Dawn had barely broken when the two carriages stood ready in the courtyard. The cold morning air carried the sounds of restless horses and moving servants. Guards adjusted weapons and checked supplies as the castle slowly woke around them.

Alina stood at the exit for a long time, unable to move. Ravenmoor suddenly looked different to her because she was leaving it behind.

Her gaze slowly moved towards the east wing window. Cecily stood there with her both hands pressed firmly on the glass like she wanted to stop the carriages from moving.

The women from the sewing circle had gathered near the garden gate. None of them spoke. They just stood there smiling even though tears filled their eyes.

"I don’t want to leave them," she whispered.

Austin, standing beside her, then looked towards the garden gate.

"You’re not leaving them behind," he said. "You’re making sure no one can ever take you away from them again."

Alina smiled faintly and slowly waved at the women. They waved back immediately. Then they walked towards the carriage. Austin helped her get into the carriage and followed after her.

Slowly, the carriage moved forward and Ravenmoor disappeared into the distance.

"It doesn’t feel right," she almost cried. "Why do I feel I’m abandoning everyone?"

Laura, seated across from them, smiled.

"Your mother said the exact same thing before she left Arcasedia."

Alina looked at her immediately, surprised.

"She did?"

Laura nodded.

"She thought leaving meant she was betraying everyone she loved," A sad smile appeared on her lips.

Silence filled the carriage for a moment. Then Austin pulled Alina closer against him and wrapped his cloak around her shoulders. Alina leaned her head against him and closed her eyes, letting his warmth calm her.

The first two days of travel were exhausting. Wide golden fields faded into dense forests as they exited Ravenmoor. At night, guards built camps in the safest locations.

Laura turned the journey into an endless etiquette lesson.

"You must never lower your head first during greetings at court," she explained one morning. "Arcasedians notice weakness instantly."

Alina sighed dramatically.

"I already hate this kingdom."

Laura laughed for the first time in days.

"So did your mother when she was forced to learn all this. She once threw an etiquette book at the king."

Austin immediately looked up from the papers in his lap.

"I’m sorry, what?"

Alina stared at Laura in shock as well.

"Really?"

"She missed his head unfortunately," Laura replied sadly.

"I suddenly respect her even more," Austin was genuinely impressed.

Laura also told her more stories about Isadora.

"She used to hide in the palace library whenever court lessons became unbearable," Laura said fondly. "Once we couldn’t find her for ten hours."

"Where was she?" Alina asked, curious.

"We found her asleep beneath a table surrounded by poetry books."

Austin looked at Alina and smiled knowingly.

For years, Isadora had felt more like a tragedy than a person to Alina. She only remembered her death and a few fragmented memories. But now she could almost picture her laughing, arguing and living happily which made Alina miss her even more.

By the third and fourth days, the roads became steeper as they climbed into the mountains. And fortunately or unfortunately, Dorian began to join them in the carriage a lot now.

"The Arcasedian court respects confidence," he explained. "If you appear frightened, they will devour you alive."

Laura shook her head.

"I’ve already told her that," she remarked. "But honestly, she just needs to be honest. She doesn’t need to perform for them."

"In Arcasedia those two things are practically the same," Dorian replied sarcastically.

Austin sighed tiredly.

"Must every conversation between you two sound like political warfare?"

"Yes," Laura and Dorian answered together.

Alina almost laughed at their perfect synchronisation. But despite the tension, Dorian’s help was valuable. His connections made border crossings easier for them.

On the fifth evening, the carriages finally reached the top of a ridge overlooking the valley below, making everyone freeze.

Kaelara, then capital of Arcasedia, stretched across the valley like a dream built from marble and gold. White towers rose into the sky connected by beautiful bridges. Fountains, canals, waterfalls were gleaming in the evening light.

Alina pressed her both hands on the carriage window, her eyes welling up instantly.

"This is..." she couldn’t find words to describe the city’s beauty.

Beside her, Laura began to cry openly.

"It hasn’t changed," she said in her trembling voice. "Even after all these years it still looks the same when I left."

Alina kept staring at the city unable to look away.

The palace stood at the highest point of the city. It was huge, and much more grander than her own kingdom’s.

Guards stopped their carriage at the gates. Dorian stepped out and showed them Astorian diplomatic documents while Laura negotiated the rest in their language.

Eventually they were allowed inside. They were assigned the luxurious rooms in the diplomats quarters and were told they will be presented in the court tomorrow.

They had the evening to spare. But instead of strategizing they decided to rest. They had already prepared everything during the journey. Now there was nothing left except to face the court itself.

"This place is beautiful," Alina whispered the moment she stepped inside her room, looking out the window.

"And dangerous," Austin added, standing close to her.

Dinner had been tense and exhausting for them. Laura spent most of it explaining tomorrow’s court customs while Dorian pointed out the nobles which were likely to become problems. By the time the meal ended, everyone looked drained from both the long journey and the thought of what awaited them the next day. One by one, everyone finally retired to their rooms.

Alina had just finished unpinning her hair when someone knocked at the door.

"Austin!!"

She recognized his knock immediately and opened the door.

"Come with me," Austin said, offering her his hand.

Alina accepted it without hesitation, and he led her through the corridors to a small terrace overlooking the glowing city below. He had noticed it while the servants escorted the k to their rooms earlier.

Kaelara looked unreal at night. Alina smiled and stepped closer towards the edge slowly.

"She saw this every day, and still chose to leave," Alina couldn’t understand her mother. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Austin wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

"Because some things matter more than beautiful places."

She turned towards him slightly.

"You make everything romantic," she laughed.

"That’s because I’m trying very hard not to panic," he admitted.

"Are you scared?" she asked.

"More than I should be," he laughed. "I’m in a foreign kingdom where half the nobles probably want me dead."

"Then you should have stayed at Ravenmoor," she joked.

Austin shook his head and smiled.

"There is nowhere in this world I would rather be than beside you."

Alina smiled back and immediately pulled him into a tight hug. Their journey had ended but the real battle was only beginning.