Page 13 of Stolen Magic (All That Glitters #2)

My Dearest Gwendolyn, the letter began. As the day of our union draws nearer, my thoughts are ever more with you.

I find myself counting the hours until I may finally call you my wife and partner in all things.

Our kingdoms will soon be joined, and my hope is that our hearts will follow.

I wish to know more of your desires for our future, for it is my deepest wish to see them fulfilled .

I rolled my eyes. His diplomatic words were perfectly strung together to convey warmth and partnership, yet to me they were nothing but another move in this elaborate round of chess—him positioning his pieces in preparation for a game that he believed only he knew was being played.

I glanced towards the closed door leading to the room where Princess Gwendolyn bathed; I likely had a quarter of an hour, perhaps a little while longer if I was lucky, just enough time.

With a cold smile, I picked up my quill to craft a response in the princess’s stead; it felt heavy in my hand, each stroke laden with the dual purpose of deception and discovery.

This was the perfect opportunity not only to impersonate Princess Gwendolyn, but to seek some of the truths that had long eluded me and subtly begin weaving my influence into the fabric of my and the prince’s upcoming interaction.

It was time to lay the groundwork by manipulating my future union for my revenge.

My Beloved Callan . I winced at the necessity of adopting such a sappy, flowery script, extra blasphemous when used to address my enemy.

Your words bring warmth to my days. I too eagerly await our forthcoming marriage. With each day that brings us closer to our union, I find myself reflecting on the legacy we will inherit and the one we will build together, as well as reflecting on the vast responsibilities we will share.

I paused, considering how best to introduce the topics that burned at the core of my quest without arousing suspicion.

This was an opportunity to not only subtly assert an advantageous dynamic, but to hopefully obtain context to the political situation that I’d been unable to find midst my secret midnight perusals of the castle library.

Choosing my words with care, I continued:

I have always believed that a true union is built on transparency and understanding.

It is my fervent hope that we will strengthen the bonds not only between ourselves but between our kingdoms. I would be most grateful for your counsel in navigating the intricacies of your homeland, particularly in matters of state and diplomacy.

I wish to understand every facet of our shared future—including the more difficult truths our realms may face, particularly the lingering tensions and silent wounds tied to the magic that once flowed through our lands.

I couldn’t help but be grateful for the princess’s innocence that lent credibility to the words I wrote in her stead. She undoubtedly wanted a union of peace just as desperately as she desired this marriage to be one of love…though I, draped in her identity, had different plans.

With each word, I felt a twinge of guilt for using Gwendolyn’s identity to probe into matters so personal to my vendetta. Yet the need to uncover the truth about Mother’s death and the theft of our power urged me forward.

I would be most grateful if you could share how Eldoria has addressed such matters. Understanding your kingdom’s response to its historical challenges will help me stand beside you not just as your wife, but as a queen who supports your vision and helps guide our shared rule with wisdom.

My heart tells me that confronting these shadows from our past will bring healing and deepen the trust between us. I long to understand any wounds left by ancestral magic or past grievances—so that we may begin our future unburdened by the pain of what came before.

The moment felt significant as I sealed the letter with the royal emblem.

This was no ordinary correspondence—it was a weapon cloaked in ink, a calculated move in a game that stretched far beyond the page.

With each word sent to the treacherous prince, I wove a tighter web around the truths I sought, carving a path not just to the throne, but to vengeance, bringing me one step closer to avenging my mother and reclaiming what was rightfully ours.

The prince’s response arrived by courier within a week, and I was able to once more successfully intercept it before Princess Gwendolyn was made aware of its existence.

My hands almost trembled with anticipation as I opened it in the privacy of my room, the weight of the revelations it potentially contained pressing upon me as I unfolded the parchment.

Prince Callan’s now-familiar script flowed across the page: Dearest Gwendolyn, Your words have touched me deeply, and I appreciate your desire for openness and understanding between us. It is a sentiment I share wholeheartedly .

I braced myself for platitudes and the diplomatic niceties that cloaked more than they revealed, yet as I continued reading, the content took a turn that caught me off guard.

Regarding the historical grievances you mentioned, it is a history that weighs heavily on my heart as well.

The tales of lost magic and ancient disputes are not just political lore but personal tragedies that affected many, my family included, a testament to the mistakes made by those who wielded power without foresight .

His words resonating with surprising sincerity gave me pause, a hint of genuine regret and personal pain that seemed too real to dismiss as mere political maneuvering.

I have dedicated much of my rule to rectifying these past wrongs, seeking out truth and reconciliation where there was once secrecy and conflict.

If we are to build a future together, it must be on a foundation of truth.

Therefore, I invite you—once you are here—to access the royal archives with me in order to learn about our shared history.

It is my hope that by confronting these issues together, we can ensure they are never repeated .

A chill rippled over me as I lowered the letter. His unexpected proposal was both disarmingly straightforward and dangerously clever, suggesting transparency by inviting me into the heart of Eldorian power—the very archives I had only dreamed of accessing.

For a moment, a flicker of doubt whispered through me. Was it possible Prince Callan was not the enemy I had envisioned but a ruler caught in the same currents of history as my own horrific past?

I didn’t dwell on this possibility long before a sharper, more strategic part of my mind reasserted itself: the guise of researching together put him firmly in control over what narrative I discovered.

Such openness could very well be a more refined strategy, a way to lure me into underestimating him.

I had no intention of falling prey to his scheme.

Even if Prince Callan was indeed sincere, the offer still made him a far more dangerous opponent than one who simply played at politics. In extending his hand, he set a stage with its own set of traps and revelations where the play of his choosing could unfold.

My mind raced as I refolded the letter. “Quite the formidable foe,” I murmured to the empty room. This wasn’t just a diplomatic letter between fiancés; it was another chess move in this elaborate game of ours, one that required consideration and an even more carefully crafted response.

As I prepared to draft a reply, I knew I had to tread with greater caution than ever.

The upcoming interactions with the enemy prince would not just be about wearing the princess’s crown, but about navigating a maze created by a man who could prove to be both an unexpected ally and a dangerous adversary.

Our exchange of moves and countermoves continued in the weeks of preparation that followed.

I did my best to gather intel from listening and prying it from my conversations with the princess, but details were sparse, leaving me almost wholly reliant on whatever Prince Callan shared…

putting him in complete control over my knowledge.

The game had indeed changed, yet for whatever lay ahead, I was determined to find a way to be its master player.