The day of the banquet arrived far sooner than most people would have liked.
For the servants of House Mooncrest, the estate had been in chaos since sunrise.
For Katherine, however, the morning was surprisingly peaceful.
At least until Lilly entered her room carrying a sealed letter.
"My lady."
Lilly's eyes immediately brightened.
"It's from the First Prince."
Ker perked up from where she had been lazily sprawled within their subconscious.
"Our fiancé writes letters now?"
Katherine accepted the envelope.
The familiar Everhart seal pressed into the wax immediately caught her attention.
After breaking the seal, she unfolded the letter and began reading.
The handwriting was neat and precise.
Lady Katherine,
I fear I must apologize in advance.
Although I have requested the honour of serving as your escort this evening, circumstances will prevent me from accompanying you into the ballroom upon your arrival.
As the banquet's host, there are several matters requiring my attention beforehand.
I would prefer you not mistake my absence for negligence.
A carriage has been arranged and will arrive at the estate at the appropriate time.
Please make use of it.
I shall meet you within the palace later this evening.
— Liam Everhart
The letter ended there.
Simple.
Direct.
Entirely practical.
Ker stared.
"...That's it?"
Katherine folded the letter.
"What were you expecting?"
"I don't know."
Ker sounded disappointed.
"Something dramatic."
Katherine almost smiled.
For some reason, she doubted the First Prince had ever written a dramatic letter in his life.
Still...
Her gaze briefly lingered on the signature at the bottom.
Then she folded the letter and set it aside.
---
The Mooncrest estate had been in complete chaos since morning.
Servants rushed through the halls carrying gowns, jewellery boxes, fresh flowers and last-minute accessories.
The source of most of the chaos happened to be Lady Rose.
"No, not that necklace."
Rose frowned at her reflection.
"The ruby one."
One maid immediately hurried forward.
Another adjusted her sleeves.
A third fixed the train of her gown.
Rose studied herself in the mirror before clicking her tongue.
"The embroidery looks crooked."
The unfortunate maid nearly burst into tears.
"My apologies, Lady Rose. I'll fix it immediately."
Lady Victoria sat nearby watching the commotion with an approving smile.
Today's banquet was important.
Perhaps the most important event of Rose's life.
Naturally, every detail had to be perfect.
"Mother, do you think the diamonds are too much?" Rose asked.
Lady Victoria barely glanced up.
"There is no such thing as too much on an occasion like this."
Rose immediately relaxed.
She had spent the last week preparing for this evening.
The finest seamstresses.
The most expensive jewels.
The grandest gown she could find.
Tonight, she intended to outshine every noble lady present.
Especially Katherine.
Far too much attention had been stolen from her recently.
That would end tonight.
---
Several corridors away, the atmosphere could not have been more different.
Only Lilly occupied Katherine's room.
No frantic maids.
No piles of discarded jewellery.
No arguments over fabric.
Just quiet.
Katherine stood patiently while Lilly adjusted the final clasp behind her neck.
The Tear of the Moon rested against her collarbone.
Its pale silver glow seemed almost alive beneath the evening light.
Lilly stepped back.
Then froze.
"Mlady..."
Katherine looked up.
"What?"
Lilly placed a hand over her chest.
"You look beautiful."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
The silver-blue gown flowed elegantly around Katherine's figure.
Fine silver embroidery traced the fabric in delicate patterns.
Nothing about the dress was overly extravagant.
Yet somehow it felt impossible to look away from.
Especially once paired with the Tear of the Moon.
Even Katherine's silver hair seemed to blend naturally with the outfit.
Ker stared.
Then stared some more.
Then nodded decisively.
"Our fiancé has excellent taste."
Katherine rolled her eyes.
"You've said that three times already."
"And I'll say it again."
---
The sound of approaching carriages echoed through the estate courtyard.
Moments later, a servant hurried inside.
"His Highness, the Crown Prince, has arrived."
Rose immediately brightened.
A satisfied smile spread across her face.
Right on time.
Moments later, she swept from the estate like a queen already ascending her throne.
The Crown Prince escorted her toward the royal carriage waiting outside.
The gathered servants watched with open admiration.
What a perfect couple.
What a future Crown Prince and Crown Princess should look like.
