Upon reaching the raised platform, Katherine stopped several steps away and performed a graceful curtsy.
"Your Majesty."
The King smiled.
Then Katherine turned slightly toward the man seated beside him.
"Your Highness."
Liam inclined his head.
"Lady Katherine."
For a brief moment, silence settled between them.
The King looked between the two and seemed unusually pleased.
"As formal as ever," he remarked.
Neither Katherine nor Liam responded.
That only seemed to amuse him further.
The King chuckled softly before addressing Katherine.
"I trust you've heard quite a bit about my eldest son."
Katherine glanced briefly toward Liam.
"... Enough"
For the briefest moment, she thought she saw the corner of Liam's mouth twitch.
The King laughed outright.
"Oh, I have no doubt about that."
Around them, several nearby nobles exchanged curious glances.
The exchange felt strangely natural.
Far more natural than anyone had expected from a newly announced engagement.
The King eventually cleared his throat.
"Well then."
Turning toward the ballroom, he raised a hand.
The murmuring immediately died down.
Hundreds of eyes shifted toward the front once more.
The King waited until complete silence settled over the hall.
Then he spoke.
"Ladies and gentlemen."
His voice carried effortlessly throughout the ballroom.
"It is my pleasure to formally present the kingdom's newest engaged couple."
A collective breath seemed to sweep through the crowd.
The King's smile widened slightly.
"My son, Prince Liam Everhart Embercrown."
He gestured toward Liam.
"And Lady Katherine Mooncrest."
Every eye immediately shifted toward them.
Standing side by side beneath the crystal chandeliers, they looked unexpectedly well matched.
The Tear of the Moon shimmered softly against Katherine's throat.
The silver embroidery woven throughout her gown seemed to gleam beneath the lights.
And beside her, Liam's attire carried the same subtle Everhart craftsmanship.
For the first time, people truly saw them together.
Not as separate individuals.
But as a pair.
The King allowed the moment to linger.
Then, satisfied, he lowered his hand.
"With that," he announced warmly, "let the evening's celebrations begin."
Applause broke out throughout the ballroom.
The banquet had officially begun.
The King stepped back.
"Now then," he said, looking between them.
"I shall leave the two of you to become better acquainted."
The amusement in his eyes suggested he knew exactly how ridiculous that statement was.
Before either of them could respond, he turned and made his way toward the Queen.
Leaving Katherine and Liam standing together beneath the attention of half the kingdom.
"The people here sure stare a lot, don't they?" Ker groaned. "Kinda miss when people were too scared to stare at us for even a second."
Katherine agreed, then she turned her attention back to new fiancée.
... And Nicholas, who was gently pushing Liam's wheelchair.
Without a word, she went and stood behind Liam. When Nicholas showed no sign on moving.
"Move."
The words weren't rude.
Nor were they a request.
They were simply a statement.
Nicholas hesitated.
For reasons he couldn't quite explain, he suddenly felt like arguing would be a mistake.
"...Very well."
Stepping aside, he surrendered the wheelchair.
Taking his place, Katherine gently pushed the wheelchair to the centre of the room.
Liam looked up.
"I'm pleased to see you wore my gift to the banquet. It suits you better than I thought it would."
Katherine glanced down.
"You picked it out yourself?"
A faint pause followed.
Then—
"Do you know what that necklace is?"
"The Tear of the Moon."
Liam seemed mildly surprised.
"Then I assume someone told you the story behind it."
"I happen to have an overly romantic maid."
"Ah."
Something flickered across Liam's expression.
"Then you should know that your dear fiancé had it crafted into a necklace and earrings."
Katherine stopped for a moment.
Surprised.
Ker frowned.
"I don't know. He doesn't seem like the type."
"The romantic type?"
"Exactly."
Katherine considered that.
Then shook her head.
"He probably didn't put much thought into it."
Ker blinked.
"You think so?"
"He seems the type."
For some reason, Ker found that answer strangely convincing.
Turning her attention back toward Liam, Katherine simply nodded.
"Oh."
Then she resumed pushing the wheelchair.
Liam stared ahead.
For some reason, that response felt slightly disappointing.
Not that he had expected excitement.
Or gratitude.
Or tears.
This was Lady Katherine Mooncrest.
