NATHAN

"It must be someone that the Emperor can’t touch," said Scanderoon. "If he could’ve taken over the Rosebright properties and military, he would have. Even wise kings who seek peace for their people have to protect their throne. Sometimes through ruthless means. Grand Princess Bellifer and Theodore Rosebright were in love, so it wasn’t just a political marriage."

"Who has more power than the Northern Realm Emperor?" I asked. "And if the Rosebrights have been around since the first emperor, why aren’t they more well known?"

"Those who know about them are in the upper echelons of society. But I suspect the Emperor made an effort to remove the Rosebrights from the public consciousness. Not only so people would forget that they wielded such power, but also so that whoever made his sister and her family disappear would surface."

"What do the Willowmarshes and Pagemoores have to do with the missing Rosebrights?" asked Hune.

"That’s an excellent question, Mr. Hune," said Scanderoon. "How long until we arrive at Amaranth Manor?"

"It’s been about ten minutes," said Hune, "so at least another twenty minutes until we reach the mansion."

"Plenty of time, dear fellows, to tell you a story..."

***|***|***

THE SCANDEROON TELLS US ABOUT THE ROSEBRIGHTS

The Rosebrights have been part of the Northern Realm practically since it’s founding. Trusted by emperors, beloved by commoners, wanted by nobles for marriage, for political gains, for military efforts, for damned near everything.

The Rosebright lineage, however, sometimes threatened to peter out because there was a hereditary issue with males. Still, the Rosebrights managed to keep their line going, though the family members were fewer than most other families. That is to say, an extended family really didn’t exist for the Rosebrights.

However, the Rosebrights treated friends like family, and that was the case with the Willowmarches and to a lesser degree, the Pagemoores. The Willowmarches had a long history of military achievements and generals, and that often aligned with the Rosebright’s own military interests.

The Pagemoores had some cache in society because they’d produced so many Imperial scholars. They were very well acquainted with the Willowmarches and spent a lot of time, especially during summers, at Amaranth Manor. The Willowmarches hosted a lot of different families over the summers, including the Stoneharts and the Rosebrights.

If you’re wondering if the Stoneharts knew the Rosebrights, they did, in the same the Stoneharts knew everyone in high society, not to mention most royalty. The Duke, that is to say the previous Duke Stonehart (RIP), was a close confidente of the last emperor. The Stonehart family has been entangled with the emperors since the first dynasty.

The trouble started when the Willowmarches coveted a certain artifact that belonged to the Rosebrights. In fact, it was an item that was passed along from generation to generation, and it had one purpose: to grant the heir a single wish. One the heir made the wish, the artifact wouldn’t work again until the next heir inherited it.

The Willowmarches had lost a lot of money thanks to Mr. Willowmarch’s unfortunate gambling habit. In addition, old scandals were surfacing and questions about whether or not the Willowmarches actually earned the military merits given to their family.

The night the elder Mr. Rosebright died, the artifact was bestowed on the heir, However, there was a mourning period that needed to be observed and then there was a centuries-old ritual that needed to take place. Only then could the heir make his wish.

***|***|***

INTERRUPTION BY NATHAN

"This sounds like a fairy tale," I said.

"Oh, good. You’re getting the gist of it." Scanderoon smiled.

"Where do the Pagemoores fit in?" I asked, impatient. "They’ve always been cold to Sophia. And insistent on the marriage to Jace."

"I’ll get to that. But I have a question for you, Your Grace. Who told you about your betrothal to Sophia? How did you know she was supposed to be your bride?"

"After my grandfather died, I found the betrothal letter."

"Did you not see the Rosebright name on it?"

"I..." I thought back to the first time I’d read the letter. "No. I don’t recall the Rosebright name being on the document."

"Forget-me ink," murmured Scanderoon. "Classic."

"Forget-me ink?" I asked. "What the hell is that?"

"It’s a type of ink that, when used to write words ... such as the last name of your betrothed ... you will forget them."

"Why wouldn’t my grandfather want me to know my bride’s last name?"

Scanderoon shrugged. "Maybe he wanted you to remember the betrothal without revealing too much about Sophia. Maybe he did it to protect her. Or protect you."

"Such an ink can’t exist," exclaimed Hune. "What is it made out of?"

"Magic, my friend."

"One of your peddled items?" I asked.

"Of course. I didn’t have very many inkwells of it and I charged a pretty penny." Scanderoon clucked his tongue. "I’m surprised you didn’t try to steal the bride, Duke."

"I was on leave from the military, and my work in the Western Realm. I only had enough time to go to my grandfather’s funeral. It didn’t matter at that point because Sophia was not only engaged to Jace Willowmarch, she was in love with him. As long as she had happiness, I could leave the country and be satisfied."

"And yet a mere three months after being wed to Mr. Willowmarch, she was ready to call it quits."

"I’m sure Penelope Shire forced the issue. No wife wants to share her husband with a mistress."

"But you showed up at the Hunter’s Ball because you wanted to claim Sophia. Why did you decide to go for it?"

How was I supposed to answer Scanderoon’s question. Oh, I remember my past life where my beloved died a horrible death and I wanted prevent it in this life. I frowned at him. "None of your business. Weren’t you telling us a story?"

"Let me set the scene. It’s the night that the heir will make his wish. His wife, Bellifer, his young adopted brother Gable, his parents, and his three-year-old child are in the basement of Thornbowry, the sprawling mansion of the Rosebrights. The artifact sits on its pedestal, waiting for the heir to activate it..."