Lance stepped in this ti, his tunic already sparkling faintly as if he’d just erged from a glitter storm.
"I assu Leo bribed you with frozen sugar?"
"Maybe," Evelisse replied carefully.
"Typical," Lance said with a sigh, striding over. He placed a folded piece of parchnt before her. "Behold: Luminous Lake."
The paper opened into a painted map of a glowing forest surrounding an iridescent lake.
"It shines with bioluminescent lilies," he explained, "and the lake sings at night. Actual lullabies. No monsters. No crowds. Just us, glowing water, and Felix drawing constellations in the sky."
"That sounds peaceful."
"There’s a floating dock shaped like a crescent moon. It glides when you sing to it."
Evelisse blinked. "That’s oddly specific."
"I looked it up. Also, you can fish rainbow fish that giggle."
Fluffy muttered, "That’s creepy."
Lance held her hand gently. "I know the others will pester you. But if you choose the lake, I promise to choreograph a dance on the water. Just for you."
Evelisse bead. "I shall place this in my shortlist."
[♡ Affection Points Increased: 10]
[Total points accumulated so far: 770♡]
"Thank you, my princess," Lance said dramatically, giving her a low bow before striding out with the flair of a theater perforr.
Fluffy faceplanted onto the map. "I’m not going to survive this."
"No one is," Evelisse whispered.
There was a mont of silence—until the next knock.
Callum poked his head in, a scroll tucked under his arm. His glasses glinted in the lantern light. "Am I interrupting?"
"No, brother Callum. Please co in."
He walked in and unrolled the scroll with great care. "I know the others will aim for flash and flair. But I offer: The Crystal Forest."
Evelisse’s eyes widened. "That’s real?"
Callum nodded. "A hidden forest where the trees are made from living gemstones. It’s quiet. Reflective. And protected by a magical boundary that echoes music from the crystals."
"It sounds enchanting."
"There’s also a rare flower there that only blooms once every ten years," he added. "I think it’s due to bloom next week. A historian might cry if we get to see it."
"Will you sketch it?" Evelisse asked.
[♡ Affection Points Increased: 10]
[Total points accumulated so far: 780♡]
He smiled. "I’ll make you a full illustrated book."
She placed her teacup down. "That is a noble offering."
"Sleep on it," he said gently, giving her hair a gentle ruffle before leaving.
No sooner had the door clicked shut when it opened again—this ti without knocking.
Jared slid in like a bard who knew he wasn’t invited but always welco anyway. "Presenting: Sunwhistle City."
Evelisse raised an eyebrow. "That doesn’t sound like nature."
"It’s not. But it’s got culture," Jared said, producing a rolled parchnt tied with a pink ribbon. "There’s music, art festivals, dancing fountains, and food carts from a hundred regions."
"That does sound fun."
"I’ll write you a song there. No—an opera," Jared added dramatically. "The Princess of the Whistling Sun!"
She giggled. "And will I have to sing in it?"
"Only the final note. I’ll train you myself."
Fluffy whispered, "I’m terrified."
Jared pulled a cherry tart from his sleeve and offered it to her. "Bribery, in case you’re still undecided."
"You’re all bribing ."
"You’re adorable and hold power. We must."
[♡ Affection Points Increased: 10]
[Total points accumulated so far: 790♡]
He kissed her forehead and exited in a swirl of blue velvet.
Then ca Felix.
He didn’t speak imdiately. Just held up a painting.
It was... beautiful.
A wide desert oasis under starlight. Soft blue dunes, tents shaped like flowers, glowing mushrooms on tall stalks, and a lake shaped like a heart. In the middle, a chibi version of Evelisse in a flowing cloak held Snugglewuff like a warrior queen.
"I call it Dreamdrop Oasis," Felix whispered. "It ca to in a dream."
Evelisse stared, speechless.
"There’s a magical zoo there," he added. "The animals are made of stardust. They giggle when you pet them."
"You all are obsessed with things that giggle," Fluffy muttered.
Felix handed her the painting. "It’s okay if you don’t pick it. But I wanted to show you sothing beautiful anyway."
Her chest ward. "Brother Felix... this is incredible."
[♡ Affection Points Increased: 10]
[Total points accumulated so far: 800♡]
"Thank you." He bowed and left quietly.
Evelisse had just placed Felix’s delicate painting beside her tea when the door creaked again.
Lucien entered without knocking. No dramatic flair. No scroll tied in glitter ribbon.
Just Lucien—in his neat tunic, gloves still on, and expression unreadable.
She sat up straighter. "Brother Lucien?"
He approached with quiet steps and stopped in front of her, holding sothing behind his back.
"I trust the others have overwheld you with promises of glowing lakes, howling mountains, and sugar towers?"
"I have been... thoroughly briefed," Evelisse said, trying to sound mature.
Lucien said nothing for a beat. Then, he brought out what he was holding.
It wasn’t a scroll.
It was a plain, hand-bound notebook. The edges were a little worn.
He handed it to her silently.
Evelisse opened it.
Inside were detailed notes. Pros and cons of potential locations—marked for terrain, safety asures, guard presence, climate conditions. Even notes on how long it would take to reach each by carriage, how secure the magical borders were, and which areas were under Council surveillance.
’This is so detailed shit! Is this the power of being a crown prince?! Damn!’ Evelisse thought as her eyes doubled in size.
"Language, princess!" Fluffy chastised.
’Not like he can read my thoughts, hmph! I can’t be prim and proper 24/7.’ Evelisse countered while pretending to soak up all detailed notes, page by page.
"You made... a risk assessnt?" Evelisse whispered, blinking.
Lucien gave the faintest nod. "I knew you’d be thinking seriously. So I compiled what I could."
"But Brother... this is... incredible."
[♡ Affection Points Increased: 10]
[Total points accumulated so far: 810♡]
"You don’t have to pick mine," Lucien said, still not eting her gaze. "I just wanted you to have every fact. You’re the youngest. But you’ve shown more judgnt than so of us combined."
Evelisse’s heart thudded.
Lucien finally looked up.
"If you want to lead soday... even just a little... you should start now. With knowledge."
He turned, then paused in the doorway.
"There’s no perfect place. Only the right reason to go."
And then he left.
No explanation.
No nad location.
Just a quiet vote of confidence.
Just Lucien, trusting her.
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