Daya hurried through the dark corridor, balancing a tray of wine and fruit. Her heart raced — not just from the weight, but from the memory of the Prince speaking her name.
Vanda.
The Dragon Prince.
Why had he spoken to her at all?
Before she could untangle her thoughts, a shadow stepped into her path. It was Rosa's maid, eyes glinting in the candlelight.
"You are wanted in the garden, girl," the maid hissed. "At once."
Daya blinked. "But I was told—"
"Do you dare disobey the Princess?" the maid snapped.
Fear knotted in her stomach. She set down the tray and followed.
The gardens were eerily empty, the moon casting silver light over roses and fountains. Then — hands shoved her from behind.
She stumbled, barely catching herself before striking the stone edge of the fountain. She gasped, spinning around, only to see two guards step forward. Rosa emerged behind them, her smile as sharp as a blade.
"You," Rosa whispered, venom dripping from every syllable. "You think you can steal his attention from me?"
"N-No, Your Highness!" Daya fell to her knees, trembling. "I would never—"
"Silence!" Rosa's voice cracked through the air. "You shame me every time he looks your way. And I will not allow it."
She lifted her hand. The guards moved closer.
"Take her," Rosa commanded coldly. "Make sure she never dares show her face in this palace again."
Daya's eyes widened in terror. She stumbled backward, tears streaming.
But before the guards could seize her — a roar shook the night.
It was not human.
It was deep, primal, and terrifying.
And from the shadows of the garden, the Dragon Prince stepped forward, his cloak billowing like wings. His eyes glowed faintly, catching the moonlight.
"Touch her," Vanda's voice thundered, "and I will burn this garden to ash.Daya hurried through the dark corridor, balancing a tray of wine and fruit. Her heart raced — not just from the weight, but from the memory of the Prince speaking her name.
Vanda.
The Dragon Prince.
Why had he spoken to her at all?
Before she could untangle her thoughts, a shadow stepped into her path. It was Rosa's maid, eyes glinting in the candlelight.
"You are wanted in the garden, girl," the maid hissed. "At once."
Daya blinked. "But I was told—"
"Do you dare disobey the Princess?" the maid snapped.
Fear knotted in her stomach. She set down the tray and followed.
The gardens were eerily empty, the moon casting silver light over roses and fountains. Then — hands shoved her from behind.
She stumbled, barely catching herself before striking the stone edge of the fountain. She gasped, spinning around, only to see two guards step forward. Rosa emerged behind them, her smile as sharp as a blade.
"You," Rosa whispered, venom dripping from every syllable. "You think you can steal his attention from me?"
"N-No, Your Highness!" Daya fell to her knees, trembling. "I would never—"
"Silence!" Rosa's voice cracked through the air. "You shame me every time he looks your way. And I will not allow it."
She lifted her hand. The guards moved closer.
"Take her," Rosa commanded coldly. "Make sure she never dares show her face in this palace again."
Daya's eyes widened in terror. She stumbled backward, tears streaming.
But before the guards could seize her — a roar shook the night.
It was not human.
It was deep, primal, and terrifying.
And from the shadows of the garden, the Dragon Prince stepped forward, his cloak billowing like wings. His eyes glowed faintly, catching the moonlight.
"Touch her," Vanda's voice thundered, "and I will burn this garden to ash.