Destined Couple

Foreign

Adira had raised an eyebrow at Varian bringing Andrew in and allowing him to use Quirin's bed. "Did you enjoy your date?" She asked as she shifted out of her meditative position.

"Yeah, actually. I mean, Eugene was...self-centered again, but we had fun otherwise." Varian shrugged.

"Mmhm. Who's this?" She looked at him.

"Oh, this is Andrew, Cassandra's date, and also a Saporian that we're going to be talking to tomorrow." Varian said cheerfully. "We stopped him from completing his mission and he's willing to talk things out."

"Mmnn...I'm not comfortable with him having free movement, then." Adira said, looking at Andrew pointedly. "No offense."

He shook his head. "I understand completely." He took his retractable sword out of his vest and handed it over to her. "Please, take my weapon if it will assure you that I mean no harm."

She accepted the sword and then looked at Varian. "I'm trusting your judgment, Moon."

Varian smiled. "Thanks."

–

The next morning, Rapunzel invited her two suitors, Andrew and Cassandra to a private breakfast apart from her parents, who while they didn't know about the Andrew part, were perfectly happy with Rapunzel having private meals with her suitors with Cassandra chaperoning.

"So, before we get into what you were here for, I'd like to ask you something." Varian said calmly, then set a bottle on the table. "Does this potion look familiar to you?"

Andrew blinked and took the bottle, then opened it up to give it a whiff before he closed it and swished it around a bit before finally reading the label. "'Mind-control potion'...nope."

"How about the name 'Fernanda Pizzazo'?" Cassandra spoke up.

Andrew tensed a bit. "She's...uh...I know her, yes. She's also from Saporia."

"She was arrested after she was caught giving this potion to people at a science expo." Varian explained. "She's currently in Corona's prison. Are you her accomplice?"

"When was this expo?" Andrew frowned.

"Last week." Rapunzel chimed in.

"Judging by your question, I'm going to say you're not an accomplice." Varian nodded.

"I have been in Vardaros for the past few months." Andrew assured them. "I went there and settled in with a friend, then sent my first letter to the Captain of the Guard here."

"Okay, good." Varian nodded. "Does she typically go on those missions you mentioned?"

"Fernanda?" Andrew scoffed. "No way. She's not a fighter, and is as self-serving as you can get. She tried to seduce me just for mytitle, which my sister shut down by telling her that she had to duel her for the right to date me. She backed down real fast after that." He shook his head. "No, Fernanda doesn't do any missions. If she used this potion, it was for her own selfish reasons. Does it actually work?"

"It does, and scarily so. I used it on her to find out what exactly it did and she was like a doll to control, even disregarding her own safety." Varian nodded grimly, then smiled. "Don't worry, though, I didn't let her get hurt. Just had her grab a weapon and start to attack an armed guard, which I stopped her before she could do with a simple order. Anyways, if what you're saying is true, then she only wanted to use it to make sure she got first prize at the expo." He sat back in his seat with a relieved sigh. "Good to know."

"Uh...what title?" Eugene asked, raising an eyebrow.

Andrew cleared his throat and chuckled nervously. "Oh, yeah. Uhm...I'm actually the Prince of Saporia. Technically supposed to be King, but I've been refusing a coronation until we're back on our old land."