DISCLAIMER: The author's imagination and passion are the only sources of inspiration for this novel, which is a work of dedication. Parallels between these pages and the past or present may be apparent to some readers, but they are completely coincidental. You are free to interpret this art anyway you see fit, and it is meant for your enjoyment.
The well-kept stone walks were covered in long, skeletal shadows as the afternoon sun hung low over the Mydril estate. As she retreated toward the buffet table, Reinn Hylde (previously Samantha Lim) felt the weight of several dozen glances pushing against her back. The attention would have embarrassed her in a previous life. Right now? All she wanted to know was whether the chocolate truffles were better than the little quiches.
She nearly missed the change in the atmosphere because she was so preoccupied with achieving her "peace and snacks" aim. Not only had the garden's mood cooled, it had become electrifying.
"Lady Reinn. I was told you were at death's door, yet here you are, waging war against a plate of sweets."
The voice sounded like a sword covered in silk. With a silver fork halfway to her lips, Reinn paused and raised her head.
Giywon Edryyion, the Crown Prince, was in front of her. He literally embodied the Royal Family's golden standard. His eyes were intense, piercing blue of a winter sky, and his hair was a pale, glistening silver. His chest was adorned with a gold-threaded dragon symbol that appeared to shimmer with its own light. He was the kind of powerful CEO who could dismiss you with a smile, the kind of man Samantha would have shunned at a business banquet.
After swallowing her meal, Reinn gave a curtsy. Although it was flawless in theory, she didn't stay in the bow. With a quickness that was almost insulting, she got back up.
"Your Imperial Highness," she murmured in a lifeless tone. "The rumors of my death were, as they say, a bit of a reach. I simply had a realization that staying in bed is far more productive than fainting in public."
Giywon squinted. Since they were young kids playing in the royal hallways, he had known Reinn Hylde. The girl who yelled when she didn't get the biggest piece of cake was someone he knew. He was acquainted with the girl who attempted to buy off a royal guard in order to pilfer one of Dyierrean's training shirts.
The girl in front of him now resembled Reinn, but her eyes were... empty. It is devoid of desire rather than intelligence. She was not focusing on his status, his face, or his crown. She was staring at him as if he were an especially lengthy email that she didn't want to respond to.
Giywon replied, "You seem different, Reinn," invading her personal space. His voice fell to a low, personal mutter as he leaned closer. "Where is the girl who sent me three letters a week complaining that Dyierrean wouldn't look at her? The one who demanded I use a royal decree to make him dance with her at the Solstice Ball?"
Reinn experienced a phantom headache, a holdover from Samantha's former existence. "That girl is currently on permanent leave, Your Highness. The return on investment for chasing the Mydril heir was significantly lower than expected. I've decided to focus on more sustainable goals."
"Sustainable goals?" Giywon said, grinning. "Such as?"
"Professional breathing," she answered. "And perhaps finding the person who made these quiches. They deserve a raise."
Giywon chuckled, a real cry of surprise that made several duchesses in the vicinity gasp. "A lioness doesn't just turn into a house cat overnight. What is the play here? Are you trying to pique his interest by acting indifferent? If so, be careful. The Wolf of Mydril doesn't play games, and neither do I."
Reinn had a glimpse of the former Samantha, the one who had made it through egotistical boardrooms. She gave the Crown Prince a direct glance. "There is no play, Your Highness. I am simply... full. Of the drama, the expectations, and the constant need to be 'on.' If you'll excuse me, I believe my mother is looking for me."
She didn't wait for his approval. With a sense of finality, her golden skirts swished as she turned and left.
Giywon remained still. Nobody turned away from the Crown Prince. His fingers clenched into a fist as he observed her receding form, not without a "by your leave." He had been considered by her as a hindrance to be avoided on the route to her carriage. It was enraging. It was... intriguing.
They had no idea that others were observing.
Dyierrean Mydril stood like a statue in the shadow of a stone archway. For the past five minutes, Dyierrean had not heard anything from his father, Duke Dyionne, who was still talking about border taxes.
His skin was buzzing with his royal blood, the hidden heritage of his mother Giyenna. A sensory overload occurred. He sensed the sun's heat, the fountain's vibrations, and—above all—Reinn Hylde's peculiar, chilly aura.
In his head, Reinn's presence usually seemed as a sharp, screeching sound. However, she felt like a serene, deep pool of water today. He was unable to explain the abnormality. He had seen her treat Giywon with the same careless indifference that she had shown him before.
Dyierrean muttered to himself, "She's hiding something."
Duke Dyionne glanced at his heir and said, "Did you say something, son?"
"No, Father," Dyierrean said, watching Reinn as she arrived at her parents.
He saw Eyrion Hylde immediately wrap an arm around his daughter's shoulders, his overprotective "Lion" instincts flaring as he glared toward the Crown Prince. He saw the older brother, Eyldion, whisper something in her ear that made her roll her eyes.
She looked happy. Genuinely, quietly happy.
Dyierrean was envious, but not because of her love, but rather because of her tranquility. In a wolf and dragon den, how could she be so composed? Why did she gaze at him with sympathy rather than dread, and how did she know about his magic?
Reinn didn't even look back at the Mydril estate or the men inside as she hopped into the Hylde carriage when it was called.
Samantha released a breath inside the carriage that she felt she had been holding since the day she was born. "Done," she whispered as she rested her head on the velvet cushion. "Mission accomplished. Everyone thinks I'm crazy, which means they'll leave me alone."
However, she failed to notice the two most powerful men in the empire watching the dust from her wheels from the balcony as the carriage went away.
The conundrum piqued the interest of the Dragon Prince. The mystery plagued the Wolf Duke.
Samantha Lim wanted to take a nap, but she had unintentionally sparked a curiosity war that would make her "peace of mind" the most valuable item in the kingdom.