The carriage wheels crunched over the gravel as they passed through Ravenmoor’s gates in the late afternoon. Alina leaned towards the window, her breath catching at the sight of the familiar stone walls and towers.

After six long hours of talking, worrying, and dreaming in the carriage, the castle finally came into view.

Marguerite, Lady Brennan, Evelyn, and Lady Talbot were already waiting for them near the garden gate. Harrington was at the main entrance, and Rowan stood near the stables.

Austin stepped down first and offered his hand. Alina took it without any hesitation as she stepped onto the cobblestones.

Marguerite walked towards them immediately. She stopped in front of Alina and examined her carefully.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"We both are," Alina replied with a smile. "The king didn’t throw us in a dungeon, at least."

"What happened? Did he..."

"He made us an offer and we accepted. I’ll tell you everything later, I promise. I just... need a moment to breathe first."

Marguerite nodded in understanding. The next second, Evelyn appeared beside them holding a steaming cup of tea.

"Chamomile with honey," she said quietly. "I just made it."

"Thank you. I needed this more than you know," Alina said as she took the cup.

A small, insistent meow came from the ground. Harwick walked across the courtyard with an offended stride. The cat ignored everyone else and stopped directly in front of Austin, staring at him as if he had committed some crime.

"I was at the palace, Harwick," Austin explained as he looked at him.

The cat meowed again.

Austin sighed, bent down, and scooped the cat into his arms. Harwick immediately purred loudly.

Alina smiled looking at their cute interaction.

"East wing," she mouthed when he looked at her. "Now." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Austin nodded and set Harwick down. He trotted after them as they walked inside the castle while the others slowly returned to their rooms or work. The moment they got the chance, they rush towards the east wing.

Austin unlocked the door and found Cecily standing in the middle of her room, waiting for them since the moment she heard the carriage arrive. The moment she saw both of them, her face with relief.

"You came straight here," she whispered, her voice cracking a little.

"Where else would we go?" Alina asked.

Cecily ran towards them and hugged Alina first. Then she wrapped her arms around Austin, burying her face into his chest.

"It’s okay," Austin said, pulling away. "We are fine. Look at us."

Cecily looked at them then gestured for them to sit on the sofa with her sitting between them, holding their hands.

"Tell me everything," she said.

They told her everything, from the king’s options to how Alina had to be acknowledged by Arcasedia for the marriage to happen. Otherwise, Austin would have to marry Audrey.

When they finished, she took a deep breath.

"So you have three months to convince a kingdom that doesn’t even know you exist to formally acknowledge you."

"Yes," Austin replied.

Cecily then turned to him.

"Marriage, Austin. You’re really getting married," she said softly.

"If Alina is acknowledged... then yes."

Cecily’s eyes filled with tears.

"I can’t believe my brother who used to hide every feeling behind a thousand locked doors is going to marry."

Austin and Alina both smiled at her excitement. Then she looked down at her lap.

"Will be there when the wedding happens? Or will I still be behind this door, watching through the window?"

The laughter died immediately replaced with grim silence.

"You’ll be there," Austin said, pulling her closer. "I’m adding my own condition: no Cecily, no wedding."

Cecily buried her face into his shoulder.

"Then you have to let me out, Austin," she said in muffled voice. "I don’t want to be your dead sister on your wedding day."

Austin closed his eyes briefly before speaking.

"I know," he said. "But you’re right. In the coming three months, we’ll do all the impossible things together, from the recognition to the wedding and to opening this door."

Cecily smiled with tears and hugged him even tighter.

An hour later, they had a neeting with Maren in Austin’s study.

"The king’s investigators found exactly what I wanted them to find," she said, looking at both of them. "Nothing."

Alina sighed in relief,

"But we still have a problem," Maren continued. "We need a way into Arcasedia. A person with the actual influence at their court."

Alina and Austin exchanged a look.

"Dorian?" Alina asked.

Maren nodded.

"He has connections there, even people inside the royal workshop. If anyone can open the Arcadedian door for us, it’s him."

"The same man who tried to take Alina away," his voice rose a little.

"Yes," Maren replied. "But now our interests align with each other. Princess Alina of Arcasedia married to the Duke of Ravenmoor would be a powerful bridge between kingdoms. He’ll cooperate, I’m sure, for his own reasons, but he’ll cooperate."

"I don’t have a good feeling about this," Austin said.

"Neither do I," Alina said, touching his arm. "But we need him."

"Fine," he nodded.

After coming out of the study, they went to the garden to get some fresh air.

"Let’s talk now," Alina said. "Tell me something from when you were a kid."

Austin walked beside her, thinking.

"I had a dog when I was six. A brown and white hound named Chester. He was terrible at hunting, and was especially afraid of birds. I hid him in the stables for months when my father decided to send him away since he was useless."

He laughed. Alina smiled.

"Where did you hide him?"

"Behind the hay bales. I brought him food every day. Father eventually found out... but he let me keep him. Chester lived to be twelve and never caught a single bird. He was the laziest dog I’ve ever seen."

She laughed, slipping her arm

"Your turn now," he said.

"My mother sang to me every night," Alina said. "Little songs about my day. If I fell off my wooden horse, she’d make up a song about a brave girl who got back on. If I got angry, there’d be a song about bad children who get angry and were taken away by witches."

She smiled at the memory. Then they walked in silence for a while.

"Marriage still feels unreal," Alina said suddenly. "I mean...the idea of forever. I’ve never seen a perfect marriage. My parents loved each other but still there were some problems between them."

Austin stopped and turned to her.

"Then let’s have a perfect marriage together. It won’t be easy, I know, but then nothing between us ever has been."

Alina smiled.

"You always make the impossible sound almost possible."

Before he could reply, they heard the sound of hooves on the ground. They turned towards the courtyard and found a golden carriage with the Astorian crest entering through the gates.

Alina’s heart skipped a beat.

"Dorian."

Austin’s hand tightened around hers as the carriage door opened. Prince Dorian stepped out. He saw them standing at the garden gate, and bowed. Then his smile widened.

The game has changed but I have not.