The morning sun had begun to pierce through the high windows of Castle Valemont, spilling light onto the ornate marble floors of the royal corridors. Yet Selene's mind was elsewhere. She had barely slept the night before, her thoughts tangled in the warnings whispered by Kael's gaze, the suffocating weight of her mother's expectations, and the prospect of a future dictated by a man she did not trust—Lord Evander Kaine.
The castle was unusually quiet, save for the distant hum of servants preparing breakfast and the rustle of fabric in the hallways. Selene moved swiftly, her footsteps silent against the cold stone. She needed air, solitude, a place where she could think without the scrutiny of court.
The garden.
It was her refuge, a hidden corner of the castle that few dared to enter. Even during the day, the tall walls and iron gates kept most out, leaving the rare visitor with only the songs of birds and the whisper of leaves for company. She had walked its paths as a child, hiding behind fountains and arbors, dreaming of a life unbound by etiquette and duty. Now, it seemed the perfect sanctuary for a mind teetering on the brink of anxiety and anticipation.
Selene pushed open the wrought iron gate, the hinges protesting with a soft creak. Inside, the garden was still veiled in frost, delicate petals coated in sparkling ice. Roses, violets, and lilies stood frozen in silent perfection, their colors muted but not diminished. Even in winter, the garden held life.
Kael's presence behind her was nearly imperceptible, yet she felt it immediately—a shadow in the corner of her vision, constant, vigilant. She did not turn to acknowledge him. There was a comfort in his silent companionship, a reassurance she had not expected to feel.
"You come here often," he said finally, his voice low, almost blending with the whisper of wind through the frozen branches.
"I did, when I could," Selene replied, keeping her tone casual, though her fingers tightened around the iron railing of a nearby fountain. "It is the only place in the castle where I feel… myself."
Kael nodded slowly, his eyes scanning the courtyard walls as if measuring the distance to danger. "And yet, even here, you are not free. The world follows you, Princess, even in the quietest corners."
Selene sighed. "I sometimes wonder if freedom exists at all for someone like me. I am born to a crown, trained to smile, expected to obey. And soon, I will be bound to another, not by love, but by alliance."
Kael's gaze softened, though a shadow of something unreadable lingered behind his eyes. "Not all chains are visible," he said. "Some are forged by the expectations we choose to accept—or the fears we cannot yet face."
Selene's breath caught. His words struck deeper than any gentle encouragement could. There was truth in them, yes, but also warning. Kael had always spoken in riddles, masking his thoughts behind observation and restraint, but she had learned to listen carefully. Sometimes, the most profound truths were delivered in whispers, not declarations.
They walked in silence along the frost-lined path, the crunch of her boots against the gravel sounding louder than it should in the empty garden. Selene stopped at a small alcove beneath a trellis where the frost had not yet touched the ivy climbing the stone. She traced her gloved fingers along the leaves, feeling the cool texture beneath her fingertips.
"I do not like him," she murmured finally, referring to Evander, who was now an unavoidable presence in her life. "I do not trust him. And yet, it seems I am expected to embrace him as though he were… safe."
Kael's jaw tightened slightly. "He is not safe. You feel it in your bones, I can see that. And yet the council, your mother… they see what they want to see. A union that strengthens their position. They do not consider what it means for your heart—or your life."
Selene's lips pressed together. How could she explain that it was not just politics that frightened her, but the strange pull she felt toward Kael himself? Every glance he gave, every moment he lingered near her, seemed to defy propriety. And yet, she could not ignore it.
A soft rustle drew her attention. A figure stepped from behind a line of frost-covered hedges—a woman cloaked in deep purple, the hood falling back to reveal sharp, striking features. Her hair was a silver cascade, her eyes glinting like moonlight on steel.
"Lyra," Kael muttered under his breath, his hand brushing instinctively toward his sword.
The woman bowed slightly to Selene, a wry smile on her lips. "Princess," she said, voice smooth and melodic. "It has been some time since I have had the pleasure of speaking with you."
Selene inclined her head politely, though unease prickled at her. "Lady Lyra. Your presence is… unexpected."
Lyra's smile widened. "I do not often wander where I am not needed. But sometimes, even a shadow must intervene in the affairs of light."
Kael's posture stiffened, the tension radiating off him in waves. Selene's heart pounded—not in fear, but in anticipation. There was something about Lyra, something that both unsettled and fascinated her. She had heard whispers of the sorceress among the court, rumors of forbidden magic, whispered curses, and alliances forged in shadow.
"What do you want?" Kael asked, his voice firm, though measured.
Lyra's eyes flicked to him, a glint of amusement there. "Nothing for now, Kael. My interests lie elsewhere." She turned back to Selene, her gaze softening. "You, Princess, are at a crossroads. Do you know the path you wish to follow?"
Selene shook her head. "I… I do not."
Lyra stepped closer, the frost crunching beneath her boots. "The path is never clear at first. It is shaped by every choice you make, every risk you take. Some risks will burn, some will blossom. But remember—sometimes the petals are not meant to survive the ashes."
Selene absorbed the words, sensing the weight behind them. This was no idle warning. Lyra's presence, Kael's protective stance, the engagement looming in her future—it all painted a landscape of danger and desire she could not yet navigate.
Lyra inclined her head once more and retreated, leaving Selene and Kael alone in the frost-coated garden. Silence returned, heavier now, filled with unspoken tension.
"Do you trust her?" Selene asked quietly, turning to Kael.
"Not entirely," he said. "But trust is a luxury we cannot afford. She has her own motives, but there is truth in what she says. Choices must be made carefully. And yet…" He hesitated, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Sometimes, one must act even without knowing the full consequences."
Selene nodded slowly, digesting his words. There was a dangerous allure in them, an invitation to step beyond the safety of what she had always known.
They continued walking through the garden, past frozen fountains and frost-laden rose bushes, until they reached a small gate that opened onto the lower terraces of the castle. Selene stopped, glancing back at Kael.
"Do you think I am capable of more than… what is expected of me?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
Kael studied her, his dark eyes unwavering. "You are capable of more than you know, Princess. More than even your mother or the council could ever imagine. But the question is—are you willing to risk everything to discover it?"
Selene's breath caught. The question hung between them, heavy and impossible to ignore. She wanted to answer, to voice the desire that had been simmering within her since the morning she received Evander's letter. But she remained silent, letting the weight of possibility fill the space between them.
Kael placed a gloved hand briefly over hers—not in possession, but in assurance. "We will face this together. Whatever comes."
Selene's heart swelled at the promise, and yet, a flicker of fear persisted. Together. Yes. But what if together meant more than she was prepared to handle? What if it demanded sacrifices she could not yet see?
The winter sun climbed higher, casting long shadows across the frost-bitten garden. The petals glimmered, fragile yet resilient, and Selene realized that perhaps that was the lesson hidden here all along: beauty and strength could coexist, even in the most frozen of circumstances.
And so, amidst whispers of wind and frost-kissed petals, Selene made a silent vow to herself. She would navigate the court's treacherous waters, she would confront the dangers that lurked in the shadows, and she would face the choices that awaited her—no matter how painful, no matter how uncertain.
Because the petals could not bloom without the ashes, and the ashes could not define her