The council chamber buzzed with low murmurs long after Darius had taken his seat beside the King. The air was heavy with politics and unspoken tension, the kind that made even the walls feel as though they were listening.
"Finally, Princess Seraphina has returned," Lord Veylor said with a faint smile. "For a moment, we thought you had abandoned us."
"No, why would she do that?" King Alaric laughed, attempting to ease the tension.
At last, one of the elder councilors slowly rose from his seat.
"Your Majesty," he said cautiously, "perhaps it would be wise to allow the Princess and Prince Darius some time to speak privately. It may strengthen their understanding before the betrothal rites proceed."
Seraphina's head immediately turned toward him.
"That will not be necessary," she replied quickly.
Her tone was sharper than she intended, causing the room to fall silent.
She straightened herself, realizing every eye was now upon her.
"With all due respect, I did not ask for this betrothal," she continued calmly. "And I see no reason to pretend excitement for something I never wanted."
A wave of whispers spread throughout the chamber.
Darius remained seated, leaning back slightly as he watched her with quiet amusement. A faint smirk rested on his lips, as though her defiance only made him more curious.
Lord Veylor suddenly rose to his feet.
"What exactly do you imply, Princess?" he demanded.
His voice carried across the chamber.
"Alaric, do not tell me you brought us all the way to Altheris only to disgrace my house."
The room immediately grew tense.
"No, Your Highness," King Alaric answered quickly.
He turned toward his daughter.
"Seraphina, this alliance is for the good of the kingdom. You will show grace, as a princess should."
Her hands tightened slightly at her sides.
"Grace," she repeated quietly.
The word felt heavier than it should have.
"Very well."
With visible restraint, she turned toward the councilor and lowered her head slightly.
"If that is your wish, Father... then I will speak with him."
Darius rose smoothly from his seat.
"A private audience, then," he said. "How generous of your council."
There was a teasing quality in his voice that irritated her more than she wished to admit.
---
The great doors opened, and they were escorted toward the eastern balcony overlooking the royal gardens.
Prince Darius and Seraphina walked to the edge and stood facing one another.
Guards remained stationed at a distance, close enough to remind them that this was not truly a private meeting.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Darius broke the silence, his gaze fixed on hers.
"You dislike me already."
Seraphina met his eyes.
"Dislike implies emotion. I do not know you well enough to feel anything toward you."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Then allow me to give you a reason to."
Her eyebrow arched.
"You think rather highly of yourself, do you not?"
"I find confidence saves time," he replied easily. "Court life is filled with people pretending humility is a virtue. Most of the time, it is simply another form of pride."
She folded her arms.
"And what are you pretending, Prince Darius?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Nothing. I simply know my worth."
A gentle breeze swept across the balcony, stirring her hair and the folds of her gown.
"If you came here to charm me with your words, you will be disappointed," Seraphina said.
Darius took a slow step closer.
"I do not charm."
His voice lowered.
"I observe."
His eyes studied her carefully.
"You are far too interesting for simple flattery."
Her expression remained guarded.
"You speak as though I am something to study."
"Not study," he corrected. "Understand."
His gaze drifted across the palace.
"Every kingdom hides its strength differently. Yours hides it behind kindness."
Then his eyes returned to hers.
"And you, Princess... you hide yours behind defiance."
The words struck closer than she cared to admit.
She looked away.
"You think words like that will make me trust you?"
Darius chuckled softly.
"No."
He paused.
"But they might make you curious."
Before she could answer, the Crimson Amulet beneath her gown pulsed.
A faint warning.
Her hand instinctively moved toward it.
She hoped he had not noticed.
He had.
But he chose to remain silent.
He simply watched her with that same unreadable expression.
And somehow, that unsettled her even more.
---
When they finally returned to the council chamber, Darius wore the faintest trace of amusement while Seraphina's expression remained unreadable.
Her eyes searched the room.
She expected to see Kael.
But he truly had left her alone for the first time, knowing she was surrounded by strangers.
Maybe...
He really did trust her.
While searching the room, she noticed Eryn watching her.
She quickly turned her attention back toward the King and Prince.
A moment later, Darius signaled to Eryn.
Eryn stepped quietly to his side as Darius whispered something into his ear.
When he finished, he dismissed him with a simple wave.
Eryn bowed slightly before leaving the chamber.
He walked through the palace halls with quiet confidence, as though he already knew exactly where he was going.
There was only one person on his mind.
Kael.
Turning a corner, Eryn suddenly collided with someone.
Several loose pages slipped from a worn journal and scattered across the polished marble floor.
"My apologies," Eryn said immediately as he knelt to gather them.
Kael knelt as well.
As Eryn reached for one of the pages, a single sentence caught his attention.
*She must never learn of your connection to the Amulet.*
Beneath the words was a carefully drawn sketch of an elderly woman holding the Crimson Amulet.
Eryn's hand froze.
Slowly, he lifted his eyes to Kael.
Without a word, Kael swiftly took the page from his hand.
Their gazes locked.
Neither of them spoke.
Calmly, Kael slipped the page back into the journal and closed it.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Eryn remained where he was, watching him disappear down the corridor.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Interesting..."