Eliezer was seated at his desk as he pulled some paper out. After picking up the quill pen that he was about to use, he paused for a moment to gaze at his name engraved onto it. As he ran a finger over the lettering, he then hesitated to write with it. Using a gift from Raven to write to another lady would be inappropriate, would it not? He was unsure, but decided to put it back where it had been and use another. It was as if in spite of all that had happened, the item still held some significance to him. His knight walked in as he was writing, and he glanced up to look at him for a second before returning to his task.

"What kept you, Sir Hildebrand?"

Not yet knowing if he should let Eliezer know about his earlier exchange with Shadow, he kept the reason vague. "Another required my attention for a short while, Your Highness. If I may inquire, what matter are you currently attending to?"

Hildebrand had noticed the prince writing a letter, and Eliezer stopped writing and cautiously glanced around before beginning his explanation. "I believe that you are familiar with Lady Adelina Nemes?"

The knight nodded, knowing the lady whom the prince had just mentioned to be a noble who was closely acquainted with the royal family and a childhood friend of the twin princes.

"Well, I am requesting to visit her, and to stay at the Nemes Estate for a few days," Eliezer continued. "I hope to leave for the Celestial Moon Festival from there, so as not to risk anyone here finding out about my disappearance. Also, after all that has happened, my need for a rest and some time away from the palace is a valid reason to make this visit. I shall have to let Lady Nemes know what I am planning to do and trust that she will aid me in keeping it secret."

Hearing that Eliezer was already making plans to see Raven, Hildebrand knew that the letter would remain with him for the time being. "I am am glad that you have decided to take this chance, Your Highness. I do hope that all goes well with this plan."
[hr]
The response from the Nemes Estate soon reached the palace, mentioning that the crown prince's arrival was to be expected. Eliezer spoke to his brother as usual, informing him of the visit and letting him know that he shall be taking over his duties until he returned. He knew that Mathazar also had a reputation to uphold at this time and would not deliberately do anything to harm Dainia just yet. A couple of days before the festival, Eliezer boarded the carriage with Hildebrand, and Mathazar, who was seeing them off, only wished his brother a safe journey and told him to have a good rest. He and Robynne shall, of course, have some spies follow them to the Nemes Estate, for they did not know if Eliezer was up to anything by making this visit.

It was a relatively short journey within the kingdom, and when the carriage of the prince arrived at the gates of the Nemes Estate, the elegant, refined noblewoman was there with her guards to greet him and all of his own who had accompanied him. When he and Hildebrand had alighted, she let Eliezer kiss the back of her hand before holding him lightly by the shoulders.

"My dear Eliezer, how long has it been?"

"My apologies for the infrequent communication, Lady Nemes. Much has been going on involving Dainia and my family," the prince responded.

She gave him a look of concern. "So we have heard. Please come inside, my guards shall escort yours to their quarters."

"May I request for Sir Hildebrand to accompany us, Lady Nemes?" Eliezer asked, gesturing to his knight. "He is a trusted companion of mine."

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Nemes," Hildebrand greeted her as he bowed.

She nodded to the knight with a pleasant smile. "Of course."

Once the three were seated in private, Eliezer revealed the reason for his visit. "I have a favor to ask of you, Lady Nemes. The day after tomorrow, Sir Hildebrand and I shall be leaving to attend to a certain matter, and we shall return by the morning after that. Nobody else is to know that we have left the estate. Pray do this for us."

Adelina stared at the prince in wonder for a moment. "Why Eliezer, if I could not tell the both of you apart, I would think that you were your brother. What is so critical that it has driven you do such a thing?"

Eliezer let out a sigh. "If you must know, there is a lady whom I must speak to. It is crucial that I do."

She gasped in amusement. "So, you are in love?"

The crown prince shook his head. "It is not like that. Well, that is not the only reason why she is important, at least. This also has to do with Dainia's relations with another kingdom."

As Adelina was still a noble of Dainia, Eliezer did not want to shock her by mentioning Lunar. He knew the general opinion of Dainia's upper-class population regarding this other kingdom, and he did not want to risk anything by telling her that the lady he was planning to meet with was the heir to the throne of Lunar.

Adelina was still entertained by the fact that the inexpressive and uptight prince was capable of romantic feelings. "And to think that everybody around us used to jest that you and I would wed someday when we were children."

"They all knew that it was unlikely, considering that you were always more fond of my brother."

"Do not say that Eliezer, I am equally fond of you both," she replied with a laugh, before cocking her head at him in confusion. "Actually, would Mathazar have not been able to help you? From what I know, he is rather skilled in this area, is he not?"

Eliezer hesitated, pondering over whether he should tell her what he knew about Mathazar or not. Adelina was his longtime friend, and he cared deeply for her. She was Mathazar's as well, and perhaps it was only right for him to let her know that his brother was not who he seemed to be. He looked to Hildebrand for validation, who firmly nodded.

"Tell her, Your Highness."

"We... have reason to believe that Mathazar is conspiring with questionable individuals against me. He does not know what I plan to do, and I must ask that you say nothing about this to him."

Adelina was stunned at this information, knowing how close the brothers had been before. "Mathazar? But was he not always there for you? He would never..."

"That was what I said when I first learned of his intention to betray me, Lady Nemes. I did not want to believe it. I thought that he cared for me more than anyone else. Please believe me now when I say that this is true," he then paused and leaned in closer to her. "He has fooled all of us into thinking that he is somebody that he is not. Pray aid me in what I am about to do, my lady. If anything were to go wrong in the process, you may deny everything, and the responsibility shall fall on me."

The noblewoman sat still, thinking for a long while, before she spoke again. "You are the heir to the throne of Dainia, Eliezer, and I therefore trust that you have nothing to gain from lying to me. You have my support."