I shook my head, my forehead wrinkling as my brows drew together. "What's going on? I assumed, you know, preparations for war." I paused, considering. "Is that why you're here? Saying goodbye?"

He chuckled. "I'm the General of the First Army, which is in charge of protecting the heart of Stag Court. While I certainly was busy these past nine days due to the assassination attempt, I don't go off to war. My army fights monsters, assists with natural disasters, and provides protection to people as they travel. So, no, I'm not saying goodbye. But our prince is."

My expression darkened, anger roiling behind my eyes and making my chest hurt. Of course he was. He was going to cut his way across a nation, punish an entire Court for two people hurting me. "If I made such an impression on him—"

"Leah," he said again, cutting me off.

There was an edge of exasperation to his voice that made me flush again, in embarrassment. I wanted to apologize, but there was no reason to put Alluin in that position. "I've been stewing alone for too long, I think," I said at last, my voice quiet. "I would like to hear what you came to say."

"Things along the border of the Court of Mercy have been tumultuous for a while," Alluin said with a sigh. "It's a wild area, mountainous and forested, and easy to creep across the border without notice for a long time. People get into spats, including the marquesses, which usually amount mainly to little squabbles and skirmishes. Lady Rynsandoral is the most powerful marchioness along the border, and she's been trying to settle things down, but this assassination attempt likely came from the crown."

"I knew about Lady Rynsandoral," I said after a moment. "At my first revel, she asked me to find Dain, and ask her to speak with him. And he did."

Alluin nodded. "Yes, they've continued corresponding, and I thought things were settling. But it seems that the Court of Mercy wants a war, and our prince's words in open court would give it to them. Except," he said, when I opened my mouth again, "that it's Crown Prince Sundamar going to the Merciful Palace, and not the angry soulmate who called himself the Beast of Phazikai. He's planning to..." Alluin made a pained face, his cheek twitching and eyes fluttering closed. "Apologize."

"He's what now?" I asked, unable to keep quiet. "That's going to get him killed!"

"That's what I said, almost word for word," Alluin said with a grimace. "But yes. He is planning to go to the Merciful Palace, bend his knee, and offer an apology to the King of Mercy. Not an easy thing for our prince to do, to offer obedience to someone else."

"He's done it before," I said, thinking of Dain telling me to do whatever I wanted with him.

"Has he," Alluin said, sounding fascinated.