As the carriage finally departed, the courtyard gradually settled.
Then another carriage rolled through the estate gates.
The Marquis paused.
His gaze immediately landed upon the crest engraved on its door.
His expression shifted almost imperceptibly.
Everhart.
Beside him, Lady Victoria smiled not even noticing the crest.
"So, Nicholas has arrived."
The Marquis said nothing.
For the first time, he began wondering just how many assumptions had been made over the past week.
A servant quickly stepped forward.
"Lady Katherine's carriage has arrived."
Silence briefly followed.
Then Katherine descended the estate steps.
The Tear of the Moon glimmered softly against her throat.
For a moment, even the servants forgot to breathe.
The Marquis watched his daughter approach the carriage.
Then his gaze flickered once more toward the Everhart crest.
A faint smile touched his face.
Ah.
So that was how it was.
Without another word, Katherine stepped into the carriage.
Everyone was so mesmerised that no one noticed her supposed escort was nowhere in sight.
And that she had gone into the carriage with the help of a footman and not her escort.
Moments later, it rolled away into the evening.
---
By the time Katherine's carriage reached the palace, the banquet was already well underway.
Crystal chandeliers bathed the grand ballroom in warm light.
Nobles filled the room in dazzling colours, their conversations blending into a constant hum.
Earlier, the arrival of the Crown Prince and Lady Rose had attracted considerable attention.
Many had openly admired how beautiful they looked together.
Lady Rose's gown had certainly lived up to expectations.
Gold embroidery shimmered beneath the chandeliers.
Rubies adorned her neck, wrists and ears.
Every detail had been carefully chosen to attract attention.
And it had worked.
For a time.
Now, Lady Victoria stood among a circle of noble ladies, accepting congratulations with practiced grace.
"What a fortunate match," one countess remarked.
"The Crown Prince clearly adores your daughter."
Lady Victoria smiled modestly.
"Rose has always been a remarkable child."
Another noblewoman glanced around the ballroom.
"What about Lady Katherine?"
Lady Victoria's smile never faltered.
"Oh, Katherine has been managing."
The answer sounded harmless.
Yet somehow it invited further assumptions.
"Poor girl."
"After everything that happened..."
"She must still be struggling."
Lady Victoria sighed softly.
"These things take time."
Several ladies immediately nodded.
Of course.
How could the former Crown Prince's fiancée possibly be unaffected?
The conversation quickly shifted back to Rose.
As it should.
Tonight belonged to her daughter.
Or so Lady Victoria believed.
Then another noblewoman frowned slightly.
"Speaking of Lady Katherine... where is she?"
The question caused several nearby nobles to glance around.
"Wasn't she supposed to arrive with Nicholas Valecrest?"
"That's what I heard."
"The second son of House Valecrest, wasn't it?"
"A respectable match."
Lady Victoria smiled politely.
Inside, she felt rather pleased.
Yes.
Nicholas would be a much more suitable husband for Katherine.
Far more realistic than becoming Crown Princess.
Just then—
The ballroom doors opened.
The herald's voice rang clearly through the hall.
"Lady Katherine Mooncrest."
Dozens of heads turned.
The room immediately grew quieter.
Katherine entered alone.
A ripple of surprise spread through the crowd.
Alone?
Where was Nicholas?
Several nobles exchanged puzzled looks.
Had he abandoned her?
How embarrassing.
For a brief moment, sympathy appeared on more than a few faces.
Then someone gasped.
The sound echoed loudly enough to draw attention.
"What is that?"
The question spread quickly.
"What?"
"Around her neck."
The pity vanished instantly.
Every eye shifted.
Not to Katherine.
To the pale gemstone resting against her collarbone.
Silence.
Then whispers exploded throughout the ballroom.
"Impossible."
"Is that...?"
"It can't be."
"A Tear of the Moon?"
The murmurs multiplied.
More and more nobles leaned forward.
Several older nobles looked genuinely stunned.
"No."
"I thought the First Prince purchased that fragment years ago."
"So did I."
"Then how did it end up here?"
Somewhere nearby, a duke's wife looked ready to faint.
"That's a Tear of the Moon."
"No wonder I recognized it."
The focus of the entire ballroom shifted.
Not to Katherine.
