The day the Queen arrived, House Noctyrr became unnaturally quiet.
Not calm.
Controlled.
Servants moved faster but spoke less. Every surface was cleaned twice. Every curtain was adjusted. Even the air felt restrained, as if the house itself was aware of what was coming.
Caelum noticed it the moment he stepped into the hallway.
No chatter.
No idle movement.
Only discipline.
'So she's close,' he thought.
He did not ask.
He did not need to.
Jena was already in the sitting hall, giving quiet instructions. Her posture was composed, but her fingers moved more than usual. Thyrene stood nearby, arms crossed, watching every servant that passed. Eliya hovered close to Caelum, holding the edge of his sleeve.
"She's really coming?" Eliya whispered.
"Yes," Jena replied gently. "Behave."
Eliya nodded seriously, then immediately leaned closer to Caelum.
He glanced down at her. "You're shaking."
She frowned. "No I'm not."
She was.
He did not say it.
Thyrene exhaled slowly. "This is unnecessary. We're not even that important."
Lucien stood near the window, hands behind his back, expression calm.
"Importance is decided by those above," he said. "Not by us."
Caelum observed him.
Lucien was calm.
Too calm.
'He's already preparing,' Caelum thought.
'Not to impress. To defend.'
That was interesting.
The sound of hooves reached them first.
Then the carriage.
Then the silence outside.
Absolute silence.
Every servant froze.
Jena straightened. Thyrene's jaw tightened. Eliya grabbed Caelum's arm.
Lucien stepped forward.
The doors opened.
And the Queen entered.
Aurelisse Veyrane did not rush.
She did not need to.
Her steps were slow, measured, controlled. Her dress was elegant but simple, her crown small and refined. Her silver-gold hair fell smoothly over her shoulders.
The room bowed.
Every head lowered.
Every breath held.
Caelum bowed with the rest.
When he lifted his head—
Her eyes were already on him.
Not scanning.
Not searching.
Waiting.
Aurelisse felt it the moment she saw him.
That disturbance.
That unnatural pull.
Her heartbeat shifted.
Her blood moved faster.
It annoyed her.
She hid it perfectly.
'Again,' she thought.
'This again.'
Her gaze lingered just a fraction longer than appropriate.
Then she smiled.
"House Noctyrr," she said, her voice smooth and composed. "You maintain your home well."
Lucien bowed. "We do our duty, Your Majesty."
She nodded lightly. "That is why you remain standing."
Her eyes returned to Caelum.
He met her gaze calmly.
No fear.
No challenge.
Balanced.
Her fingers tightened slightly at her side.
'He does not react,' she thought.
'That is… irritating.'
Jena stepped forward. "Welcome, Your Majesty. Please, sit."
Aurelisse moved gracefully and took her seat.
Everyone followed.
Tea was served.
The cups did not shake.
The servants did not falter.
Everything was perfect.
Too perfect.
Aurelisse took a sip, then glanced around the room.
"Your daughters are well," she said. "Healthy. Proper."
Thyrene inclined her head stiffly. Eliya smiled nervously.
"And your son," she continued.
The word was deliberate.
Jena's hand moved slightly.
Caelum did not.
"He is adopted," Aurelisse said softly.
"Yes," Jena replied. "But he is ours."
The Queen's gaze sharpened.
Then softened.
Then returned to Caelum.
"You look nothing like them," she said.
He answered calmly, "I was not born to."
A small pause.
Then she laughed lightly.
"True."
Inside, her heartbeat skipped.
'He is not intimidated,' she thought.
'By me.'
That was rare.
That was dangerous.
She leaned back slightly, studying him.
"Do you enjoy living here?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yes."
No elaboration.
No flattery.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
'He answers like a noble,' she thought.
'Not like a child.'
Thyrene noticed her gaze and shifted.
Eliya leaned closer to Caelum.
Jena watched carefully.
Lucien remained silent.
Aurelisse turned her attention to him.
"Duke Noctyrr," she said, "your household is… interesting."
Lucien inclined his head. "We are simple people."
She smiled faintly. "No one with influence is simple."
Her eyes flicked back to Caelum again.
She could not stop it.
It irritated her.
It fascinated her.
Her composure remained perfect.
Inside—
'Why does he disturb me,' she thought.
'He has done nothing.'
She asked, "What do you study?"
He replied, "History. Governance. Languages."
Her eyebrow lifted slightly. "At your age?"
"Yes."
"By choice?"
"Yes."
Her lips curved faintly.
'Of course it is by choice,' she thought.
'Everything about him feels intentional.'
She shifted in her seat.
Her blood moved faster again.
Her heart followed.
She hated it.
She liked it.
She did not understand it.
"So quiet," she said. "Most boys your age are… loud."
He considered. "Noise wastes energy."
A small silence followed.
Thyrene blinked.
Eliya stared.
Jena hid a smile.
Lucien exhaled slowly.
Aurelisse laughed.
This time, there was genuine amusement.
"That is an unusual way to see the world."
He replied, "It's efficient."
Her eyes locked onto his.
Sharp.
Focused.
Interested.
'He is not wrong,' she thought.
'And that is the problem.'
She looked away first.
The conversation moved.
Politics.
Weather.
Trade.
Formal.
Controlled.
But her attention kept drifting.
Always back to him.
She noticed how he sat.
How he held his cup.
How he listened.
Too composed.
Too aware.
'You are not normal,' she thought.
'And I don't like not knowing why.'
Time passed.
Eventually, she stood.
"Thank you for your hospitality," she said.
Everyone stood.
She turned toward the door.
Then stopped.
"Caelum Noctyrr."
He looked up.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Her eyes met his.
Direct.
Unblinking.
"You will attend the upcoming royal gathering."
It was not a request.
It was not phrased as an order.
It was simply a decision.
He inclined his head. "Understood."
Her gaze lingered.
Her heartbeat shifted again.
She did not hide it fast enough.
Just a fraction too slow.
He noticed.
'So it's real,' he thought.
'Not imagination.'
She turned and left.
The doors closed.
Silence followed.
Eliya exhaled loudly. "She's scary."
Thyrene frowned. "She was staring too much."
Jena sat slowly. "That was… unexpected."
Lucien remained standing.
His eyes were on Caelum.
Not angry.
Not worried.
Measuring.
Again.
Caelum met his gaze.
Calm.
Lucien finally spoke. "Be careful."
Caelum nodded. "I will."
Lucien did not look relieved.
Later, alone in his room, Caelum stood by the window.
The garden was calm.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
'So she has noticed,' he thought.
'Earlier than expected.'
His reflection stared back at him.
Beautiful.
Harmless.
Deceptive.
'This is not attraction,' he thought.
'This is fixation.'
His lips did not smile.
His eyes did.
Slightly.
'So the game will start from here,' He thought.
Already calculating.
Already preparing.