"What could the Drakemorne siblings be doing out here at midnight?"

They both turned in unison, their eyes widening in surprise as they saw the figure standing behind them. Crown Prince Kael, draped in a black robe, stood at the entrance of the bridge, his posture regal yet casual, an amused smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

"Crown Prince Kael," Leticia mumbled.

The smile slipped from Leticia’s face as they met Crown Prince Kael’s. For a brief moment, as a painful memory flashed in her mind—the ornate hallway of Vermillion Palace, wearing a shimmering gown—she had looked up at Kael with hope. But his words had shattered it.

"I wish we had never become friends," he’d said coldly, his eyes hard as he turned away. Glancing over his shoulder, he had added with an edge of cruelty, "If you appear before me again, I might just execute you on the spot."

The memory washed over her, and Leticia clenched her fists, closing her eyes to steady herself. She felt Raphael’s hand slip over hers, grounding her. “It’s okay,” he whispered, his tone firm yet soft. “I’m here.”

Opening her eyes, she looked up at him, and his steady presence gave her the strength to manage a faint smile. She nodded, her hand tightening around his.

Kael’s voice broke through their silence, sharp and demanding. “I asked you a question, Raphael. What are the two of you doing out here at this hour?”

They turned to face him, bowing in greeting. “Your Highness,” they murmured in unison.

Raphael took the lead, his expression calm yet respectful. “We were just... strolling, Your Highness. The air is clearer at night.”

Crown Prince Kael chuckled, a mirthless sound echoing through the quiet night. “Strolling at midnight?” His gaze sharpened, and his tone dropped to a steely demand. “Enough with excuses. Speak the truth.”

Raphael glanced at Leticia, concern flickering in his eyes. But before he could respond, Leticia let out a quiet sigh, stepping forward. Her shoulders squared as she held Kael’s intense gaze, a hint of defiance in her eyes. 

“We were looking for something, Your Highness.”

Kael’s eyebrow arched in confusion. “At the bridge? What could possibly be hidden under this bridge in the dead of night?”

Leticia’s heart pounded as Crown Prince Kael’s gaze settled on her. She could feel Raphael’s steady presence beside her, but Kael’s sharp question hung in the air, pressing her for answers. 

Is it better to reveal the truth now? she wondered, her thoughts racing as she weighed the risks. 

The Divine Egg would be exposed eventually, especially with Prince Alistair’s visit to Caltheria. And maybe hiding the truth could make matters worse.

It can’t stay hidden forever, she reasoned. Eventually, its existence will be exposed. And maybe... maybe Kael could help us protect it. After all, he is the crown prince and... the person I trust after my family.

Leticia took a slow breath, steeling herself. “I... was looking for something,” she began, her voice steady but low, carrying a weight that made Kael’s brow furrow in confusion. She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts before continuing, “The thing Prince Alistair is visiting for.”

The words hung in the air, and for a split second, the night around them seemed to still. Kael’s eyes narrowed as he processed her words, the pieces of the puzzle slowly starting to fall into place. “Prince Alistair?” he asked, his voice laced with disbelief. “What does he have to do with this?”

Leticia met his gaze unwaveringly, her expression firm. “It’s the reason he’s coming to Caltheria. The purpose of his visit.” She felt a strange surge of determination rise in her chest. 

After a moment, Raphael stepped closer, a mixture of concern and confusion crossing his face. 

“What purpose?” he asked, his voice laced with both curiosity and apprehension.

Leticia’s gaze turned solemn. “The Divine Egg,” she answered.

Raphael’s eyes widened slightly. “The Divine Egg?” he murmured.

Leticia nodded, her expression grave. “It’s an ancient relic—a blessing, hidden in our kingdom.”

Raphael sighed, running a hand over his face. “You should have told me. Why on earth would you sneak out alone for something like this?” His voice was filled with frustration, but beneath it lay genuine concern.

Leticia glanced at her brother, her heart clenching with a pain only she knew.

Crown Prince Kael nodded in agreement with Raphael. “Your brother is right. You should have informed the court. This is far too important to handle alone, Leticia, and—”

“I can’t do that,” Leticia interrupted, her voice steady.

They both looked at her, confusion evident in their eyes. She continued, “The Divine Egg is fragile, Your Highness. If someone accidentally finds it, if it shatters... it could unleash chaos. It’s not just a relic; it’s a symbol of power, a blessing that holds the potential to ignite a war between our kingdoms.”

Raphael shook his head, skepticism flashing in his eyes. “A mere egg can cause a war?"

“It’s not a mere egg, brother,” she replied, her tone firm. “It’s a blessing to the kingdom of Lorianthia. It only appears once every hundred years, if at all. Do you really think something that rare and powerful could be just a'mere egg’?"

Leticia’s heart clenched. Her gaze dropped on the ground, her voice soft but laced with an intensity that made it clear she spoke from a place of painful experience.

“You don’t know, brother,” she murmured, her voice trembling ever so slightly. “What a'mere egg’ can do.”

Raphael’s brows furrowed, a flicker of concern crossing his face. 

"You don't know, brother, if it falls into the wrong hands or if someone with ill intentions tries to harness its power...” She looked at them both, her voice dropping. “The egg could shatter into pieces, and that could set off a catastrophe.”

Kael’s expression darkened as he absorbed her words. “And you believe Prince Alistair is coming here to take it?”

Leticia met his gaze, her determination unwavering. “I don’t just believe it, Your Highness. I know it.”

The weight of her words hung in the air like a heavy cloud, and for a moment, both Raphael and Kael stood still, processing the gravity of what Leticia had revealed. The air around them seemed to hold its breath, as if even the night itself recognized the danger they were facing.

Kael’s gaze remained fixed on her, but there was an edge to it now—something deeper than curiosity. His next words came slowly, carefully, as though he was trying to peel back layers of a mystery he hadn’t expected. “But... how do you know all this? A secret that was hidden even to the King... How do you know all of this?”

The question hung in the air, pressing down on her. Leticia’s heart raced, and her mind scrambled for an answer—any answer. But she couldn’t tell him the truth. She couldn’t speak of the things that still haunted her—the past she had lived, the death she had endured, and the future she now carried with her like a heavy burden.

She was silent, her gaze flicking between Raphael and crown prince Kael, who waited for her answer.But she couldn’t share her secret. Not with Kael. Not with her family. Not with anyone.

 “I...” Her chest tightened as the words stuck in her throat. 

How could she explain something so impossible? That she had died and traveled back through time? That she knew the future—knew the devastating consequences of the Divine Egg for her family, her brother Sebastian? It felt like an impossible burden to bear even now, as she stood on the edge of revealing it all.