"I should send a letter to the royal family."
The words left the Duke's mouth as more than a passing thought.
They were a decision.
The timing, at least, was ideal.
Soon, the capital would be flooded with noble youths coming of age—sons and daughters of powerful houses gathering under the pretense of ceremony, education, and polite introductions. In truth, it was a breeding ground for alliances, rivalries, and future power struggles.
A stage.
And like it or not, his daughter would be stepping onto it.
"I'll entrust the letter to Lucy," the Duke murmured, already envisioning the route south. "She'll be heading to the central region in a few days anyway."
Then his expression darkened slightly.
"…The problem is the other side."
Lucy—Luciana Draken.
Even as her father, he had to admit it.
She was far closer to a knight than a noble.
No—closer than most knights.
