CHAPTER EIGHTEEN — Shadows Between Crowns
The evening sun painted the palace walls in gold and crimson. Helena hurried through the corridors, her hands still trembling from the encounter with Damon under the stars. She didn't notice the guards' curious glances, nor the hushed whispers that followed her-her mind was full of Kira, his apology, and the lingering pull of his gaze.
Meanwhile, Emily had arrived at the palace a few hours earlier, escorted by her personal maid, Liora. She was eager to meet Kira formally, to establish her place in the household, but the grandeur of Nightfall Palace left her both excited and nervous. Unlike Helena, she had no idea of the hidden tensions simmering behind the cold walls.
King Aldren had just announced a family dinner—a rare occasion for Kira and Emily to meet properly under his supervision. Emily clutched her skirts excitedly, thinking this was the perfect opportunity to impress the prince again. Helena, on the other hand, was not relieved she had formal role at the dinner; her tasks kept her mostly in the service halls, far from the glitz and political formalities but today she was ordered to be in the dinner hall
When Kira arrived, his presence immediately shifted the room. His father, King Aldren, greeted him formally, but Kira barely acknowledged anyone. His eyes, sharp as daggers, scanned the room, resting—just for a fraction of a second—on Helena as she passed by carrying a tray.
Helena froze. That single glance made her heart race. She had never seen him so attentive, even briefly, and yet she kept walking, keeping her posture straight, pretending not to notice.
Emily, seated beside the king, watched Kira with bright anticipation. She had planned subtle smiles, carefully measured words, all meant to catch his attention. But Kira's mind was elsewhere. The prince's eyes flickered constantly, betraying the storm within, and Emily's careful plans seemed to falter before he even spoke.
The dinner passed with careful formalities. Kira barely ate, his thoughts returning to Helena's presence, her laughter with Damon, and the warmth that seemed to follow her. Every time his gaze met hers—even fleetingly—he felt a pull he could not explain, a dangerous ache in his chest.
Emily whispered to Liora, "Do you think he noticed me? I must be doing something wrong…" But Liora could only shrug. Emily's plans had no effect on Kira. His attention, though unspoken, was quietly and stubbornly elsewhere.
As the dinner ended, the palace was filled with polite conversation, the clinking of silverware, and subdued laughter. Helena quietly excused herself, carrying her tray back to the kitchens. Kira's gaze followed her again. He clenched his jaw, realizing again—that he could not let his heart drift so easily, yet he could not stop it.
The night was far from over. Shadows of feelings unspoken lingered, weaving a web that none of them could yet escape. And Helena, unaware of how deeply she had captured the prince's attention, simply hoped to survive another day in the palace without drawing too much notice.