'People’s feelings are not to be taken lightly'

As the early morning fog gathered about the garden slowly faded, the horses at the stables near the western forest were getting their gears checked and ready.

It's the day Amelia travels to Bruiles.

Donning a fitted long-sleeved shirt with a neckline that came up to her neck and leather breeches, the duchess tied the laces of her boots tightly. She fastened her sword belt, and as soon as her hand brushed at the two daggers behind her, her breathing hitched. Noticing her sudden stillness, Sir Lewis Grafton went beside her.

"Everything alright, your grace?" his rough voice was bold and deep. Sir Grafton used to be one of her father's personal knights and is currently the commander of the third division in-charged of overlooking the security of the smaller towns and the mountain areas around the duchy. He's often away for patrols and stayed a lot in the borders. If there's anyone else who knew how to navigate through the woods, well, it's him.

"Ah, yes. Thank you for asking, Sir Lewis. It's just… it's the first time again in a long while that I've been outside. I'm feeling both excitement and unease."

The knight let out a hearty laugh and patted her shoulders, "Let's have an adventure, duchess."

"I'm in your care, Sir Lewis Grafton," Amelia smiled and bowed her head.

Turning her back to the knight who left to check on his men, the duchess went to the nearby wooden table where their bags were placed. She grabbed hers and secured it to her horse's saddle.

Not long after, the assassin siblings came out of nowhere. They were both dressed in dark-colored clothing and fur-lined hooded cloak. Though the two moved effortlessly, under the cloak were at least two sword belts; one around their hips and another across their body. They might even have a small one around their thigh. And Arabella could have another one of a smaller size she camouflaged as something else entirely.

"Good morning, duchess, Sir Lewis," Arabella greeted and then Ancel. The knight commander raised his hand at them and then continued to talk to his men.

"Are you ready?" Amelia asked, rubbing her hands together before wearing the leather gloves her lady-in-waiting grabbed from her dresser where she placed it last night.

"We should be the one asking you that, duchess." Ancel smiled back as he finished saddling his horse.

"Good morning," it was Mr. Vance. In his hand was a familiar short sword with a round pommel; engrave on it was House Florence's crest, and on the other side were the initials of her late father. "If anything bad happens, remember to stab and then twist, okay?"

"I'm not called the Dancing Rose for nothing, Uncle." Amelia chuckled to lighten the mood.

Vance flashed a small smile and tucked a stray hair behind the duchess' ear. "I know. But precautions can never be overdone."

The duchess smiled at her advisor. She let him place her fur-lined cloak around herself and secured it with a clasp. To keep anyone from her identity, she wore nothing to identify with her house aside from the sword she just received.

When she was done with her own preparations, Vance excused himself to talk to the knight commander. Amelia noted Sir Grafton nodded as the advisor seemed to enumerate something to him. Too bad she couldn't hear what they were talking about.

Looking back at the palace, she hoped that Laila could talk to Christa soon and convince her. She also told her not to bother seeing them off after much insisting on the lady-in-waiting's side.

After a few more last-minute preparations and check-ups, by the first ray of sun, Amelia and her group left through the western forest led by Sir Grafton, followed by the assassin siblings, the duchess, and behind her were three more knights approved by her advisor.

Sir Lewis' planned to go through the western forest and around the agricultural area of Osmea. Amelia specifically said that she didn't want the details of her travel exposed so they won't be stopping at the borders; towns weren't an exception either. Instead, they'd cut their route through Bruiles by going deeper in the forest until the border mountain. From there, the road would be a lot easier as House Robina's duchy doesn't have vast forests as House Florence does.

Since House Robina's technically an extension of the capital, being a duchy ruled by the direct descendants of the fifth emperor, they have converted most of their lands into residential areas, and some were intended for research facilities to aid the Capital and the emperor.

"I'm fine. No need to slow down," Amelia said as she noted the people in front kept on looking back to check on her. As they need to reach the deeper parts of Osmea's mountain trail, they won't be stopping anytime soon.