Their previous two meetings had already established that much.
Just then, they reached the centre of the ballroom.
The atmosphere shifted.
Katherine noticed it immediately.
The conversations around them gradually quieted.
The musicians seemed to hesitate.
Even the nobles watching from the edges of the ballroom appeared unusually attentive.
Everyone was waiting.
Because it was customary for a newly engaged couple to share the first dance.
Katherine glanced down.
Liam seemed to have noticed the same thing.
For a brief moment, neither spoke.
Then Liam looked up at her.
"My Lady."
The corner of Katherine's mouth twitched.
"Your Highness."
A faint trace of amusement appeared in his eyes.
"Would you honour me with the first dance?"
The entire ballroom seemed to hold its breath.
Katherine looked at him for a moment.
Then lowered her voice.
"Can you?"
Liam laughed quietly.
Not offended.
Not surprised.
Merely amused.
"For one dance."
A moment later, Nicholas stepped forward.
Without needing instruction.
Without needing explanation.
Years of practice made the movement smooth.
Careful.
Efficient.
He helped Liam rise from the wheelchair.
A hush swept across the ballroom.
Not because the First Prince couldn't stand.
Everyone knew he could.
But few could remember the last time they had actually seen him dance.
The musicians quickly adjusted.
The lively melody faded.
In its place came something slower.
Gentler.
Something Liam could comfortably follow.
Katherine placed one hand in his.
The other rested lightly against his shoulder.
Liam's hand settled at her waist.
And slowly—
The dance began.
No dazzling footwork.
No dramatic spins.
No grand performance.
Just a quiet dance shared between two people beneath the glow of crystal chandeliers.
For a few minutes, the rest of the ballroom simply watched.
Then, as the music neared its end, Liam's steps gradually slowed.
Before the final note could sound, he released Katherine's hand.
Nicholas was already there.
Helping him settle back into his wheelchair.
Only then did the final note fade.
A heartbeat later, the musicians began another song.
The spell broke.
Conversations resumed.
Couples stepped onto the dance floor.
And at last, the evening truly began.
The moment the dance ended, Ker immediately had her priorities straight.
"Finally."
Katherine already knew that tone.
"Food."
"There it is."
The wolf sounded almost emotional.
"We have been at this banquet for entirely too long without eating anything."
Katherine resisted the urge to point out that they had, in fact, only been there a short while.
Turning toward Liam, she gestured toward the refreshment tables.
"Would Your Highness like something to eat?"
Liam looked mildly surprised.
Then again, most people usually offered conversation.
Not food.
"Very well."
Katherine immediately turned the wheelchair toward the banquet tables.
Behind them, Nicholas followed at a respectable distance.
The moment they arrived, Ker practically lit up.
"Oh."
"Oh, that's beautiful." She practically melted.
"Look at that cake."
Katherine ignored her.
Mostly.
A servant quickly stepped forward.
"My Lady."
Katherine accepted a plate.
Then another.
One for herself.
One for Liam.
Nicholas blinked.
The sight felt oddly familiar.
Like watching someone feed a particularly stubborn animal.
Katherine paid no attention to him.
Instead, she began examining the desserts.
After several moments, she selected a small slice of honey cake and placed it onto Liam's plate.
Then a second dessert.
Then a third.
Liam watched the growing collection silently.
"You seem confident in my appetite."
"Do you not have one?"
The question sounded entirely genuine.
Liam considered that.
"Not particularly."
Katherine looked at the plate.
Then at Liam.
Then back at the plate.
"...That's unfortunate."
Ker immediately agreed.
"Very unfortunate."
Food existed to be eaten.
This was common sense.
Ignoring the matter entirely, Katherine selected a cream-filled pastry for herself.
Then, after a moment's consideration, added another to Liam's plate.
He should be able to eat this much right?
Liam stared at it.
Nicholas stared at it.
The pastry stared back.
A strange silence followed.
Finally—
"Lady Katherine." Liam choked
"Hm?" She responded, not really paying him much attention.
"That's very sweet."
Katherine glanced down.
"Is it?" She leaned down to take a bite, "It's not that bad."
Nicholas nearly choked.
Liam, meanwhile, looked amused.
