The prince arrives
385 Words
Prince Lucien of Armand arrived at noon.
The palace had spent an entire week preparing.
Flags decorated the streets. Musicians gathered outside the gates. Servants polished every silver plate in the dining hall until they reflected the chandeliers above.
Elara stood beside her parents on the palace steps.
She wore a dark blue gown embroidered with silver thread.
Her father whispered, “Smile.”
She did.
Trumpets sounded.
A procession entered the courtyard.
At its center rode Prince Lucien.
He was twenty-four, tall, confident, and dressed in the colors of Armand.
He dismounted and approached the king.
“Your Majesty.”
“Prince Lucien. Welcome to Valeria.”
They shook hands.
Then Lucien turned toward Elara.
“Princess.”
Elara curtsied.
“Your Highness.”
His expression was polite.
“You are even more beautiful than the portraits.”
Elara forced a smile.
“That is kind of you.”
From across the courtyard, Adrian watched.
He knew he shouldn’t be watching.
He knew the princess belonged to a world far above his.
Still, when Lucien offered Elara his arm, something uncomfortable stirred inside him.
He immediately looked away.
That evening, the royal banquet lasted several hours.
Nobles praised the alliance between Valeria and Armand.
The musicians played.
Wine flowed.
Everyone seemed delighted.
Everyone except Elara.
Prince Lucien sat beside her.
“You don’t seem pleased.”
She looked at him.
“Should I be?”
He laughed softly.
“Most people would be thrilled to marry a prince.”
“Most people aren’t me.”
Lucien studied her.
“I suppose that’s true.”
Across the hall, Adrian stood beside the doors.
Elara caught his eye.
For one brief second, the noise around them seemed to disappear.
Then Lucien spoke.
“Princess?”
She looked away.
“Yes?”
“I believe our parents have already planned our future.”
Elara’s fingers tightened around her glass.
“Then perhaps we should decide whether we want the future they’ve planned.”
Lucien smiled.
“Perhaps we should.”
At the far end of the hall, Lord Marius—the king’s most trusted adviser—watched the princess, the prince, and the guard.
His eyes narrowed.
He had noticed something.
Something that could become very dangerous.
And he intended to find out exactly what it was.
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