Wren flew through the skies as if she were parting the seas. She was beautiful as she flew light sparkling across her ice-blue scales. Rhea let out a shout of joy as they spiraled up into the sky, the wind rushing with them as if encouraging their flight. Rhea had just come out of a long research tunnel of work and there was nothing so much freeing as riding on the back of her sky beast as they raced the wild sky beasts through the skies.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, it heralded the time for them to go home. ‘Home.’ Rhea never thought she would have a place that would embody that word and yet here she was the lady of the Barony, hostess to the Flower Path and yet she was not weighed down as she expected life once would be. No, it was what freedom tasted like.

After making their way back home, after Rhea had made sure Wren was all tidy for the night; Rhea made her way into the estate. Lucian waited for her at the door, having no doubt seen Wren’s epic landing in the courtyard. He handed her a bundle of letters. As they walked through the halls to her office, he told her of anything she might have missed while she was at the Flower Path the last couple of days. As the next secretary for the Baron, he took his role seriously if not with a teasing smile.

“Heiress lessons will be placed on pause.”

Rhea raised an eyebrow, “Have you heard as to why?”

Lucian shrugged, “Father hasn’t informed me yet but…” he leaned forward, “I suspect it has to do with the letter that arrived by urgent post for the Baron.”

Rhea nodded before asking ALICE, ‘Have any ideas, old friend?’

[VERY FEW NOBLES CAN AFFORD URGENT POSTS, IT LEAVES ONLY THE TOP FAMILIES OR THE ROYALS.]

Brow furrowed Rhea looked to Lucian, “Thank you. Will the Baron join me for dinner this evening?”

He nodded before winking, “He’s waiting for you right now. I expect he has much to speak to you about.”

Rhea inwardly groaned, she hoped it wasn’t about another grouping of proposal letters. It wasn’t as if she wasn’t curious, but if she even bade one attention the others would no doubt wish for the same. No, it would open too many unexpected possibilities, she would stick to her no proposal or courting wish accepted for now.

At dinner, both did the completely impolite thing to do and looked at their mail while they ate. If Lady Arud was there that night, they would not have been able to spend it so leisurely.

“Are your ladies doing well?” ‘Your ladies’ referred to Alvina, Sigrid and Dana.

“Yes. They were just informing me regarding a recent visit.”

The lady who had run from the empty room in tears upon the anniversary was named Lady Eadlin Agler of the Fern region.

The Baron eyed the letter with the Fern seal, “And Favian what has he to say?”

“I was worried regarding a security risk at the Flower Path and he availed me of certain knowledge.”

The man who had fled from beneath the vacant room was Lady Eadlin’s secret lover, a commoner with very little to his name. The worst of it all was Lady Eadlin was set to marry a noble from the Marquis Zinnia province in less than a fortnight. It was all rather shocking. Rhea couldn’t quite understand the concept.

“Why would someone meet with another, when they have a suitable fiance?”

“Some would say for love.”

Rhea tilted her head, “What would you say, Father?”

“Love is unconditional. Though it is rare to find someone to love mutually in this way, it is a wonderous thing when it occurs.”

“And if this person is not of the same station?”

The Baron looked curiously at his daughter who looked at him with nothing but plain curiousity.

“What’s brought this on?”

In answer, she handed him the letters from Dana and Favian.

“I see.” He looked off into the distance, “Not everyone is given an opportunity to love the person they want.”

“An opportunity?” Rhea looked down at the letters. From her knowledge of nobility, Lady Eadlin was either slated for a loveless marriage or to be turned away from society, repelled all for loving another. Rhea rose with a nod toward her father, “I have a letter to write.”

[WHY HELP THE YOUNG LADY?]

Rhea gave a small smile, ‘Why not?’

“Before you go, Rhea, there is something we must address.”

“I have no intention of marrying anytime soon, Father.”

He waved away the notion before stating, “We have been invited by the royal family to the Crown Prince’s engagement ball.”

Rhea gave it thought. Despite loving the tale of the healer who became Empress, she had no desire to get close and get caught up in the mayhem.

She shook her head, “You can go, Father, I’m much too busy.”

“An invite from the royal family is not a request, Rhea. We are going.”

Rhea let out a small sigh, it would seem she was going to the very center of the tale. The Capital.

They left via skyship and as the Barony estate got further away on the horizon, a sick feeling swelled at the pit of her stomach.

She was about to venture into a new world again and she wasn’t sure if she was excited or terrified.