Killian fell from a horse and is badly injured." his eyes widened as he instantly arranged the carriage and we both sat in it.

"How did it happen?" he asked and I shook my head,

"Charles sent a letter to me, informing me about the incident." his face contorted.

"But my lord I was at the door all the time. I did not see a letter coming in," he added and then shook his head.

"Maybe I was too indulged in talking, I apologise, my lord," he added and my brows furrowed.

If it had been anyone else who had said so, I would have believed easily but this was Ian we were talking about, he never made mistakes.

And Charles, could I trust him!

"That man fooled me again" I muttered under my breath, as I took out the letter again and re-read it.

"Cassius, I am sending this letter urgently, Killian fell from the horse in a competition. His leg had been badly damaged. I have already called the physician, but please come as soon as possible, Killian is asking for your presence." that's it, the letter finished there. I sighed as I closed my eyes.

Then I turned the letter and opened my eye again to read the hidden part-

"I want you to think like that, and come here, as I could not imagine having a party at your palace without you, sorry for the joke, I know you are already in the carriage, so don't turn back and just come, I had already told Marianne, that you are coming. Your brother, Charles." just when I finished reading, Ian started laughing,

"Oh my, his majesty had not changed at all." and with that his laughing continued.

"That fool still had the nerve to joke even after being trapped between two swords.'' I cursed, but it only increased his laughter.

"At least we are going to attend the party now," he replied finally, stopping when he saw me glaring at him.

"I have asked you to stay there and enjoy in the morning, haven't I?" I asked and he nodded.

"But you knew that I would never leave your side, didn't you?" he added and I bit my lip as I remembered my conversation with his majesty.

"Ian, your father would be very disappointed if you leave your title of earl. Think about it again, you even have to get married this year. You are 26 now,'' I added with a bit of a harsher tone, but he had become so habitual that it didn't affect him at all.

"Your highness, the time had changed in the 10 years, now many people married late, for example, sir Damien, his highness, Philip, even her highness's brother is unmarried. Forget about men, even a few women are getting married late, like sir Roselia. Why are you against me only." all the names he counted were related to the palace only.

"Because I have nothing to do with them, and you are talking as if there was a big age gap between us, you are just 5 years younger than me," I added, why did his words make me feel like I belonged to the previous generation.

"I want to have a love marriage," he said calmly, but this was the first time his words shocked me.

"And where would you find a girl to fall in love with when all you do is to follow me around. You did not even fall in love when you were in the academy.`` I pointed and he looked out of the window.

"Ian"

"Your highness, I don't want to leave your side. For marriage in a noble family, I have to claim my title first, I would rather marry a maid to stay at the place all the time," he added and I sighed.

"You are talking like kids, and here I thought that you are the wisest one.'' I taunted but he continued to look outside as if he did not hear me at all.

I closed my eyes and sighed, "Ian do you really want that your property, your place and everything your father had done hard work for end in others hands, if you are ready to let go of your heritage, then I have nothing to say.'' I said and closed my eyes. Why was I surrounded by all the stubborn people?

"Do you really want me to leave?" his voice was filled with pain as if I was abandoning him. It formed a lump in my throat.

"I am not asking you to leave me forever, your father has worked for my father too. You just have to go, claim your position, then find a good girl and get married, then you can apply for the post again.'' I explained with the best of my patience, yet the accused look of his eyes didn't go away.

"Alright, then you must claim the title and join back, and then find a girl later" I negotiated and finally his face softened, I knew he was fooling me from the start, yet I fell into the trap. His majesty was right, I was still an emotional fool.

"Yes, you can find a bride for me later," he said in an excited tone and my eyes went wide open.

"That was not a funny joke, Ian" I snapped and he shook his head.

"You are the only elder I have, who else would do that, if not you," he pointed at the obvious and it was my turn to avoid him and concentrate on the view.

"Cassius" here, he started playing the emotional card again.

"Ian, I did not trust my own judgement when it comes to marriage, I will ask his majesty to do it for you,'' I added and he widened his eyes.

"His majesty will make my marriage another political deal, I rather stay single all my life," he said with a sigh and I closed my eyes.

"I can help you in getting the list of all the maidens of the empire, you have to choose one yourself" I deadpanned and he finally nodded.

"Your highness, we are here"