Evelisse sat across from me, delicately sipping her tea. "I like it," she said, her voice soft, almost hesitant.
"I know, right? It's my favorite," I replied, leaning back in my chair and letting my gaze wander over the garden.
We sat there on the balcony at noon, sunlight warming the space. Evelisse had already started tending to the garden. I noticed the overgrown patches of grass had been trimmed, weeds pulled out.
"You're impressive, Evelisse," I commented, taking another sip of tea and glancing at her.
Her cheeks flushed immediately. "Thank you, milady," she murmured, eyes downcast.
Just then, the door to my chambers creaked open. I knew by the sound of approaching footsteps made that it was Kirill.
He stepped onto the balcony.
I sank deeper into my chair. "Yes? I thought you'd be resting…"
"No, I—" He stopped abruptly, eyes suddenly wide and fixed on Evelisse.
Evelisse froze under his stare, looking like she might disappear into the floor at any moment. Anxiety clung to her, but she steadied herself, rising and bowing politely. "Good afternoon, Young Lord."
Kirill seemed momentarily paralyzed. What was happening?
"Kirill?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He blinked, shook his head as if clearing it. "Huh… yes?" His gaze drifted back to Evelisse. "Miss Carter?"
Both Evelisse and I blinked in surprise. He knew her?
I rose from my chair. "You know her?"
Kirill nodded, walking closer. "Yes. We met at her father's funeral. I arranged for him to be buried in the family cemetery."
Evelisse's eyes lit up, and she clasped her hands together as she stepped toward him. "Right! I remember now. But I didn't know it was you, my Lord. You had to keep it hidden…"
Kirill scratched the back of his head, faintly smiling. "Yes. I thought it might get me into trouble, given his reputation."
Evelisse's expression softened, gratitude plain in her features. "Thank you, Lord Kirill. If you hadn't been there, my father would have been buried anywhere… anywhere at all."
Kirill—what the hell—flushed. His ears turned red, and he smiled awkwardly, muttering, "Don't flatter me. Nobody deserves to be forgotten."
Evelisse nodded, glancing down as she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. That wasn't unusual, but what caught me off guard was Kirill's reaction. He was staring at her, visibly nervous, swallowing hard.
He likes her?
I had no idea. Meredia probably didn't either. her memories held nothing of this.
I cleared my throat, nudging his attention. "Yes, Kirill?"
He blinked, shaking off the daze, "Yes, what happened?"
"You came here. Tell me what do you need?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Right," he exhaled deeply, composing himself. "You'll start training from tomorrow, alright?"
I nodded. "Yes. Is that all?"
He looked at Evelisse, then back at me, fidgeting slightly. "Yes… that's it. I'll leave now."
"Sure."
As he turned to go, his gaze lingered on Evelisse, still dabbing at her tears. Then, almost imperceptibly, just a fraction of a turn, he stole one last glance at her over his shoulder before disappearing down the corridor.
Someone is in love.
I turned to Evelisse, who was still all watery-eyed and sniffly. "Uh… are you fine?"
She dabbed her nose with her handkerchief and nodded. "Yes, milady. I'm fine. I was just… it reminded me of my father."
I reached out and patted her shoulder gently. "It's alright. He's with his family now."
She let out a tiny snicker. "With his family… your way of saying it is funny."
I smirked. "Glad I made you laugh instead of cry. Progress."
.
.
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.
.
The next day, the sun was shining brighter than my future, which, honestly, was rude and I was already standing in the training grounds half-asleep and regretting my life choices.
Kirill was already there, stretching like some responsible adult. May the gods spare me from responsible men.
I rubbed my eyes. "Where is this teacher of yours?"
Kirill rolled his shoulders back. "Relax, Eri. He's a busy man."
I scoffed. "Then why did he bother offering to train me? If he's that busy, he could've just stayed mysterious and unavailable."
Kirill just shrugged, totally unhelpful. "He's unpredictable."
I groaned and gave Kirill the most dramatic side-eye known to mankind. He just kept stretching his arms up toward the sky like some serene yoga instructor while I was over here having an existential crisis.
