Hours, days, weeks went by. Summer came and still no letter from Augustin. Edgar had a dull feeling that Prince never wanted to see him again. The flame of hope in Edgar's heart grew smaller. Burning but it would just take a breath to extinguish it. Edgar kept up his facade of the young Earl. He clung to any task his Father gave him. Be it ever so stupid and unnecessary, he did it anyway. Just to escape the increasingly empty feeling of his heart.

"Good morning mother. " Edgar ran up to his mother with a smile on his face. The lady was already sitting at the richly set table in the dining room. Just as radiantly, the count's wife now looked to her son. "A letter arrived early this morning. " You could feel the joy behind her words. Edgar's eyes widened, an electric feeling spreading through his body. It felt like love was making its way back into his heart. He bobbed up and down a little, to give the feeling room to spread it wings.

“Is it Augustin’s?”, “I don’t know, Angel, you’ll have to find out for yourself.” Out of nowhere, his mother conjured a white envelope out of her sleeve. It could be seen from far away that it was a letter from Nefarious. After all only King Konstantin uses the expensive Royalty Blue wax, instead of the mostly romantic red ones. With trembling fingers, he grabbed the letter from his mother’s delicate hands. A quiet “thank you”, left his lips as he left the room.

Like a disturbed bird, he escaped into the garden. The garden was the only spot, that made him feel like Augustin where right next to him. With the cliffs in view, he ripped the letter open. It didn’t matter if the letter would rip apart or not. As the envelope made its way to the grass beneath his feet. Edgar read the first line with an aching heart, the young Earl’s legs went numb. Tears made their way down his flushed cheeks. For a few minutes he sat on the grass, still damp from the dew, then straightened up and walked at a more sedate pace back to the dining hall. Back in the hall, now another set of eyes piercing his appearance. The pair of eyes belonged to the Earl. The old man looked towards his son. With a quick nod, the two came to an understanding.

“Mother. Father. I will ride back to Nefarious! Today! Now, actually!“

Without awaiting a word nor reaction from his parents, the young Earl stormed off in the direction of the stables. He would not need any luggage, for Augustin had not returned his clothes. Which also spoke to the small flame of hope in Edgar's heart. 

Meanwhile, a heated conversation broke out between the Earl and his wife in the dining room. "Does he have to run after that Prince!" the Earl was enraged by his son's actions.

“Let him be, Bear.“ With a cynical grin she spoke her next words, “ Didn't you run after me too?“

A soft giggle left her throat. But the Earl could not take a joke at the moment. He just saw his only heir make a run for himself. And that for a Prince that did not wish for his attention.

“Can't this Augustin throw himself at Adelheid, or Meredith. After all our daughters would make good princesses! But Edgar. . . tsk.“ 

Shaking his head, the Earl left the dining room. Stopping just before his chambers, he saw Edgar riding his gelding through the castle gates.

“This Prince will be the death of you Edgar. Trust me.“ 

With a smile on his face, the Earl continued to make his way to the chambers.