Not even to her gown.
To the legendary gemstone resting against her throat.
Questions spread like wildfire.
How had she obtained it?
Who gave it to her?
How much had it cost?
Was it authentic?
The conversations grew louder by the second.
Across the room, Rose watched everything unfold.
Everyone else saw the necklace.
Rose saw only Katherine.
Saw the gemstone hanging around her neck.
Saw the attention shifting.
Saw the conversations changing.
Saw people who had been admiring her moments earlier suddenly discussing someone else.
Her nails dug slightly into her palm.
For the first time that evening, her smile felt strained.
Standing next to Rose, Darian's gaze settled on the familiar gemstone.
Unlike the rest of the nobles, he immediately recognized who it was from.
The Tear of the Moon.
Years ago, the entire capital had talked about the absurd amount Liam spent to acquire one of its fragments.
The memory surfaced almost instantly.
At the time, Darian had assumed his brother simply found the story interesting.
Now, however...
The stone hung around Katherine's neck.
A strange feeling settled in his chest.
Irritation.
Discomfort.
Something he couldn't quite name.
His gaze lingered on Katherine longer than intended.
The silver-blue gown suited her.
The gemstone suited her.
Even the calm expression she wore felt unfamiliar.
When had she changed?
The Katherine he remembered would've been standing nervously in a corner by now.
Stealing glances in his direction.
Waiting for him to notice her.
This Katherine didn't even look his way.
Not once.
For reasons he couldn't explain, that irritated him even more.
Beside him, Rose continued smiling gracefully while accepting compliments.
Darian barely heard any of them.
His attention drifted back toward Katherine.
Toward the Tear of the Moon.
Toward the realization that Liam had chosen to give something so valuable to her.
An uncomfortable thought suddenly crossed his mind.
Katherine was mine first, Liam has no right to her.
Darian immediately frowned.
What nonsense.
The thought was ridiculous.
Yet somehow it refused to leave.
---
The whispers surrounding the Tear of the Moon showed no signs of stopping.
If anything, they only seemed to grow louder.
Katherine, however, paid little attention to them.
As far as she was concerned, it was simply a necklace.
A rather expensive necklace.
But still a necklace.
Meanwhile, Ker had far more important concerns.
"Forget the necklace."
Katherine immediately knew where this was going.
"Ker."
"No, seriously."
Ker's ears perked up.
"Do you smell that?"
Katherine sighed.
"Food."
"Exactly."
Ker looked deeply offended that Katherine had answered so casually.
"This is a royal banquet."
"There has to be good food."
Her nose twitched.
"I smell roasted meat."
Katherine almost laughed.
"And?"
"And we should investigate."
"We are not investigating food."
"Why not?"
"Because this is a banquet."
"Exactly."
Ker sounded even more confused.
"That's where the food is."
Before Katherine could respond, Ker suddenly froze.
Her ears shot upright.
For the first time all evening, the wolf's attention completely abandoned thoughts of food.
"Wait."
Katherine felt her own body stiffen slightly.
"What?"
Ker inhaled deeply. That sweet calming scent filling her nostrils.
Then her eyes widened.
"He's here."
Katherine blinked.
"Who?"
"The library man."
Ker immediately sat upright.
"He's here."
Another breath.
Then another.
"I can smell him."
Katherine's gaze swept across the ballroom.
Instinctively, she searched the crowd.
The scent was familiar.
She recognized it immediately.
The man with the sweet scent.
Ker was already looking around excitedly.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
"Find him."
Before Katherine could continue the search, the herald's voice rang throughout the ballroom.
"Her Majesty the Queen."
The ballroom immediately fell silent.
Conversations ceased.
Nobles quickly straightened.
The Queen entered alone.
A ripple of confusion spread through the crowd.
Several nobles exchanged puzzled looks.
Where was His Majesty?
The Queen offered no explanation.
She simply took her place near the front of the ballroom.
The whispers immediately resumed.
Only moments later, the herald spoke again.
"His Majesty the King."
Every eye turned toward the entrance.
The massive doors opened.
The King entered first.
Behind him came Nicholas.
And seated in a wheelchair—
Katherine froze.
Ker froze.
The familiar scent suddenly became overwhelmingly obvious.
"There!"