The urge to mess with him hit me instantly. "You know," I said, voice sweet as poison, "I'm actually glad you're not the one training me."
He didn't even pause, just stretched backward like he had no earthly worries. "Why?"
"Because you train like you're whipping a donkey."
That finally made him freeze. He turned to me, looking personally betrayed. "Am I that cruel?"
I lifted both brows and let a slow smirk spread. "Cruel? Kirill, you train like you're punishing slaves."
Kirill's jaw dropped fully like I'd just slapped him with a dead fish. "Wow," he breathed, hand to his chest like a Victorian maiden. "Your honesty wounded me."
"That's my personality now," I said, brushing imaginary dust off my sleeve. "Adapt."
He narrowed his eyes, the offended act dropping as the devilish grin crept in. "Alright, Miss Mouthy. Let us see how long that confidence lasts when he shows up."
"Who?" I echoed.
I rolled my eyes hard but the comeback I was planning never made it out of my mouth, because something in the corner of my vision moved.
And not a normal "oh look, a servant walking by" kind of movement.
No.
My eyes snapped wide as Shadow emerged from behind the outer wall of the training grounds, padding toward us with that eerie, fluid gait only she had.
Her blue slit-pupil eyes locked onto me like I was a snack she was deciding whether to lick or drag. Luminescent streaks in her fur caught the sunlight, glowing faintly with every step.
Kirill froze mid-breath.
I squeaked, "Why is that thing walking toward us?"
Shadow's tail flicked once.
"That thing?" Kirill huffed, almost laughing. "You speak those words near the Crown Prince, and you'll learn pain the hard way."
"I wouldn't dare—" I snapped back, then froze. "Wait. Why would he even be here!?"
Kirill looked down at me with that infuriatingly calm smile. "Who do you think is the 'best swordsman of the kingdom before me'?"
My breath caught. But he didn't tell me anything about being trained from best swordsman of Kingdom.
If Kairan was the one training me… he didn't need a battlefield or prophecy to end me. He could simply "correct my footwork" and snap my spine by accident. The realization hit me right as Shadow drew nearer.
My pulse climbed. The closer she came, the faster the panic crawled up my throat.
Shadow halted right in front of us… and I instantly took a step back, slipping half behind Kirill like he was a human shield.
He laughed under his breath. "Shadow doesn't bite unless her master commands her to."
"That isn't comforting," I muttered.
Kirill lifted a hand and casually waved at the beast. Shadow didn't even spare him more than a glance. Her bright eyes were locked entirely on me, tail swaying in that unnervingly patient rhythm of a predator deciding whether you're interesting… or edible.
"But I still wouldn't pet her," Kirill added. "She hates being touched without permission."
"Good," I murmured. "Because that was never on my wishlist."
Shadow lowered herself slightly, tail still moving, gaze still pinning me in place as if assessing me for whatever training insanity was about to begin.
"He's here…" Kirill muttered, hands settling on his waist. I fucked behind him like moral support he didn't ask for. Still, curiosity betrayed me and I peeked over his shoulder.
Shadow had already sprinted toward Kairan, tail flicking triumphantly as she circled him.
He approached in that calm way of his, dressed in white and blue, and stopped right in front of Kirill, which obviously put him dangerously close to me too.
I immediately lowered my gaze. All I saw were his pale blue boots with top bordered with metal, polished enough to blind me, white pants tucked into them without a single crease out of place.
"You're late," Kirill said, voice light and teasing.
Since when do these two chat like old friends?
Kairan's reply was smooth, perfectly collected. "A crown is a demanding companion. It keeps its heir occupied."
Kirill snorted softly. "Of course. Just remember, I didn't beg you to train her. You're the one who insisted."
WHAT!?
Of course it was his plan. He deliberately wanted to get closer to me to kill me.
"That is correct," Kairan said politely.
"Good. Then…" Kirill stepped aside, leaving me brutally exposed. He guided me forward with a little nudge. "She's all yours."
