The days passed at the Imperial School of Mor in a relentlessly familiar routine. One morning, as Mero was idly sketching a calendar on his desk, his gaze fell on the calendar pinned to the wall near his desk. A date circled in red caught his attention—Mandarine's anniversary. His heart raced. Horror! Misery! He had forgotten, and time had slipped away too quickly for anything to reach her in time. Panic surged within him as he counted the days passed, the weeks lost in his distractions.
He leaped from his chair, crossing the room in a few strides to grab a small package he had prepared weeks earlier—a delicate object, a silver bracelet set with a black pearl from Sel, chosen with care to reflect Mandarine's indomitable and precise character. He tucked the box into his pocket, concealing his secret with a haste he didn't seek to hide. When she entered, a woman with stern features and a strict chignon, she found him, her eyes widening in surprise at his flustered state.
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"Take this," he said, handing her the package with trembling hands. "It must reach the pirates as soon as possible, no matter the cost. Here are the precise instructions—use the fastest couriers, ensure it reaches Mandarine's island before she realizes I've forgotten so completely." His voice, usually composed, betrayed a rare nervousness, and the secretary inclined respectfully before taking the package, her calm demeanor contrasting with his urgency.
"I will take care of it immediately, Your Highness," she replied, her tone calmly contrasting with his nervousness as she swiftly exited the room. Mero remained alone, his heart pounding, staring at the empty space where she had stood. He had chosen this gift with such care, a symbol of their bond that he hoped would touch Mandarine, even with the delay. But the thought that she might receive it too late, or worse, judge it as insufficient, gnawed at him like an endless storm. He sat down heavily, hoping that she would understand his oversight as a mishap and not a lack of love, and that this gesture, even belated, would still warm her heart until they met again.
