Prince Kael sat with the rigid stillness of a soldier rather than the ease of a prince. His amber eyes swept the room, catching glances, half-smiles, and whispered exchanges. The lingering shadow of an assassination attempt months ago had sharpened his instincts into something bordering on paranoia.
Across from him, Lady Serina was radiant in an emerald gown. She spoke politely to the Queen, laughed lightly at the King's jest, and stole quick, careful glances toward Kael. He acknowledged her presence with a nod, but his attention drifted often—measuring the room rather than the woman in front of him.
To Kael, everyone here was a potential player in some unseen game. That included Serina.
The King sat between them, the embodiment of authority, while the Queen—Kael's stepmother—observed everything with a gracious smile that never reached her calculating eyes. To her left, Kael's half-brother, Prince Rian, charmed a visiting ambassador, all easy conversation and warm laughter.
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Serina's Uneasy Shine
Serina had imagined this banquet a hundred times. In each version, Kael's gaze lingered on her longer, his questions more personal, the conversations more… intimate. Tonight, she should have been the focus, drawing all eyes and whispers.
And yet—her gaze kept straying. Lady Miren, poised as if she owned the hall, was speaking with the Duke of Harland in quiet, measured tones. The Duke—meant to be her ally—was distracted. Worse, there was a maid standing behind his chair who didn't blend into the background the way servants should. The Duke seemed intent on drawing her into small exchanges, passing her empty plates, even smiling at something she said.
Serina's fingers tightened around her goblet. It was nothing, she told herself. Just a minor, unremarkable moment.
So why did it feel like her spotlight was dimming?
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A Servant Too Close
Elara felt the Duke's friendly glances more than she welcomed them. She kept her head bowed, answering politely but briefly. The closeness to the royal dais made her skin prickle; she didn't belong here.
When the Queen began her toast, the Duke tipped his empty goblet toward her. Elara stepped forward to pour the wine—
And a faint metallic groan overhead made her pause.
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The Fall
Kael heard it too. His gaze flicked upward just as the chain suspending the grand chandelier snapped.
The massive, gilded structure plummeted.
Gasps and screams erupted as people scrambled. Kael was already moving, shoving the Duke aside and pulling the startled maid with him in one swift motion. The chandelier hit the marble floor in an explosion of glass, gold, and candlewax.
The hall rang with chaos.
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Aftermath
Guards swarmed the scene. The Queen called for calm. Kael released the maid abruptly, studying her for only a heartbeat before turning back to bark orders.
Elara stood frozen, breath uneven, the scent of spilt wine clinging to her.
From her seat, Serina watched the exchange. Her wine sat untouched. She told herself it was only chance—that the maid had been spared because she happened to be near the Duke. But the unease in her chest said otherwise.
Lady Miren, unshaken, sipped her wine.