"Wait—no—" I hissed, but Kirill was already backing away, smiling like he'd done me a favor.
Kairan inclined his head slightly. "Good morning, Lady Meredia."
My lungs forgot how to function. I forced myself to look up.
Up close, he was too composed, too gorgeous.. His patterned white coat, his ice blue brocade vest with its gleam of embroidery, the chain across his chest and stomach, the gathered white collar held by a silver brooch....he looked like he walked out of a painting people prayed in front of.
He lifted his gloved hand, palm open toward me. "May I?"
I placed my hand in his, every instinct screaming, run, but my face pretending everything was fine.
He bowed just slightly and brushed his lips over my knuckles. "I am honoured to instruct you."
And for a heartbeat, everything inside me went still, not from calm but from the terrifying, magnetic pull that was him.
I glanced back at Kirill just in time to see him give Kairan a lazy two-finger salute with a grin. "Alright then. The headache is yours to bear."
I yanked my hand back from Kairan's and practically darted toward Kirill.
"No. Absolutely not. I don't want to train with Kai—His Highness."
Kirill blinked at me, grin fading. "What? Why?"
"Is there something objectionable about my presence, my lady?" Kairan's voice drifted from behind me, perfectly calm but i knew better he was offended.
I turned back to him with a smile that probably looked like I was in pain.
"Your Highness… no, it's nothing like that. I just think you're a very busy man. I don't want to trouble the Crown Prince over my childish fascination with swords."
His expression didn't shift.
"If I offered, then it means my time is available. Do not concern yourself with my schedule."
Kirill nodded like this was the world's simplest problem.
"Exactly. Let him worry about his own duties, Eri. He knows what he's doing."
My soul left my body for a moment.
Please. Someone. Let me go home.
With no escape left, I went for my last resort. my classic, time-tested trick.
I pressed a hand dramatically to my forehead and tilted my face toward the sun.
"Oh… suddenly my head hurts, Your Highness."
I swayed a little. " Kirill… I think I'm going to faint."
Kirill lunged forward to catch me, arms steadying me as I leaned all my weight against him like a dying goat. I refused to look at Kairan. If I met his eyes, he'd see right through me.
"Your Highness," Kirill said, adjusting his grip on my shoulders, "I don't think she can train today. I apologise for the inconvenience."
"There is no need to apologise," Kairan replied. "The lady is not at fault."
Kirill nodded, trying to hold me upright. "I'll take her back to her room."
Yes. Finally. Salvation.
But Kairan spoke before Kirill could take a step.
"That won't be necessary." His tone remained polite, yet something about it pulled every nerve in my body tight. "You are busy with the trainees. I will escort the lady myself."
My eyes flew open and locked onto his. He was already watching me.
"I trust Lady Meredia has no objection," he said quietly. "Do you?"
My mouth went dry. Of course he'd caught the act. Of course he was going to drag me off himself.
"No—" I started, ready to refuse on instinct, but Kirill cut me off.
"Are you sure, Your Highness?"
Traitor. Absolute traitor.
Kairan nodded once, then extended a hand toward me. "I will carry her."
That was it. My doom was officially stamped and delivered.
Kirill practically transferred me into his arms like I was some fragile parcel. And Kairan lifted me without effort, settling me against his chest. The world tilted for a moment, not because I was fainting, but because the last time he held me like this was debut night.
A cold shiver ran down my spine at the memory. Icurled my fingers onto my stomach to stop my hands from shaking.
Being carried by him again felt like stepping back into a nightmare I had barely escaped.
We left the training grounds, and I didn't dare breathe wrong. I kept my eyes shut, limbs limp, pretending to be the world's most delicate dying swan. He'd drop me in my room. He'd leave. I'd survive today and come up with a real plan tomorrow. Easy.
Except… he kept walking.
And walking.
And walking.
My room had never been this far. Even the usual sounds of the chatter of servants, birds in the garden, the clang of steel from the training yard, faded. It was just his footsteps and the steady rise and fall of his breathing.
Something felt wrong.
Had my room always been this—
"How long are you going to pretend to be Meredia?"