The prince
1007 Words
Elena couldn't explain why she kept thinking about him.
It had been three days since she first saw Prince Adrian.
Three days since their eyes met in the dining hall.
Three days since that strange feeling had settled in her chest.
It was foolish.
She knew that.
A servant had no business thinking about a prince.
Especially a wolfless Omega who had been sold to the palace only days ago.
So Elena tried to forget him.
She threw herself into work.
Every morning, she woke before sunrise. She cleaned the royal corridors, polished silverware, carried laundry, and helped prepare meals for the royal family.
She never complained.
She never drew attention to herself.
And she certainly never looked toward the royal wing.
Until fate decided otherwise.
“Elena!”
She turned.
Mara was hurrying toward her.
“The east library needs cleaning.”
“I'll go.”
Mara grabbed her wrist before she could leave.
“And be careful.”
Elena frowned.
“Why?”
“Prince Adrian is there.”
Her heart immediately jumped.
Mara noticed.
A knowing smile appeared on her face.
“Don't tell me you like him already.”
“I don't.”
“You're blushing.”
Elena touched her cheeks.
“I am not.”
Mara laughed.
“Just remember who you are.”
The smile disappeared from Elena's face.
She knew exactly what Mara meant.
A prince.
A servant.
An Omega.
Three worlds that should never meet.
“I know,” Elena whispered.
She took the cleaning supplies and walked toward the library.
---
The library was enormous.
Bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling, filled with ancient records, histories, and books about wolf clans.
Elena quietly began dusting.
She had almost finished when she heard footsteps.
She turned.
Prince Adrian stood in the doorway.
He wasn't wearing his formal royal clothes.
Instead, he wore a simple dark shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows.
Without the crown and ceremonial clothing, he looked less like a prince.
More like a man.
His eyes immediately found hers.
“You.”
Elena lowered her gaze.
“Your Highness.”
“You're the new maid.”
“Yes.”
“The wolfless Omega.”
Her heart sank.
“Yes.”
Adrian walked closer.
Elena instinctively stepped backward.
He noticed.
“Why are you afraid of me?”
“I'm not.”
“You are.”
Elena didn't answer.
Adrian studied her.
Then, unexpectedly, he smiled.
“What's your name?”
“Elena.”
“Elena.”
He repeated it quietly, as if testing how it sounded.
She looked up.
Their eyes met again.
That strange sensation returned.
A warmth spread through Elena's chest.
Adrian seemed to feel something too.
His smile disappeared.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then he looked away.
“Do you like books?”
Elena blinked.
“Books?”
“Yes.”
“A little.”
“What kind?”
“I don't know. I've never had many.”
Adrian frowned.
“You've never owned books?”
Elena shook her head.
“My adoptive parents couldn't afford them.”
Something changed in his expression.
“Your adoptive parents?”
“Yes.”
“Where are your real parents?”
Elena's fingers tightened around the cloth in her hand.
“I don't know.”
Adrian didn't press further.
Instead, he walked to a shelf and pulled out a book.
He handed it to her.
Elena stared at it.
“What's this?”
“A history of the northern kingdoms.”
“I can't take it.”
“Why?”
“I'm a servant.”
“And?”
Elena looked confused.
Adrian smiled.
“Being a servant doesn't mean you aren't allowed to read.”
She slowly accepted the book.
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
For the first time in a very long time, Elena smiled without forcing it.
Adrian stared at her.
Something about that smile unsettled him.
Not because it was unpleasant.
Because it felt familiar.
Too familiar.
He didn't know why.
Suddenly, a sharp pain struck his chest.
He grabbed the edge of the table.
Elena immediately dropped the book.
“Your Highness?”
Adrian breathed heavily.
“I'm fine.”
“You don't look fine.”
He straightened.
“I said I'm fine.”
But his eyes remained fixed on her.
The pain had started the moment she smiled.
And now it was disappearing.
Slowly.
As if something inside him had recognized her.
Neither of them understood it.
---
That evening, Elena returned to the servants' quarters with the book hidden beneath her dress.
She sat on her bed and opened it.
She read until the candle burned low.
For the first time, she felt like someone had given her something without expecting payment.
She smiled.
Maybe palace life wouldn't be so terrible.
Maybe Prince Adrian really was different.
Maybe—
A sudden howl echoed through the night.
Elena froze.
It was followed by several others.
The entire palace seemed to come alive.
She hurried toward the window.
Outside, guards were running across the courtyard.
Mara rushed into the room.
“Get away from the window!”
“What happened?”
“The King.”
Elena's eyes widened.
“What about him?”
“He's sick again.”
“Is he going to be okay?”
Mara's face became pale.
“No one knows.”
Another howl echoed through the palace.
This one was deeper.
More frightening.
Elena felt something inside her chest pull toward the sound.
She pressed a hand against her heart.
For one strange moment, she thought she heard a voice whispering inside her mind.
Find him.
Elena gasped.
The voice disappeared.
She stood frozen.
She had no idea who she was supposed to find.
But deep within the royal palace, behind locked doors and surrounded by guards, King Lucien opened his eyes.
His wolf was howling.
Not from pain.
From recognition.
And for the first time in years, the dying King whispered a name he had never heard before.
“Elena.”
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