very much when I do. It’s in crayon- and it is not by a skilled hand. This looks like the work of a child. I can’t help but wonder. Did my father draw this? Why? Are stick figures riding a dog? Block? Thing? I can’t tell. One s

*Ana* It's not long before I have my reply. It takes a week before I find the letter from Dawny, sealed and delivered. Aunt Funda delivers it again on the standard silver tray. Though, there is a distinctly disgruntled look on her face, more so than usual, when she does. Enough so that I am beginning to wonder if something is wrong with her. Why do I get the impression that she is bothered by these letters? But I don’t dwell on the thought long as it doesn’t make sense. Since Aunt Funda barely pays attention, let alone cares about what I usually do. Outside of these being for diplomatic reasons, Aunt Funda has no reason to be overjoyed or upset over anything of mine. They are just letters. So I quickly dismiss my thoughts as just being overactive. “You may go, Aunt Funda. “ I wave to her as she has done her job. But to my lite surprise, she doesn’t move immediately. Instead, she stands where she is and stares at the letter like a cat to a bird. Did she not hear me? I feel i

*Ana* Truth be told, I do not have much to say about my cousin as I do not know him. In the score of four years, I have only met him once. And that was when I first arrived in Nocthen, and I was not in the best state of mind to remember things (as I was crying, yelling, and acting childish). So what I do know is what I have gathered from the bits and pieces Aunt Funda and Uncle have told me. Cousin Mykhol is fourteen years old to my seven- making an age difference of seven years between us. And he has, for the better part of the four years I’ve been here, been attending the famed military academy of Nochten this whole time. That alone is a fantastic feat, as this is no ordinary academy. Established by Nochten’s first emperor- it is said to make anyone who attends a great leader. And only those of nobility and wealth can attend. Save unless you are a girl. Not even my mother, an Empress, was allowed in. So this only makes me look forward to Mykhol’s return this winter break. Asi

*Ana* “You’ll like the library.” I go as I lead the way. Mykhol smiles with a nod, but I can feel his eye drift. He seems to look forlorn for some reason. “Oh.” I find my steps slow as I see it. Does he not want to go? Am I being pushy? “Unless…you’d like to go elsewhere?” Because you don’t seem that interested. But I don’t say it out loud. It just looks like he isn’t. But Mykhol quickly shakes his head. His energy is back, and he’s looking at me eagerly. “Oh no, please-“ As if to make sure, I feel him squeeze my hand. Then, he drives to move ahead before stopping to look at me. “Please, I would like to see it. Really.” His grin curls as it did back in the court room. He seems to be waiting for me. Or some reaction from me. Am I supposed to make one? I’m not sure. But I nod with a quiet sigh. It looks like he means it- that he does want to go. Maybe I just saw something by mistake. “Yea, well,” I make to step ahead. “It’s right this way.” I continue leading us to t