Rosa, the tower manager, and the master of the tower's assistant approached Flavian, standing in front of his carriage when they reached the tower.
"Your Highness, I am pleased to welcome you. Could you please describe what brought you here without prior notice?"
"I apologize for arriving unannounced, but might I be able to speak with the master of the tower?"
I will speak with him, Your Highness. However, I would appreciate it if you could wait in our guest room until then."
"Indeed, Ms. Assistant."
Rosa led Flavian to the guest room and left him with some servants while she went to the master's office.
-Knocks- "May I come in sir?"
"Yes, come in," answered a tired voice.
"His Highness has arrived and wishes to see you."
"Huh, why was I not informed earlier?" asked Jeremy, who was surrounded by heaps of books, papers and equipment.
"His Highness came unannounced sir. I only knew he was coming when he already reached the gates of the tower."
"When will that eccentric idiot learn some manners?" mumbled Jeremy to himself. "Sorry about this Rosa. You may continue with your work. I will go see him in a minute," said Jeremy, assuring Rosa that she had nothing else to worry about and she could directly resume her work.
After a few minutes, Jeremy reached the guest room where Flavian awaited him.
"The master of the tower is entering, Your Highness," the servant knocked and announced, opening the door. Jeremy entered and closed the door as the servant continued to bow.
"Come unannounced again, and I will make you wait for a whole day," declared Jeremy, sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed opposite Flavian, staring at him with his indifferent eyes.
"Really, Jerry, I just wanted to talk with you about something important and making an appointment would just delay my thought process."
"What is it today? Better not be anything related to Lady Marlene since you already succeeded in making her work for you."
"Well..."
"Again!" Jeremy was tired of hearing Flavian's ranting about Leesa.
"Okay, listen, I'm putting in all my efforts to make her fall in love, trying to rekindle our past experiences, but I can't sense any signs of recognition or affection in her eyes," expressed Flavian, covering his face with his hands.
"You need to stop being so dramatic," Jeremy said firmly.
"I am getting an emotional disruption and that's all you have to say to me?"
"Well..., yes," sighed Jeremy, "Now listen here. You did all you could to bring her near you." Jeremy glanced at Flavian as he nodded in confirmation. "But, of course, in the end, it didn't work out the way you had hoped. You have to accept the fact that she might never come to remember you," he shrugged and looked away.
"I am filled with anticipation when I think about the future. What if, by some unpredictable circumstance, she remembers our past lives together? The mere thought of it fills me with happiness."
"Hmm! Flavian, why do you wish for her to remember so badly?"
"Huh, because I love her obviously."
Jeremy realized how confident Flavian was in how he felt about Leesa. "If you are, then, why do you want her to remember your past life? You can just have a fresh start with her?"
"... What?"
"You never thought about it this way, did you?"
"Well, no because she is not interested in love or that shit. So, no matter how hard I try it won't work."
"How can you be so sure when you haven't even tried it?"
"For how long do you think I have known her?"
"Hmm, if you say so," Jeremy pondered the statement for a bit longer. "Then what do you plan to do?"
"Haa, I don't know. But whatever I do, I need to make it bigger for it to have a big impact on her memory," concluded Flavian.
"Again, I am going to receive an invitation to an audience with the empress and will have to listen to her worries about you, haa," complained Jeremy.
"Come on, Jerry, you can do this much for your best friend."
"Don't make me regret ever speaking with you," groans Jeremy.
"Hehe, goodbye then Jerry. It was nice talking with you," says Flavian, who runs away right after this speech before Jeremy decides to cut him out of his life.
Their conversation was a lifeline. Jeremy listened, as friends do, with patience and empathy. He offered insights, asked probing questions, and helped untangle the knots of confusion that had trapped his thoughts. Through their exchange, clarity began to emerge from the chaos, and a sense of direction started to take shape.
On his way to the palace, Flavian found some suspicious people wandering around. "Stop the carriage for a while?" Flavian ordered the coachman. Flavian came out and followed them and after a while. He saw them going into a bushy area, so he hand-signed the guards who were following him to stay where they were until his further orders. After going a bit closer he realised they were the three from the carriage incident that day and remembered his and Leesa's talk yesterday.
["Just prepare some guards from the soldiers under your command, my lady. That should be enough. I don't think anyone would likely even think about attacking me on the way to the mage tower which is already filled with traps unless there are some sort of fools."
"Hah, there are many fools around here, Sire," sighs Leesa, "Alright, I will arrange for some guards to accompany you but make sure not to do anything extraordinary in your way."]
He realised how right Leesa was about some fools still trying to attack him despite the dangers on the tower path. He knew it was risky to go unarmed with your enemies but Flavian felt they were weak, and couldn't harm him if they were to get a surprise attack. The three crouched down on the ground forming a small circle to discuss.