An hour or so later, Sir Grafton raised his hand, and everyone sat deeper in their horses to slow them down. Up ahead was a small stream. As they came to a halt, the knight commander and his men looked around. Satisfied, he turned to face the duchess and the siblings to give them a slight nod, meaning that it's safe for Amelia to dismount.

Riding felt like forever, and since it was a first again in a long time, Amelia felt her muscles screaming as soon as Ancel helped her down. She could barely walk a step, but she wouldn't allow anyone to babysit her also.

Finding a big enough rock to sit on, Amelia took the leather gloves off her numbed fingers and breathed some warmth onto it as one of the knights guided her horse to the stream to drink. After they were done, he tied it to a nearby tree and fed it with what they brought.

Her lady-in-waiting also handed her a sandwich that Laila had personally prepared.

When the duchess and the others were well-rested, they went on with their journey. This time, they moved at a slower pace. There's no need to hurry as the dense forest echoed every little sound. They wouldn't want to alert anyone—man or animal alike.

"I remember coming here during spring when I was younger," Amelia whispered as her eyes wandered at the tall trees and their fiery leaves. It's late autumn, and most trees were almost bare, but the autumn colors' melancholic beauty on the ground was just as mesmerizing as the other seasons.

As they were going through the patrol route of Sir Lewis' division, there were already tracks to be followed even deep in the forests, and in just a few more hours, they would reach the mountain border between Bruiles and Osmea.

Over the border, there's a small tribe settlement. The knight commander met with them on his patrols and brought a small portion of supplies. Isolated from the rest of Bruiles, Amelia and the others would camp there for the night before continuing the next day.

"I know that tribe!" Amelia exclaimed when she heard the commander explain. "We've been there before with Prince Ayland. He travels a lot for his research, but I think they don't remember me now since I only stayed there for a night."

"It's better that way," Arabella answered. "We don't want people knowing you're traveling with so little company. News travel with the wind."

"Little but capable company," the duchess corrected, and she could hear the other knights proudly clearing their throats that the duchess turned her attention to them and flashed a smile to their surprise.

The Duchess and her group made small stops whenever they could to rest and eat.

It didn't feel like a tiresome journey for Amelia. Instead, she felt excited. She's been inside the palace for too long that going through the woods was like a dream come true.

**********

Alexander sat on the cushioned divan at one of his palace's parlors. He's been waiting for an hour for Leticia to finish getting ready. If only he knew that she would take so long, he could've completed a few paperwork.

"Oh, it's just you," he annoyingly glanced at his secretary, who came through the door. "She's not ready yet?"

"I'm afraid so. I just came across her servant and said she was looking for something that the lady requested."

Alexander couldn't help but roll his eyes. They needed to leave for the Capital fast so he could proceed to head to Aclador for the Duke's birthday. From Thuenia, the Capital would be at least a day of uninterrupted travel. From there, he would ride a horse to Duke Mulford's duchy, which would take him at least two days. His sister will follow him after she's had her fill with the Capital.

Another sigh left Alexander. He recalled the things that his sister told him the night before. He didn't believe it at first, but the more Leticia explained it to him, the more it made sense. He's determined to get the missing facts in his sister's story from the person close enough to House Florence as to take care of the only heir, which could've been used against him—and that person's none other than the sword and shield of the empire himself, Vernon Mulford.

"Little brother," Alexander's thoughts were cut by the smooth voice of his sister as soon as the door opened. She wore a loose off-shoulder dress with an underbust corset laced at the back, making her breasts look much more prominent. She also wore a few layers of petticoats under her overskirt to give her an hourglass-shaped body.

"Aren't you a little too overdressed?" Alexander noted as he stood from where he was staying and grabbed the mustard-colored cloak that Symon laid on the couch for him and his sister.

