The dragon landed on the now deserted mountains with Alexander and Isadora dressing up. Fortunately, all the witches had been annihilated so there was no fear of being seen by anyone.

"That was awesome," Alexander said slipping in his pants but Isadora only blushed at the comment. She had never done such a thing before though it felt so good to be completely filled by him. She quickly brushed the thought away and approached the already sad dragon.

"He might sleep forever I fear, and he’s the last of his kind," Said Alexander buttoning his shirt now. "Think about it carefully."

"He can’t stay with the humans. I can’t afford to see everything go into flames would he run berserk." Alexander simply shrugged his shoulders at that.

Isadora telepathically instructed the dragon to walk into the cave, and though whining, the Whirlock reluctantly walked into the darkness, where it belonged.

"Let’s go. We have an empire to build." Alexander held her hand and led her back to Crescia.

The city itself was a mess. Alexander and Isadora spent the better part of the day hearing grievances from Crescian citizens whose homes had been burnt by the Arcadians. Roselyn was also present and when she couldn’t take it anymore, she took blame of everything and promised to pay the poor citizens.

"You wouldn’t have said that. That would run Arcadia’s treasury dry," Felista said trotting behind Roselyn.

"I don’t care about the treasury mother. All I care about is peace."

"You’ve not even sat on the throne child yet you are promising people things. What if the council doesn’t believe you?"

"The council will believe me mother. Besides, you have the letter to back me up unless you are planning otherwise," she said and walked off her mother.

Felista let out a sigh before she walked to her room to prepare for the journey that awaited them ahead. Alexander and Isadora had offered to escort them were things to go haywire.

Arcadian customs were strict and that was why Felista feared for her daughter. The Queen could not rule without a king regent. So was the law of the Arcadians. The council wouldn’t waste the opportunity to select some fat rich lord for her to marry. Not that Roselyn wasn’t aware of all that. Felista couldn’t understand why she was so hellbent for the crown. It was her right by birth, still.

The journey to Crescia was a long one, especially through the sea route, so the royal caravan opted to travel on horseback. Henry’s body was carried as well, with all the knights of the three kingdoms escorting the Royalties.

"I never thought Valorians would walk side by side with Crescian knights," Alexander jeered. They were inside a carriage with Isadora and Roselyn and Felista were in another.

"And so did I," She replied.

"What are your plans for Crescia, Your Majesty?" Alexander asked on a serious note.

"Rebuild the houses and broken walls maybe. Forge an alliance with you after we get married?"

"I’m... Yes. That’s a good plan. What about Arcadia? I thought we’d create an empire, the three of us." He suggested.

"We need to talk about it with Roselyn after she gets crowned. I wonder who she’s going to marry as King regent?" Isadora looked at him for a moment and he was clearly pissed off.

"You still like her, don’t you?" She asked.

"You think so?" He asked, forcing a smile.

"I know so," she answered with a stern face.

"Then you must be mistaken my lady. Roselyn was only a childhood friend of mine. I never liked her even as a child. I used to bully her and she’d always run back to her kingdom crying," he laughed out but Isadora didn’t find it funny.

"Don’t tell me you are mad because I said that?"

"She’s my friend and I can’t stand somebody talking bad of her," Isadora defended.

"You’re the one who brought up the topic so I have you to blame," Alexander said. The carriage suddenly came to a halt casting a frown on Alexander’s face.

"What is it Brandon?" He asked from the safety of the carriage.

"It’s Her Highness, Your Majesty. She needs to... relieve herself," he said the last part in a whisper.

"To whom does Sir Brandon owe his loyalty to?" Isadora asked. She had noticed him walk by Alexander’s side the whole day yet he was an Arcadian knight, a princess’s personal knight at that.

"Thought having him by my side would be one of the ways to unite the realm," Alexander answered before the carriage moved forward and the journey continued.

"He has not taken his vows and sworn his loyalty to you, still?" She raised a brow. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"I’ll talk to Roselyn first. Courtesy demands you inform a Lord or Lady before taking from them what is rightfully theirs."

"Wish father was here to see the man to whom I’m getting married to," she said, but it sounded as a question rather than a statement. Alexander had never spoken of marrying Isadora openly and it worried her. They had done it more than once but still outside of marriage. What if he changed his mind? Now was the best time to do it since the war was over.

"Would he like me?" Alexander asked instead crushing all her hopes into nothingness.

"I don’t think so," she answered, looking him in the eye. Alexander had to raise a brow after which silence reigned in the once vibrant carriage. Isadora opted to fumble with her hair while a confused Alexander glanced her way every second in hopes of getting a word from her.

"Did I do something wrong?" He asked when he couldn’t bear it anymore.

"Why would you think so?" She asked, forcing a smile.

"You haven’t talked to me for a while now. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. I’m just tired," she said and stretched her muscles to show she meant her words. Alexander wanted to protest but a knight announced they had arrived and a curious, or maybe not curious, Isadora looked at the capital of Arcadia through the open window.