"The palace of Arquez exists."

  Ingrid couldn't hide her restlessness. Only she knew how much she obsessed over the myth surrounding Arquez, the very lady in the myth. She even had a whole section dedicated specifically to house all of the written text she collected regarding Arquez, and her husband who was never named.

  "You're jesting!" Ingrid exclaimed in disbelief. But a big part of her hoped he wasn't.

  Prince Aleric smiled knowingly and fished a recording stone from his pocket. He inserted mana on the recording stone and in turn its flat surface glowed white, revealing a holographic image of a rundown palace.

  "We discovered this site in the kingdom of Leri. Oh, wait it's not a kingdom anymore, it's a vassal state now."

  The palace in the hologram did not look at all pleasant. The weathered stone walls were blanketed with thick brown and green moss. The gate once described in the books to be made of pure silver had turned pitch black and the castle itself looked sad, old and dilapidated. It looked as though it would all crumble with a single blow of the wind.

  "Are you saying this is the Palace of Arquez?" There was a hint of doubt and disappointment in Ingrid's voice. But what was she expecting? Wouldn't it be more strange if the palace looked as good as when it was first built knowing hundreds if not thousands of years have already passed?

  "There is no mistaking about it. Even though it looked run-down, the magic cast by Arquez's husband is still intact. Unfortunately a restriction was placed upon the castle so we couldn't inspect what was inside."

  Prince Aleric turned gloomy at the mention of the restriction. For a different kind of reason, he too holds some fascination over Arquez and her impregnable palace. Unfortunately, even after trying all kinds of methods, he was still unable to bypass the magic that protected it.

  Although disappointed, his fascination over the magnificent structure grew even more. Truly the myths were of no exaggeration. The palace was a fortress no power could forcefully enter.

  "After inspecting the palace we found a text in ancient language engraved on the left pillar next to the gate. I had several scholars interpret the text and this is what we found."

  Prince Aleric brought out a parchment from the inside pocket of his suit and handed it to Ingrid.

  Ingrid frowned as she read, "Only the blood of Amalgam is welcome in the Palace of Arquez." She looked at Prince Aleric, with a questioning look.

  "Based on what little we have uncovered, Amalgam is a tribe that existed thousands of years ago. It was a tribe known for having men with eyes more beautiful than any jewels combined and women with beauty so enchanting they don't seem human."

  Prince Aleric looked at Ingrid intently as he spoke and Ingrid instantly caught on.

  "Are you implying that I am a descendant of the Amalgam tribe?".

  "Oh I am certain," Prince Aleric answered without a hint of doubt. "Your beauty that no human could ever match is a proof in itself. I have also learned that your mother possessed a similar charm. So does your grandmother, the late grand duke's wife."

  Ingrid shook her head. "You must be mistaken. My mother and my grandmother weren't outlandish beauties. My grandmother had an ugly birthmark that covered almost half of her face so she never showed her face in public. My mother unfortunately inherited the same birthmark and lived veiling her face."

  Prince Aleric chuckled. "You are indeed a princess in her high tower."

  Ingrid's eyes narrowed at his indirect insult. Anyhow, Prince Aleric was not at all bothered by her vexed expression and continued.

  "The former grand duchess was known for being calm, benevolent, confident, and self-assured. And I heard your mother the late grand duchess has a similar personality. Unless such self-assured women had terrible husbands that forced them to hide their faces in public, a mere birthmark no matter how ugly will not push them to hide their faces from everyone including those who served under them.""

  "In the first place, the society that we live in will never allow a child born with an imperfection to grow into someone confident. That in itself poses a doubt on the truthfulness of the alleged ugliness of the duchesses."

  Ingrid opened her mouth only to close them again. Uncertainty marred her emerald orbs. Her grandmother died long before her mother married her father. Meanwhile her mother died months after she was born. She had neither met any of the two women and only heard stories about them from the old servants in the grand dukedom. Even in the family portraits hung in the room of portraits, their faces were covered with a veil.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Ingrid instinctively combed her hair with her hand as her thoughts wandered. Now that she thought about it, it was indeed rather odd how secretive the previous duchesses were of their faces.

  But her father surely has seen her mother's face. Come to think of it, she had never asked her father about her mother. She only ever asked her late nurse maid about her.

  But it's not because her father wanted her mother's identity to be hidden from her. It's because every time her mother is mentioned, sadness and grief would envelop her father's face. It pains Ingrid every time she sees her father that way, so she instinctively avoids asking about her mother.

  "I presume you are planning to use the Palace of Arquez to negotiate a deal with my father. But I don't see how marriage is relevant in this case. There is nothing in this text that requires a descendant of Amalgam to wed before they are allowed entry in the palace of Arquez," Ingrid spoke as she collected her wandering thoughts.

