บท 4: Arlan's Runaway Betrothed
The midday meal was arranged in the gazebo of the garden.
A beautiful woman in her late twenties was standing in front of the table where a luxurious spread of food was arranged. Like Arlan, she too had blue eyes and ash brown hair, the trademark appearance of those with royal blood, only hers were a hue lighter. In her slender arms, there was a small bundle of joy making adorable cooing sounds.
She was Arlan's older sister, the wife of the Duke of Wimark and the First Princess of Griven, Alvera Cromwell Wimark. The newborn baby was her second child, the first son of the WImark Household and its future lord, Ryan Wimark.
"My dearest sister, I heard you miss me?" Arlan asked as he approached the pair.
He was now clad in a light blue breasted jacket with a decorative white military cape over his shoulders. The buttoned cuffs of his white-trimmed sleeves were patterned with an oak tree design, the emblem of virtue and strength which was also the symbol of the Cromwell Royal Family.
The blue-eyed man's appearance transformed from a dangerous hunter into that of a dashing prince in white. His smile was as bright as sunlight, giving onlookers an impression that the Crown Prince was a gallant and good-natured man.
Alvera merely glanced at her cheeky brother before returning her attention to her son. "Little Ryan, as I was saying, do not be like your First Uncle. That careless brat hurt himself for no good reason. Hmph!"
"Your servants are good spies. Do you mind transferring some of them to my service?"
Only then did Alvera face the grinning man.
"Hah, you speak as if that dark squad working under you are unskilled. Those men you trained could even infiltrate the kingdoms of Abetha and Thevailes. Why are you poaching my people?"
"Of course, I still need to expand my network not just in the neighboring kingdoms, but the rest of the continent. Talented people I can trust are far and few between—"
"Stop, stop, I do not want to hear more of your bragging." Though her voice sounded annoyed, she eyed his waist with a somewhat worried gaze. "How's your wound?"
"Healed, of course. Such a small scratch disappears in a matter of seconds on its own. You know your brother is no ordinary human."
The woman sighed in relief. "Tell me the appearance of the culprit. I will order the city guards to release a warrant on the entire duchy."
"No need. I will get that person on my own."
There was a silent understanding between the siblings. Despite her reluctance, Alvera respected his wishes. She knew her brother well—once he set his mind, it was impossible to change his decision.
"Did I keep you waiting for long?" they heard someone speak, causing them to look at the newcomer.
Duke Rhys Wimark, Alvera's husband, was a tall and handsome-looking man a decade older than Arlan. The brown-haired man was wearing a knee-length coat with a rather intricate gold design, his attire indicating that he had been outside for official matters and had only recently returned to the estate. His brown eyes emitted the warmth that he had after seeing his wife and son.
"I am back, my dear." He kissed his wife on the forehead before poking his son's chubby cheek with a finger of his gloved hand. The man then observed the brother and sister. "Did I interrupt something important?"
Alvera flashed Rhys a mischievous smile. "Indeed. My heart is filled with anxiety. Our younger brother, Lenard, is getting married in less than two weeks, but the older brother remains a bachelor. Alas, without a Crown Princess, the future of the kingdom is bleak!"
Compared to his playful wife, Rhys' disposition was more serious and reserved.
Her casual remark reminded the Duke of a secret missive he recently received. "About this, I would like to report something to the Crown Prince."
"How about we talk while having a meal?" Alvera offered to which the other two agreed.
Alvera handed her child to his nanny and accompanied two men to dine.
"Is it about Arlan's missing betrothed?" Alvera asked as she received a plate of steak her husband personally cut for her.
Rhys lovingly smiled at his wife before turning to face Arlan. "Two months ago, I informed you that the traces of the Verners were spotted at the border between Megaris and Griven."
"Yes, you did."
"My spies recently informed me that they had narrowed down the area where Philip Verner and his granddaughter are likely staying. Surprisingly, this led them to believe those two are hiding within the Wimark territory. Give me a week, at most a month, I guarantee to give you good news."
The territory of Wimark Duchy shared a border with the neighboring Kingdom of Megaris, whose ruler, King Drayce Ivanov, was Arlan's close friend. Due to its location, criminals and fugitives wishing to escape to another kingdom were common in the area.
"My missing betrothed?" Arlan said as the evil smirk painted on his lips, "You mean those criminals? Duke Rhys, they better pray you find them before I do. At most, you will send them to the capital to be imprisoned, but this Crown Prince will have their heads for their crime."
Before Duke Wimark could say anything, Alvera sighed.
"You always talk about punishing them. I don't know what happened at that time and why Lord Verner ran away with her, but justice must be meted accordingly. Someone of your position must know better than let your prejudice rule over you."
Arlan raised a brow. "Those lowlives insulted the Cromwell Family. Law warrants they receive a death sentence."
The woman did not back down. "But his granddaughter was just a newborn baby when that incident happened. How could you blame an innocent child? Not to mention, you should not call your betrothed a lowlife. If she were truly lowly, our parents would not arrange your marriage with hers. It is even highly possible that Young Lady Verner doesn't know of her betrothal with the Crown Prince of this kingdom."
"If one person in the family commits a crime then the entire family has to pay for it. She might be unfortunate, but so are the countless fallen aristocrats whose titles and wealth were stripped away from them due to the foolishness of a relative. Why should she be a special case?" Arlan countered. "If she has to blame anyone, then she should blame her grandfather for breaking the trust of the royal family and taking her away with him."
Alvera was beginning to have a headache. "When you do find them, how about you first hear their reasons? Give them a fair public trial."
"A crime is a crime— one's reason is secondary. To commit a crime against the royal family is the worst one could ever do," Arlan declared. "If Father forgives them, so be it, but if I were to judge their crime, I say, 'Off with their heads!'"
Alvera sighed helplessly. "I hope you won't regret this."
As the siblings argued, the Duke of Wimark remained quiet, his thoughts unknown. He didn't meddle between the stubborn pair of brother and sister. Though his wife was displeased, Arlan was not wrong either.
At the end of the day, Rhys was a loyal vassal of the royal family, and his allegiance was to the throne. Regardless of his opinion, he would execute the orders given to him by the King of Griven— and that was to find the only survivors of the fallen Verner Family.
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