(From Demetrius''s Perspective)


    "Come with me somewhere else," she said. "I want to tell you everything in detail."


    This was something I wanted as well.


    "Yes, we need to talk as well," I nodded.


    We went to the roof, where she came here alone yesterday, and took a bath in the rain. I wished I could see her like that. But King Ford had seen her like that, in a nightgown and wringing wet.


    Seeing a woman like that, and who was also as beautiful as her, what kind of thought did that guy have?


    I shook my head and tried to get that thought out of my head. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. If I got angry now, it would be hard to focus on the present matter in hand.


    "So, white cloak... We both are thinking the same thing, aren''t we?" she said, leaning against the railing.


    "White is the royal color of Ataraxia. So, wearing white will normally mean that the woman is from Ataraxia. And then again, she can wear it normally, without thinking about anything else. A regr woman would not want to kill you. Why would she bother? She is someone from the Royal family or someone working for the Royal family.


    Or she is from another kingdom but wanted to make it look like someone from Ataraxia did it. Or perhaps she is pure dumb and did not even predict that you will stay alive," I said.


    "Right? That''s exactly what I thought," she said, her blue eyes shining brightly. Whenever I looked into those eyes, I would feel alive again. "I don''t think there is a way to know who it is for now."


    "Hmm," I murmured. "But we have to be careful."


    "I was careful, right?"


    "Yes, you were," I said. "But we need to be more careful. Keep your eyes on everything and if you find anything abnormal, inform me right away. I''m d you sent me a letter right away."


    "And I wanted to tell you something else as well..."


    "Yes?"


    "Well, this morning... Perita told me that she heard the Queen of Mazazine saying bad things about me like I am not worthy to be the Queen of Querencia and stuff like that, you know."


    "Should I take steps to teach that woman..."


    "Jeez, no! Listen up first," she said quickly. "So, Perita also heard someone defending me. Can you guess who?"


    "Another Queen?"


    She shook her head. "King Ford."


    "Are you saying that he did it for...?"


    "I have my suspicions. First of all, he can do it to show that he is on our side and wants to be on friendly terms with us. But Trouvaille cannot be allies officially because of the geographical positions. We are onpletely opposite sides. Then he means privately if I am right. Or perhaps he did it just because he wanted to."


    "The first one- that''s why he did it. He is not someone to do it just because he wanted to," I said.


    "Yes, I think so too. And then, he knew Perita was there."


    "Are you sure?"


    "Yes," she gave a nod. "Perita was returning after dueling with themander of Ataraxia knights. She is positive that both of them noticed her."


    "It means you have to thank him," I said. "You don''t have to do it if you don''t want to. I will take care of it."


    "I have done it already."


    "Already? You went to meet him?"


    "No. I sent a letter through Perita."


    "That was a good thing to do. You should not meet him, alone or not," I said. It was not just because he was King Ford, but also because I did not like her meeting unknown people much; men or women, especially men.


    "He sent me a reply as well. Perita said he wrote it right then."


    ''Right then? That quick? Usually, kings and queens take at least half a day to send a reply to another king or queen.''


    "I was surprised too," she said. "He said- Of course; I will surely stand up for someone of my own kind, especially knowing that you and I can be great partners- don''t think anything bad because I have no interest in someone who is married, at least, not romantically."


    ''I like the sound of thest part.''


    "Own kind? What did he mean by that?"


    "I don''t know. I am a human and he is a werewolf. How can we be the same kind?"


    "Own kind... Perhaps he knows that you are a dark mage," I said.


    "How will he...? Only Luc, you, and I know about it. And none of us would spread a single word outside," she said.


    "Remember I told you that Trouvaille has great spies?"


    "Even so, it''s impossible for them to find out. When we talked with Luc, he always shielded the ce with his magic so none of the words we spoke would go out that barrier. And our bedroom... it''s soundproof. And Dem, who would dare to sneak on the king and the queen in their freaking bedroom?"


    She had a point. Then how would King Ford even find out about it? My wife''s situation was kept a secret and there was no way it would slip out of any of our'' mouths.


    "Well, then, let''s say he meant the matter of me being a dark mage. But what about him? An Alpha cannot be a dark mage," she said.


    "I know about it too," I said. "But I once heard a rumor of finding traces of the usage of ck mana inside the pce of Trouvaille. And King Ford is the only one alive in the Trouvaille imperial family."


    "It must be someone else. Because King Ford is an Alpha. He cannot possibly... unless..."


    "Unless..."


    "I am thinking too far. I think my mind just wanders on its own these days," she sighed.


    "Just tell me about it."