  "Indeed there isn't." Prince Aleric nodded and crossed his legs as he leaned on his chair. "Still I need your hand in marriage."

  "Why?"

  Ingrid frowned in displeasure. She doesn't understand why he was so insistent in marrying her when he doesn't have the slightest interest in her.

  "Because I'd like to enter the Palace of Arquez. But the only way for a man to be able to do that is to marry someone with an Amalgam's blood. And most importantly, I need security and assurance that the grand duke will put his utmost effort towards the success of the expedition."

  "So you require a wife and a hostage," Ingrid bluntly stated.

  Prince Aleric revealed an ambiguous smile. It seems that the princess in the tower is not merely observant but quick-witted as well.

  When Vernon suggested this political marriage, he thought he would be merely taking a wife meant for public display. But the more he got to know Ingrid, the more he is beginning to like this bride of his.

  "Just a wife, my lady. A hostage is meant to be either released or killed after they outlive their usefulness. Unfortunately, I do not have a hobby of killing my wife nor do I plan to dishonor a sacred oath or shame my woman by returning her to his father."

  Ingrid studied Prince Aleric's face. The way he's speaking, it was as though everything was already set in stone. That irked her.

  "And what exactly do I get in this marriage?"

  Prince Aleric flashed a confident smile. "A powerful husband that can deter any and every pest that dares lurk around you. Although I cannot promise you peace and happiness, for the palace is short of those. But I can promise that you will no longer be lonely and alone."

  Ingrid's long lashes trembled. She doubts that the prince is truly capable of ridding her of her loneliness. Yet his words still shook her. Because no one has ever thought that she was lonely and alone.

  Everyone simply thought she was lucky to have the life that she has. She has beauty that nobody could match, and a loving father that was rich and powerful. She could get whatever she wants with a simple bat of an eye. She was born an envy to everyone so nobody expected that the life of the lady on top of the pedestal to be a lonely one.

  "And how can you prove that your words are true?" Ingrid further probe.

  No matter how shaken she is by Prince Aleric's words trust is a different case. Her trust is expensive and as years pass, the price of her trust has hyperinflated.

  "More than words, I'd prefer a contract. If your highness can draft a contract that can satisfy this lady, then I shall accept your 'grand' proposal."

  Prince Aleric smiled and stood. He walked towards Ingrid and knelt in front of her chair.

  Ingrid instinctively raised her hand like an arrogant queen in front of a lowly subject. But this did not bother the arrogant conqueror. Rather, it made him chuckle in amusement. He graciously accepted her raised hand and planted a kiss on the back of it.

  This in turn made Ingrid blush. She tried to withdraw her hand but Prince Aleric held it tightly. It wasn't her intention to act with air in front of the prince at all! It was a gesture she used to do during the dubbing of new knights and it had become a habit. So whenever someone kneels in front of her while she is sitting, her first instinct is to raise her hand for them to kiss—a gesture that knights do when pledging their life to a lady.

  "Then I shall come back in a week's time, my lady. I shall make sure to draft a contract that will satisfy your every demand."

  Ingrid looked away to hide her embarrassment. However, when she turned her head back she was faced by the empty spot where Prince Aleric had been. She looked around the room but found no traces of the prince.

  It was not known what kind of ability Prince Aleric possessed. But seeing how he could come and leave Ingrid's palace as he pleased, is a testament of how powerful his ability is.

  Ingrid sighed as her weakened limbs melted on the chair. That was the most nerve-wrecking conversation she had ever experienced. She never felt that nervous when speaking with her uncle the emperor. But the Prince of Aradhya truly was in a league of his own.

  Ingrid stared at the ceiling while sorting her jumbled thoughts. Accepting the Prince's proposal was a bit reckless. But it was the best amongst all the marriage proposals she received thus far.

  He wasn't enamored by her face. He didn't promise her love. Heck! He didn't even mention it as though it was irrelevant in their conversation. And she liked that.

  Love disgusts her.

  When a man loves, he becomes a slave to his desire. And often, the subject of those desires, suffered.

  Men spoke of love with their honeyed lips as though it was the sweetest thing there existed. But as soon as their love was rejected, the sweet interior melt, revealing the bitter core.

  Blame Ingrid for being too beautiful. Had she not been, they wouldn't have lost themselves to the madness of their desire. They made her responsible for their obsession as though she was to blame for the filthiness of their souls.

  That's why he accepted Prince Aleric's proposal who neither wanted or desired her. It did not matter to her that he is only using her for his own agenda. After all, she may soon need to use him as well.

  "Time sure flies," Ingrid muttered to herself.

  Her gut is telling her that a disaster will soon come knocking at her door. But she couldn't remember what this disaster was. All she knew was that it was coming for her. And it won't stop until it sweeps her away.

  This might be a good chance to test if the great conqueror of the west is as powerful as he boasts.