Five years later...
"What do you think about this one, Lucian?" Jax held up a portrait of a young woman. She was dressed in a beautiful gown, her blonde hair falling down her back in soft waves. Her eyes were a warm shade of brown, and her smile was sweet and innocent.
Lucian crossed the office, throwing his gear at the hanger. He was tired and wanted nothing more than to take a bath and eat a warm meal, "Any news from the capital?"
Trends were important. New and popular things were what kept the economy flowing. The research and development team was responsible for identifying the trends and bringing them to Lucian.
He had a gift for numbers. Every detail, every data point, every transaction was crystal clear in his mind. He had a keen eye for profit.
He had used those skills to build the largest distribution company in the Kingdom, and now he was expanding into the neighboring Kingdoms.
"Not much... Just a lot of rumors," Jax said, leaning back on the couch, "Celine Rochefort was caught having an affair with one of the servants..."
Lucian inhaled sharply, and for the first time in years, his composure cracked. He choked, coughing violently, a hand pressing to his mouth as if to physically stop himself from reacting.
"I know, it's hard to believe, isn't it? What other reason would the royal family have to call off the engagement right before her coming of age?" Jax shook his head.
Lucian exhaled slowly, his eyes drifting shut for just a second too long. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, but his face was unreadable when he opened them again.
'Don't be delusional, Lucian,' his inner voice sneered, 'Get a grip. You're not special. You're nothing but a damn pawn. That's all you've ever been.'
"What happened to the servant?" Lucian asked casually, his voice smooth and indifferent, as if the answer didn't matter.
"He's dead. The Crown Prince was very thorough. Not a trace of him left."
Lucian said nothing, forcing himself to stay still. He could feel it ─ his fantasies of revenge crumbling around him.
'Did she do it for my sake? Did she do it to save me?'
The Crown Prince was the heir to the throne, the next king of the Kingdom. His influence was beyond anyone's imagination. If he'd had a vendetta against Lucian, then Lucian would have been as good as dead.
He was done. So done.
Twenty-five years old, and he still couldn't get rid of his foolish dreams, his childish fantasies, his naive beliefs.
'She's' not worth it.′
'Don't give her another thought. Not a second more of your time, your energy or ─ your damn heart.'
"Lucian, are you okay?" his friend asked, frowning, "You look like you're about to pass out."
"I'm fine," Lucian said, his tone flat and cutting as he straightened up. "It's just the pirates that are getting bolder. They raided our ships, cut down our men, and took a haul of valuable cargo. Losses were heavy, so the bonuses are going to be low this month," he said, causing the other man's expression to mirror his own.
"No way! My bonuses are supposed to go up, not down," Jax complained, throwing the portrait of the beautiful girl onto the coffee table, "Damn pirates. They have no honor. What the hell are the Royal Navy doing, huh? They should be cleaning the oceans of these scum, not letting them attack our ships!"
A flicker of worry pricked at Lucian. Celine had always cared about appearances. Her reputation was everything. For her name to be dragged through the mud like this... it didn't add up.
Had she miscalculated?
Had she finally made a mistake?
"Hey, Lucian," his friend said, breaking him out of his trance, "The royal family is hosting a ball in three months. It's a masquerade, and they're inviting everyone who's anyone. You wanna go?"
"Why would the royal family invite the likes of us?" Lucian asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Maybe because you are rich, and rich? Rich enough to buy yourself a title? And you've been making a name for yourself by destroying the pirate strongholds and raiding their ships?" Jax shrugged.
Lucian untied the knot of his cravat, removing it from his neck. He loosened the top buttons of his shirt, and walked toward the bathroom, "Accept the invitation," he said over his shoulder, "It's free food and drink. We might as well make the most of it."
"Aye, aye, boss," Jax mock-saluted him.