"I shall find the time to do so, but if you do not hear from me, it may not be I who was intercepted, but my messenger. As you have just said, the roads between kingdoms are dangerous," Eliezer replied to her request.

He had not expected her to kiss him right there and then, and it was something that he probably had to get used to, not at a certain time and place, but her kisses in general. He knew that she would be rather unhappy to hear the news, seeing how much she had enjoyed her time with him, but he still thought it right to inform her about it for it was the courteous thing to do, especially since she had come to be someone really important to him.

"Well then, these orphans will now know who their favorite prince is," he blurted out in response to Raven expressing her gratitude to him, and immediately regretted it. [i]Good grief Eliezer, you are not funny. Do not try to be![/i] "I... shall take my leave now. Until we meet again, my lady."

He turned to exit the house, calling out to his guards and maid to inform them that they were leaving. Waving goodbye to the village folk and children, he got onto the carriage with the palace staff present and the vehicle drove away.
[hr]
Back at the palace, Eliezer had an unexpected visitor to his room as he tried to rest early for his journey the next day. He turned at the knock on his door frame, expecting to see Mathazar or one of the palace servants. To his surprise, it was his queen mother instead who stood at his doorway. This was a rare occurrence, for he hardly saw either of his parents before sunset, but he did not question her visit and allowed her to speak first.

"Eliezer," she began, stepping into the room. "I came to bid you farewell, for I will not be able to see you off tomorrow."

"I understand, mother, and I appreciate the thought."

The queen walked right up to her son before she continued. "Pray do your best, it is in the best interest of Dainia that this agreement goes through."

Eliezer was slightly confused, finding such advice to be rather redundant. "Have I ever failed you and father?"

"There is a reason for my concern," Velda explained. "You see, word has been going around that a matter, not of relevance, has been taking up much of your time and effort."

Recalling what he had been doing the past few days, Eliezer let out a sigh, still somewhat doubting the appropriateness of the actions he had taken so far. "If I may, how did you and father fall in love?"

"Love?" It was now the queen who was puzzled. She reached up to feel if her son was warm. "Are you unwell, Eliezer?"

The prince took a step back before she could touch him. "I- I am well, mother. Forgive me, it was strange to ask."

Velda raised an eyebrow. "Is that it? Are you... in love?"

This was something else that he doubted, for he knew that he would need much more time to fully grasp the concept of love. "I am unsure..."

"Hmm? Who is this lady whom you are unsure about?"

Eliezer remembered his agreement with Allister not to reveal Raven's true identity to anyone, and that he also wanted to keep her safe himself. "She is a commoner, from the village. An intelligent, diligent, and beautiful lady."

Velda only smiled lightly. "I always knew you were a practical one. Why has she not been introduced to your father and I?"

"If it pleases queen mother, I shall arrange a meeting when I return."

The queen nodded before turning to leave. "Farewell, Eliezer. I wish you the best."