The next day.
The ball was grand.
Golden chandeliers reflected off polished marble. Masked nobles whispered behind fans. Every flicker of candlelight caught my silver blue silk gown like starlit water.
Yet I felt like an imposter.
From the top of the stairs, both Crown Princes Claude and Danenel arrived.
Claude's amber eyes scanned the crowd… then stopped on me.
Even though I had been cloaked last night, perhaps he recognized my eyes when I turned away.
I tried to hide, slipping into the garden.
Man, why is his castle so big?
"I guess you aren't a commoner after all," a familiar voice said from behind.
I bolted but he was too fast. His hand caught my arm.
A small smirk tugged at his lips, one beat too long.
Then he offered his hand not dramatically, but almost casually, as if testing something only he understood.
"Dance?"
I lifted my voice into a high-pitched courtesy.
"That would be an honor, Your Highness."
Ugh. How annoying. Now I had to deal with him.
We moved to the center of the garden, couples spinning around us in quiet rhythm.
Claude leaned slightly forward, his amber gaze fixed on me.
"You saw my death just now… didn't you?"
"No idea what you're talking about," I said quickly, letting my words fall flat.
Too fast.
He narrowed his eyes, but let it go… for now.
As we moved, I had a moment to really look at him blonde hair catching the candlelight, sharp amber eyes.
The flowers in the garden glimmered around us, and I felt a blush rise as our eyes met.
I quickly looked down.
Great. A prince who's pretty but far too arrogant for me to like.
So this arrogant guy was the one who started a war and turned the sky red, huh…
The garden grew quiet.
I'd had enough dancing. I pulled back.
The air was still no footsteps, no voices only the faint echo of music drifting from the ballroom far behind us. I'd chosen this place precisely because it was empty.
Apparently, Claude had decided that was an invitation.
"I was wondering how long it would take before you ran again."
I sighed and turned around slowly.
"Is this your hobby?" I asked. "Chasing women who clearly want to be left alone?"
I smiled rolling my eyes.
There it was the effortless kind. The kind that had probably worked far too many times.
"Only the interesting ones," he said.
I laughed.
Actually laughed.
"That line needs to be retired," I told him. "It's embarrassing."