The man''s voice grew darker, "That Dorothy, she was once the king''s personal bodyguard, but rumor has it she was actually the king''s mistress!"


    Thaddeus''s mind reeled. "Mistress?!"


    "I don''t know all the details," the man continued, "I was just a kid when she was convicted of high treason. Everything I know, I''ve pieced together over the years from various sources around the pce."


    He continued, "Word around the castle was that the king was head over heels for her. They were practically husband and wife in all but name. Rumor even has it she was carrying the royal heir! Then, out of nowhere, she''s sentenced to death for treason and bes a fugitive, globally wanted. Vanished without a trace for thirty years. For all we know, she could be dead in some foreignnd by now." Thaddeus''s grip on the balcony railing tightened, his knuckles whitening.


    This was a lot to take in, way beyond what he had imagined, muddling his thoughts. "If she truly loved the king, why would she turn into a spy?"


    "That''s the million-dor question," the man replied. "The word on the street is that she was driven to it by the queen herself. You''ve seen those soap operas about royal court drama, right? Pce intrigue is a deadly game, even now it''s a swirling undercurrent. Especially since the queen was a neer to the king''s life, his second wife, not his first. A female guard bearing the royal child ahead of her? That was a disgrace she couldn''t bear. What she might have done in her desperation doesn''t surprise anyone."


    A cold shudder ran through Thaddeus, unsettling his very core.


    If Dorothy truly was Evadne''s mother, and if there was truth to his friend''s ims, then the mystery of Evadne''s lineage was a quagmire, a mire. A step too far, and he might never recover.


    "Brother, let me give you a piece of advice. Stay out of the Helgen royal family''s business. The further away, the better."


    The man''s warning was heartfelt. "All I can tell you is, not all rumors about the Helgen royals are false. Some of them are very much true!"


    "Thank you, friend. But I''ve already taken the step, and I''m not backing down."


    Thaddeus took a deep breath, his fists clenched. "If youe across any information about Dorothy, please let me know. I''m not afraid of a little trouble or danger. I just want to uncover the truth!"


    *InThe next day, at 4 a.m.


    Evadne woke up suddenly from a night of restless dreams, her thin nightgown soaked with cold sweat. "Thaddeus!"


    "Evadne, I''m here."


    Hearing her anxious call, Thaddeus hurried into the bedroom. He sat by the bed, his strong arms scooping up her delicate waist like waves engulfing a shell, holding her close.


    "Nightmare?" His voice was soft and husky as his nose brushed against her cheek.


    "Yeah... I got scared." Evadne rested her forehead against his jaw, sniffing, her voice quivering with tears. "I dreamt... you didn''t recognize me. No matter how much I cried or called out, you wouldn''t turn back to look at me, just walked further and further away..."


    "Silly girl, don''t scare yourself." Thaddeus stroked her hair. "That''s something I should be saying. Because something like that will never happen to me."


    "You... stayed up all night?"


    "Yeah, had a lot on my mind, couldn''t sleep." Truth be told, he had spent the entire night pondering his friend''s words and searching the for anything on the Helgen royal family, to no avail.


    Evadne''s slender arms wrapped around his neck, her lush lips meeting his, seeking, exploring. Thaddeus''s breathing grew heavy, his response passionate.


    "Elvis... any word yet?" She gasped, cheeks flushed with shyness.


    "It''s handled, don''t worry. We''ve got this." Thaddeusid her gently back down, his broad frame hovering over her, unable to resist another kiss. "It''s still early, get some rest. Wait for my good news."