Journal Entry 76

20.09.2026

We agreed: it will be just the two of us.

I do not believe I am paranoid. But after what Jonas and I have been through, I cannot trust anyone with this except myself and the King.

Perhaps I have pressed my demands on Jonas too forcefully. Still, my gut tells me something is wrong. I cannot say what. Until we decipher the third and fourth lines—and understand the message as a whole—I have to consider who might be involved.

“Everyone” is too broad a word. I do not suspect our families, Jonas’s security team, our intelligence agencies, or Fräulein Heng. What concerns me is who might be close to them, and what motives those people may have. I have enough history to know that proximity can be used against us.

This evening, I was reluctant to tell Jonas everything about the cryptic letter. I wanted to solve it myself. But I had given him my word.

I sat silent for a long time at the kitchen counter. Jonas stayed beside me, speaking in that steady, supportive voice of his.

At last, I broke.

I told him everything.

We made notes. We made plans. And we decided to take the fishing trip we have been putting off. At the lake, away from the palace, we will work through what remains of the message together.

First, royal duties call us to Oslo. When we return, we will go to the King’s cabin near St. Romanov.

We are in this together.