Then, to Nicholas' complete shock...
He took another bite.
Nicholas froze.
The honey cake disappeared next.
Then half the pastry.
Nicholas stared.
His master disliked overly sweet food.
Everyone close to him knew that.
Yet Liam continued eating as though nothing was unusual.
Katherine, meanwhile, was busy selecting another dessert.
Completely oblivious.
Across from her, Liam finished another bite.
Nicholas felt as though he was witnessing something deeply unnatural.
For years he had struggled to convince his master to eat more.
Apparently, the solution had been remarkably simple.
All he needed was a fiancée who placed food in front of him and expected him to eat it.
The realization was deeply upsetting.
Liam noticed his expression immediately.
"Stop looking at me like that."
Nicholas looked away.
He did not stop looking at him like that.
---
Across the ballroom, Rose nearly snapped her fan in half.
She couldn't understand it.
The attention should have been on her.
She had arrived with the Crown Prince.
She was wearing the most expensive gown in the room.
Half the capital had spent the past week assuming tonight's banquet would announce her engagement.
Yet somehow—
Everything had become about Katherine.
Again.
Rose's gaze landed on her sister.
Katherine stood beside the refreshment tables pushing Prince Liam's wheelchair while casually helping herself to the desserts.
The sight alone irritated her.
Then it became worse.
Much worse.
Lady Eleanor Ashford suddenly laughed softly behind her fan.
"How sweet."
Another noblewoman nodded.
"I haven't seen His Highness remain at a banquet this long in years."
"And look."
The woman discreetly pointed toward the refreshment table.
"She's already making sure he eats."
Several older noblewomen immediately smiled.
The expression carried the unmistakable look of women who had raised children and married off daughters.
"The way to a man's heart has always been through his stomach."
"Especially one as difficult as Prince Liam."
"Lady Katherine seems surprisingly attentive."
Rose's fingers tightened around her fan.
Attentive?
Katherine?
The same Katherine who spent years following Darian around without ever managing a proper conversation?
The same Katherine who turned red whenever anyone addressed her directly?
Rose's jaw clenched.
Because the women weren't wrong.
Katherine looked comfortable.
Natural.
She wasn't forcing herself.
She wasn't awkward.
She wasn't trying to impress anyone.
If anything, she looked entirely unaware that people were watching.
Which somehow made it worse.
The old Katherine would've spent the entire evening staring at Darian.
The Katherine standing beside Liam now barely seemed aware the Crown Prince existed.
Rose hated it.
Beside her, Darian remained silent.
Rose glanced toward him.
His gaze was fixed on the refreshment table.
Specifically—
On Katherine.
Something unpleasant twisted inside her stomach.
"Darian?"
The Crown Prince didn't answer immediately.
His eyes remained on the pair across the room.
Watching.
Observing.
Thinking.
Rose's grip tightened further.
"Darian."
This time he finally looked at her.
"Hm?"
The response came far too late.
Far too distracted.
Rose forced a smile.
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
The answer arrived instantly.
Too instantly.
Rose knew him well enough to recognize deflection when she heard it.
Her stomach sank.
Across the room, Katherine placed another dessert onto Liam's plate.
Liam accepted it without complaint.
Without hesitation.
Without even questioning what she had given him.
Rose missed the way several noblewomen smiled at the sight.
Darian didn't.
His expression darkened slightly.
He remembered all too clearly what Katherine had once been like around him.
Quiet.
Shy.
Nervous.
Almost painfully careful.
Back then, she could barely maintain eye contact for more than a few seconds.
Yet somehow she now looked entirely at ease beside Liam.
Talking.
Walking.
Laughing.
Feeding him.
As though she had known him for years.
Something about that realization irritated him.
More than it should have.
Across the ballroom, Liam accepted another dessert.
Darian stared.
His brother disliked sweets.
Everyone close to him knew that.
Yet there he was eating whatever Katherine placed in front of him without complaint.
The sight rubbed him the wrong way.
He couldn't explain why.
And somehow—
That irritated him even more.
Beside him, Rose noticed every second of his silence.
Every glance.
Every lingering look.
The unease in her chest slowly transformed into something uglier.
Because for the first time that evening, a thought entered her mind.
What if Darian wanted Katherine back?