"My father knew this place well," Aleksander murmured, the way Catriona looked around making him also observe his surroundings. He had grown up here, the ivy-covered stone walls, tended cobblestone courtyard, pruned bushes, and lush atmosphere nothing new to him. But if Catriona somehow spent most of her life in a forest without being found, he could see how sturdy walls could be impressive, careful order would be reassuring, and care to detail would be considered beautiful. "The servants he picked to tend to this place were all hand picked by him. Loyal. They love this castle as much as he did. I hope I could instill that same sense of passion and commitment in them." His voice sounded a little tight, holding back emotions he dared not release here and now. "As for your parents..." He felt that now was not the right time to reveal to her the fate her family and her kingdom.

Instead, Aleksander carefully dismounted the horse as one of the servants took the beast's reigns, ensuring that he did not jostle Catriona too much as he did so. Then he carefully helped the girl down, holding her in his arms. "This girl needs a physician," he called to the entourage of servants that came to greet him. "And have a hot meal prepared for her. And a bath. Get a bed chamber ready."

"Who is she, Your Highness?" one of the maid servants asked, she and all the others doing their best to be polite as they gawked at the strange and unruly girl in Aleksander's arms.

"She is Princess Catriona," Aleksander remarked in a stiff tone as he began to march forward into the palace, in no mood to answer twenty questions to the servants. Gasps bounced around the courtyard, more attention drawn to Catriona as everyone near Aleksander tried to puzzle out their king's statement to a girl that looked like she was plucked from the streets.