Days passed quickly, and soon, it was the day before the royal celebration. That evening, Prince Edward returned to the royal palace.
The Queen was eager to see her son, so she went out to wait for him, taking Anastasia along. The two were already engaged, and it was a good opportunity for them to meet.
The prince arrived on horseback, accompanied by his guards. The Queen, seeing her son ride so elegantly, was pleased to know that he was well. Even though the message sent back said he only had minor injuries, she still worry until she saw him.
Once Prince Edward got close to his mother, he stopped and dismounted. A servant waiting nearby bowed and took the horse’s reins from him.
"Your Highness," the maids around the Queen bowed as he approached. Prince Edward nodded indifferently.
"Mother," he greeted, taking her hand.
"Stand still and let me take a good look at you," the Queen said. She and her son had a good relationship.
Anastasia remained quiet at the side, missing her own mother as she watched this scene unfold.
"I am fine, Mother," Prince Edward said after allowing her to examine him for a while.
"I can see that," the Queen smiled. "Welcome, my son."
"Welcome, Your Highness," Anastasia greeted, bowing at the appropriate moment.
Prince Edward nodded. He found Anastasia beautiful and delicate, but there was nothing particularly special about her. His father had already informed him about choosing a wife, so he was not surprised by her presence. Although he did not dislike Anastasia, he knew that his marriage had never been his decision to make.
"Let me introduce you. This is Lady Anastasia, the first daughter of Duke Thompson. She is also your fiancée," the Queen said.
"Oh," the prince responded indifferently. He felt Anastasia was just like the other noble ladies in the palace. Perhaps, in the past, he might have admired a woman like her—well-mannered and elegant. But ever since he met Dorothy, he had felt no attraction to anyone else. This update ıs available on N()velFire.net
"Mother, there is someone I would like you to meet," Prince Edward said.
At that moment, Walter helped Dorothy down from her horse and led her toward the prince.
After spending one night in the forest, they had traveled to a settlement. Concerned for Dorothy, Prince Edward had asked Duke Albert to help her and her grandmother find their family.
Unfortunately, when they reached the refugee camp, they learned that Dorothy’s father and brother had died in the war. Her mother had fallen ill afterward, and without proper treatment, she had passed away. As for her sister, no one knew whether she had fled during the war or had been kidnapped.
Upon hearing this news, Dorothy’s grandmother suffered a heart attack. Already frail from her years in the mines, she did not survive.
The prince felt sorry for Dorothy. Initially, he had planned to stay at the border to care for her, but then the king’s message arrived, ordering him to leave the mine investigation and return to the royal city.
Prince Edward could not bear to leave her behind, so he asked if she would come with him. With her entire family either dead or missing, Dorothy agreed.
The Queen was shocked to see the prince bring a young woman to the palace. As a prince, he could keep a mistress—but only after he had married his wife.
"Her name is Dorothy. When I was kidnapped, she saved my life during our escape from the mine. Her entire family is either dead or missing. I felt that since she saved my life, I should take responsibility for her," Prince Edward explained.
Walter, standing nearby, shook his head. Although Dorothy had helped the prince, it was an exaggeration to call her a lifesaver. But he understood why the prince was overstating her role; he could not bring just anyone into the palace without justification.
"How do you intend to take responsibility for her?" the Queen asked. Having lived long enough to understand courtly affairs, she knew her son had some interest in the young woman before her. If this was purely an act of gratitude, he could have given her money or a house, there was no need to bring her all the way to the royal city, let alone into the palace.
"Mother, you don’t know this, but she has excellent skills in medicine. I was wondering if she could study under the royal physicians," Prince Edward said. He already prepared excuses ahead of his arrival.
"I will make the arrangements," the Queen replied. She was relieved that the prince had not mentioned making Dorothy his mistress so soon after his engagement. As long as he only admired her talent, the Queen believed everything would be fine.
"You," the Queen pointed to a maid beside her. "Arrange the courtyard at the east end for her."
"Miss Dorothy, please follow me," the maid said.
The prince wanted to follow and see which courtyard was being arranged for her, but the Queen stopped him.
"You have just arrived. You should go and pay your respects to your father," the Queen reminded him.
"You are right, Mother. I will go to Father now," Prince Edward said, glancing away from Dorothy.
"He is in his study. Remember to join us for dinner after seeing the King," the Queen instructed. She then took Anastasia’s hand and walked away.
Her son’s behavior toward Anastasia had not been good, but she was unwilling to correct him openly. Instead, she made excuses and pretended not to notice.
Prince Edward went straight to his father’s study and was let in as soon as he arrived.
"Father," Prince Edward bowed upon entering.
"Son," the King said, satisfied to see his son alive and well.
"Sit," the King instructed.
The seer standing beside the King furrowed his brows when he saw Prince Edward. He had specifically requested this meeting to assess how well the borrowed luck was working. But to his surprise, Edward still carried the aura of his father’s sin. The luck borrowed from Anastasia seemed to have already been exhausted.
The King and his son spoke for a while before the King dismissed him.
"Great One, you seem troubled?" the King asked once Edward had left the room.
"Your Majesty, the marriage between that girl and the prince must take place as soon as possible. Only when their fates are tied together through marriage will the heavens favor him," the seer said.
"I have already set a date. Moving it forward would not be ideal. Besides, you yourself approved of the date," the King replied.
The seer nodded. At the time, he had believed that Anastasia’s borrowed luck would be enough to sustain the prince. After all, she was deeply favored by the heavens.
She had visited the chapel only once and prayed for the second prince alongside the Queen, and he had miraculously recovered. Others may not have understood, but the seer knew why the second prince; who had been on the brink of death—had suddenly regained consciousness.
This was why he had believed the dark magic used to borrow her luck would be effective.
"Let’s leave it as planned, but the date cannot be delayed further," the seer warned.
"I understand," the King agreed.