With a quick mental note to herself that this was not going to be a story about Sholmes, Iris continues almost immediately.

"Politics being what they were, his parents were forced to forbade his request. But the next day, his father took him aside and told him they would allow his search so long as it was done in secret, because such a public refusal of the other princesses could lead to war. On the condition that the public was never aware of his hunt, if he could prove he'd brought back his true love, no one would be able to object to the marriage."