The crack of dawn found Garran striking furiously at the training dummy before him, each punch carrying the weight of a bruised ego and burning rage. The dummy swayed under his relentless blows. His expression was stony, his hands sharp and precise, but his lips trembled as the memory of the previous day fueled him.
"Damnation!" he cursed, throwing another jab. He let out a frustrated sigh as he glanced around for a place to sit, but finding none, he remained standing.
"Thought I told you not to sneak up on me," he said into the silence.
For a few moments, the hall echoed only with his words—until a man clad in fiery red knelt before him, head bowed low.
"Apologies, Your Highness. I did not wish to disturb your training."
Garran said nothing, only motioned for him to continue while he adjusted his leather gloves.
"My Lord, the doctor you ordered me to investigate has vanished. His house is empty, and he has not been seen anywhere in town."
"Is that so?" Garran muttered, fiddling with the black leather gloves on his hands. He balled his fist and begun wrestling with the dummy once more.
"Yes, my Lord. And I looked into the former doctor of the King. He too disappeared right after his last check on His Majesty."
"You're implying a pattern?" Garran asked, one brow arched. He paused and turned to the man kneeling, granting him his full attention.
"I believe so, because soon after, the High Steward arranged a marriage for the Princess."
The words froze Garran in place. Shock carved itself across his pale features. His lips trembled once again before an amethyst aura burst from him, sweeping through the hall in every direction.
The man collapsed to the floor, struggling to breathe.
"My… my Lord…"
"What did you say?" Garran growled, his blue eyes flaring like fire.
"The… Princess… is to be… married…" the man forced out, his lips pressed against the stone floor.
"Leave!" Garran's roar shook the hall. His aura thickened, and he turned his wrath back on the training dummy, raining blows until holes marred its wooden body.
By the time the sun climbed high, Eldoria stirred with life. Merchants and peasants hurried through the streets, earning their daily bread. Yet inside the palace, Princess Sera sat alone in the grand dining hall. A feast was laid out before her, but her sapphire eyes kept darting toward the door, her teeth worrying at her lip.
"Has Father taken breakfast?" she asked the moment the butler entered, flanked by two maids.
Serevin bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Highness. His Majesty's breakfast has been served in his chambers."
The mechanical words brought her no comfort. Her worry for her father gnawed at her, and her brother's absence troubled her more. She called Serevin back just as he turned to leave.
"What about Garran? Has he eaten?" she asked, her voice edged with concern.
"Yes, Your Highness. Prince Garran instructed me to inform you that he will be occupied today and should not be disturbed."
Sera nodded, though unease lingered. Eating alone meant freedom from criticism—no lectures on her expressiveness, no reminders of her failure to socialize or her inabilityto curb her kindness. But instead of relief, loneliness weighed on her, and she found herself eating quickly, as though to escape it.
When she finished, she stepped out toward the palace gates, her maid Adna following closely.
"Tell Serevin to prepare a carriage. I wish to visit the temple," she instructed.
Adna bowed and hurried off, leaving Sera to stand under the portico. Her gaze swept over the towering trees that lined the palace front and the ivy-wrapped statues of her ancestors. A moment later, she spotted Serevin speaking quietly to Adna, then leaving his post to see to her command.
"The weather seems pleasant today, don't you think, Princess Seraphine?"
The voice was smooth, experienced. Sera turned, finding herself face-to-face with Lord Minos.
Adna bowed, but Sera inclined her head, answering, "It is. The air feels fresh and inviting."
She tilted her head, a note of amusement in her tone. "I didn't think you were the type to admire nature."
For once, Minos's smile wasn't the polite mask he always wore. It was simple, almost innocent. "There are many things you do not know about me, My Princess."
Sera blinked at him. He was right—this was the first time in her twenty-two years of existence that she had spoken to him beyond receiving a message or order from her father.
Minos's black eyes studied her carefully. "I didn't expect the Princess to go out today."
"My religious conscience blares" Sera replied softly. "I wished to pray for Father."
Minos's lips pressed into a thin line. "Unfortunate that it must be today. The governess is to arrive… right about now." He pulled out a pocket watch and checked it.
Sera's brows furrowed, especially as another carriage rolled up before the palace gates.
"So it was true," she murmured.
Minos blinked, startled. For once, he had no words.
He wondered gravely what expression of his made her think he was joking.
"Who is he?" Sera pressed, her sapphire eyes burning into his dark ones.
"I wish I could tell you… but I cannot," he said at last, offering her an apologetic smile before withdrawing.
She watched him go, recognizing his intention to avoid further questions. Without another word, she turned back inside. Sera felt weird when she walked through the halls, because she could feel them whispering behind her or boring holes behind her. She pursed her lips as she walked in thought
In the palace corridors, whispers spread faster than wildfire. Servants carried gossip like sparks in the wind, careful to wait until Serevin's back was turned.
"Did you hear? The Princess's husband is to be the crown prince of Kaelthor," a maid whispered to her companion as they hurried through the hall.
Her friend's eyes widened. "Him? But isn't he in his sixties? Why marry now?"
"Apparently, it's to strengthen ties—" She cut herself short as the Princess herself appeared.
Both maids bowed low, trembling, but Sera merely smiled faintly and walked past.
At last, she reached a polished wooden double door. She paused, inhaled, and pushed it open.
The door opened to the scene of a beautiful woman sitting before the piano with her back facing her.
Melodious tunes of music flew harmoniously in the air and Sera felt all her worries disappear.
The music came from her favorite music and she didn't know whether to call it a coincidence or not.
The sun rays had little access to the room because of the heavy velvet curtains which were partially opened, she stared hard at it because she felt like another presence has invaded the room but it seems there was no one.
Sera sighed and walked towards the woman who was lost in her playing.
It was her mind playing ticks on her--paranoia acting up in the event of her marriage. It was then that realization struck her, she was feeling like an asset of the kingdom; born,bred and exchanged for political power and standing, she had always thought that it would never happen to her, but here she was.
Just then,the woman turned around and gasped.
"My Princess!"