After placing it on himself, the duke handed the other to Leticia, but she just stood there smiling at him. Alexander puffed some air as he put the cloak around his sister.

"You're too kind, little brother," the lady caressed the side of the duke's face and tip-toed to reach him for a small peck on the cheeks, "Let's go."

-----

Only Alexander and Leticia rode the carriage. Symon followed them with another along with their luggage.

The trip out of Thuenia was a quiet one. Alexander had thought Leticia would be asking him a bunch of questions about certain topics that she knew would annoy him, but she was suspiciously keeping it to herself. She only watched the changing scenery outside and showed some expressions from time to time.

By late afternoon, they reached the town across Thuenia's border. They disembarked at a local inn to have something to feed their growling stomachs. And as expected, his sister garnered more attention than he'd wanted. Along with the large crest of their House on their backs, it annoyed him how other men looked at his sister like a main course, and Leticia loved every second of it.

Seeing them, the inn owner immediately offered them a large enough table for Alexander and his companions at the far end of the hall.

"Oh, that little kitten likes you," Leticia playfully whispered to the duke after the waitress with a somewhat plump behind and charming curls left them with a shy smile.

If he was the old Alexander, he would've discreetly gestured for the woman to meet him at the back alley and have her screaming his name, begging him not to stop.

But he's a changed man—or so he'd like to believe even if his groin said differently.

His knights were also visibly interested, and the young maiden didn't look the least uncomfortable. Instead, she smiled sweetly at them too. Even Symon seemed prepper than he was earlier.

"Well, will you look at that… Treading on someone, she shouldn't tread on." Alexander heard his sister murmur as her eyes narrowed at his secretary who was too enchanted that even his eyes were smiling.

Symon liked to wear loose clothing, but he's got toned muscles in all the right places under the pieces of fabric. He doesn't have a large build, so his masculinity doesn't come through unless he's naked. To add to that, he's normally shy towards other people, so he rarely attracts attention to himself.

"Stop playing with Symon, sister. People's feelings are not to be taken lightly."

"Says the man who broke a dozen hearts in one day."

"Ho-how did you—"

"Just because I'm not around, little brother, doesn't mean I don't know anything going on in Thuenia—and about you."

Alexander was about to answer, but the food was served, so he kept his mouth shut.

**********

After the filling meal, his knights went ahead of them, then Alexander and his sister, followed by Symon, who left a small pouch as payment on the table.

On their way out, Alexander paused when he felt his sister stopped. When he turned around to check, he spotted Leticia sending death glares at the unaware secretary, happily talking to the waitress.

"Symon, we're in a hurry!" his sister's commanding voice dropped like a bomb, and terror stamped on Symon's face, and the maiden flustered equally. Even the other customers turned their attention somewhere and shifted awkwardly in their seats.

Alexander's secretary hurriedly bowed his head and followed the Clement siblings out of the establishment where their carriages and escorts were waiting outside, together with the curious townsfolk who came to see who was using House Clement's crest.

By sundown, Alexander's group reached the Capital. They stopped by a famous inn that he frequented whenever he's in town. The innkeeper already has three rooms reserved for Alexander to use; one for Symon and the other for his knights.

After changing to appropriate clothing for horse riding, the duke talked to his sister, "I am leaving you here in the Capital. Come and follow me in Aclador anytime you want. Just don't come after the duke's birthday. He's been expecting you for a while. And… please, give Symon a break. He's not a toy for you to play with."

"I am aware of why I am here, little brother. I will just report to the emperor. Tell him stories of my travels and my achievements, then I'm off to enjoy myself. Relax, it's not as if Symon would allow the same thing to happen again."

Alexander stared at his sister. Somehow, her words floated in the air and popped like a bubble with only a gentle blow—he didn't believe her one bit about giving Symon some peace while he's away.

With the last reminder about behaving appropriately as part of House Clement, Alexander went out to the inn's stables and took the horse that he requested the innkeeper to prepare earlier.