She was just a healer from the forest.He was the crown prince, promised to another.When Liora saves a wounded stranger in the woods, she doesn’t expect him to be Prince Kael the future king. Dragged into the palace as a servant to the queen-to-be, she vows to keep her head down and survive. But Kael can’t forget the girl who touched his life and his heart.As stolen glances turn into dangerous longing, Liora uncovers a secret about her past that could shatter the kingdom. Because she’s not just the prince’s mistress…She might be the rightful heir to the throne.In a palace of lies, betrayal, and forbidden love, how far will they go to be together?And what will they risk to protect each other?

It began with a “Hey.”That one word had never carried so much weight before, and yet it was all she could bring herself to type. Lenah stared at the message on her screen for a second longer before pressing send, releasing it into the digital void. Her fingers hovered hesitantly over her phone as if waiting to take it back, but it was already done. No going back.She tossed the phone onto the other side of the couch and sighed.“Why do I even bother?”The question lingered, unanswered, in the silence of her apartment. Outside, the dull hum of the city filtered through the window, mingling with the lo-fi music playing softly from her speakers. She curled up deeper into her throw blanket, pulling it over her legs like armor against disappointment.The guy’s name was Micah. She hadn’t planned to message anyone tonight actually, she’d downloaded the app again on a whim during a lull in her day. Another bout of loneliness, another cycle. But something about Micah’s profile stood out.No gym selfies. No six pack. No quotes from The Wolf of Wall Street. Just a photo of him at a small table in a coffee shop, eyes squinting at a book as if the world around him didn’t exist.His bio read simply: “If you’re real, say hey. I’ll be here.”So she had. Now the silence was excruciating.Then ding.A notification.Lenah sat up fast, the phone slipping from her lap onto the floor with a soft thud. She grabbed it, screen lighting up with one line:Micah: Hey there. Thought I’d never get a message from someone who didn’t start with “wyd.” Already impressed.She grinned. Okay, maybe this wouldn’t be.What followed was two weeks of messages that felt less like texting and more like exchanging chapters of a shared book. Every evening, she’d find herself smiling at her screen as she caught up on Micah’s day. He didn’t just reply he engaged. He asked thoughtful questions. He listened. He had a dry sense of humor, bordering on sarcastic, and she found herself laughing aloud more than once.He learned she hated pineapple on pizza and loved indie films. She learned he once tried standup comedy in college.They talked about books, music, the weird dreams they’d had the night before.The chemistry was undeniable, but Lenah hesitated. She had been down this road before. Good banter didn’t always lead to good people. And yet, she couldn’t help but hope.Then came the question.Micah: Want to meet?Her stomach twisted in anticipation. But she typed back:Lenah: Yeah. Let’s do it.They picked a Saturday afternoon neutral, not too much pressure. Coffee first. She chose her outfit with the same care as if she were meeting someone she already loved, then laughed at herself for it. The coffee shop was tucked away in a quiet side street, just far enough from downtown to avoid the rush. Lenah arrived first, her palms sweaty despite the chill in the air. She kept checking her phone, alternating between nervously sipping her drink and wondering if this had all been a mistake.But then he walked in.He looked exactly like his photo maybe even better. No catfish, no filters. Just Micah, in a denim jacket and navy T shirt, scanning the room until his eyes landed on hers.He smiled. “Hey.”She stood up, smiling back. “Hey.”It felt strange, how natural it was. Like they were simply continuing something that had already started.They talked. And talked. What was supposed to be a quick coffee turned into a walk around the city. The sun dipped lower in the sky as they strolled through the park, sipping warm drinks and laughing about weird Tinder stories.Then they wandered into a quiet bookstore tucked behind an alley. He picked up a poetry book and read a line aloud, half serious, half silly.She rolled her eyes. “Trying to impress me with poetry?”“Is it working?”A pause. “Maybe.”They found themselves sitting on the curb outside afterward, sharing a croissant from a bakery he insisted was “life changing.” The minutes blurred into hours. Neither one checked their phone. Neither one cared.At some point, she looked up and realized it was dark.“What time is it?” she asked, pulling out her phone.“Almost 10,” he said, sounding surprised. “Wait, what? Didn’t we meet at two?”She blinked. “That can’t be right.”But it was. Eight hours. Just like that.He looked at her with a quiet smile. “Guess time flies when…”“When what?” she prompted.“When you’re not checking your watch.”They both laughed, but something shifted in her chest.It felt… good. Real. Easy.They said goodbye in the parking lot, a little reluctantly. No kiss, just a warm hug that lingered longer than expected.“Text me when you get home,” he said.She nodded. “You too.”Back in her apartment, Lenah sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her cheeks hurt from smiling, and her mind was a whirlpool of moments his laugh, the way he held open the door, the way he made her feel it’s like she was a teenager again and yes I know a teenager with all the emotions and naivety with Micah she forgot everything else but Micah.This is it.