Chapter 1
“Alexander!” Alexandria shouted as she marched down the palace hallway.
“My lady—wait! Lady Alexandria!” her maid-in-waiting, Ms. Brown,called as she hurried after her.
Alexandria spotted Nicolie rounding the corner.
“Young miss, how may I help you?” Nicolie asked.
“Have you seen Alex?” Alexandria demanded.
Nikolie linked, startled by the urgency in Alexandria’s voice.
“No, my lady… not since this morning. Is something wrong?”
Alexandria huffed in frustration, scanning the corridor as if Alex might simply appear.
“He’s avoiding me. Again.”
Ms. Brown finally caught up, slightly out of breath.
“My lady, please, at least slow down—”
“I will not slow down,” Alexandria snapped, though her frustration wasn’t aimed at the maid. Her gaze sharpened. “If you see him, send him to my chambers immediately.”
Nikolie nodded quickly.
“Of course, my lady.”
But before Alexandria could turn away, a guard at the far end of the hall cleared his throat.
“Princess Alexandria,” he called, stiffening as she approached.
“Prince Alexander was seen heading toward the west gardens.”
Alexandria lifted her chin, determination flaring.
“Then the west gardens it is.”
And without another word, she swept past him, Ms. Brown scrambling after her once again.
When Alexandria stepped into the west gardens, she immediately heard voices coming from behind the marble archway.
Alexander’s voice.
And a woman’s—Seraphine’s.
Alexandria slowed, eyes narrowing as she moved closer.
“The date has already been set, Alexander,” Seraphine said. “You can’t change it now.”
“I’m only asking for more time,” Alexander replied. “There are things we need to be sure of before the ceremony.”
“You mean before your wedding to Alexandria,” Seraphine said flatly. “Everyone else is ready except you.”
Alexandria stopped just a few steps away, her breath catching. Ms. Brown froze behind her.
Seraphine crossed her arms.
“If you delay again, the council will question your ability to take the throne.”
Alexander rubbed a hand over his face.
“I just want it done right, Seraphine.”
Seraphine opened her mouth again—then went still, her eyes flicking past Alexander.
She had seen Alexandria.
Alexander turned, his expression shifting the moment he spotted his bride-to-be.
“Alexandria…”
She stood tall, arms folded.
“So this is where you’ve been.”
Alexander smiled as his fiancée approached.
“Have you been looking for me?”
Alexandria rolled her eyes.
“Of course I’ve been looking for you. What was all that about?”
Alexander’s smile faded at her question.
“Nothing. It was nothing.”
Alexandria raised a brow, clearly unconvinced.
“Alexander, I heard the both of you.”
Seraphine shifted uncomfortably behind him but stayed silent.
Alexandria stepped closer to her fiancé.
“You’re not telling me something.”
Alexander exhaled slowly, avoiding her eyes.
“It’s just wedding matters. Nothing for you to worry about.”
“I am the wedding, Alexander,” she snapped softly. “If there’s a problem, I should know.”
Seraphine finally spoke, her tone careful.
“He’s only trying to make sure everything is perfect, my lady.”
Alexandria gave her a cool look.
“I wasn’t speaking to you.”
Seraphine’s mouth shut instantly.
Alexander winced.
“Alexandria… can we talk alone?”
Ms. Brown glanced between them but stepped back without being asked, giving them space.
Alexander gently touched Alexandria’s arm.
“Please. Just us.”
Alexander cleared his throat and forced a smile back onto his face.
“Anyway,” he said quickly, stepping closer to Alexandria, “have you eaten yet? The cooks prepared that sweetbread you like.”
Alexandria stared at him.
“Alexander.”
“Or,” he continued, ignoring her tone, “we could walk the gardens. They’ve opened the new fountain—Father said you’d love it.”
She folded her arms, not fooled for a second.
“Alexander, stop. I asked you a question.”
But he kept going, gesturing toward the path as if nothing had happened.
“Come on, the weather is perfect today. Let’s enjoy it.”
Alexandria stepped directly in front of him, blocking his way.
“Why are you avoiding the topic?”
His smile faltered, eyes darting briefly toward Seraphine before returning to her.
“I’m not avoiding anything,” he insisted. “I just… thought you might like a distraction.”
Her expression didn’t budge.
“Try again.”
Alexandria stepped even closer, leaving Alexander no room to turn away.
“Alexander,” she said firmly, “I’m not one of your servants you can dismiss with a smile. I’m your fiancée. If something is happening with our wedding, I deserve to know.”
He swallowed, eyes shifting again.
“It’s not what you think.”
“Then tell me what it is,” she shot back. “Because I heard Seraphine saying you were delaying the date. Why?”
Alexander opened his mouth—but no explanation came out.
Alexandria’s voice softened, but only slightly.
“Are you having doubts?”
His head jerked up immediately.
“No. Never that.”
“Then what?” she pressed. “Why talk to her about something you won’t tell me about?”
He looked torn—cornered—but still wouldn’t speak.
Alexandria’s frustration sharpened.
“Alexander, I will not walk into a marriage shrouded in secrets. Now tell me what’s going on.”
He clenched his jaw, breathing out slowly.
“Alexandria… I just need more time. That’s all.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Time for what?”
For the first time, Alexander looked genuinely uneasy.
Before Alexander could answer, hurried footsteps approached.
nikolie appeared at the edge of the garden, slightly out of breath.
“My lady, my lord—your ride is ready,” she announced. “The limo is waiting to take you both back to Greenway University. They’re asking that you don’t keep the driver waiting… it is the start of your final semester.”
Alexandria didn’t look away from Alexander.
He let out a quiet breath of relief at the perfectly timed interruption.
“Thank you,nikolie,” he said quickly.
Alexandria gave nikolie a tight smile.
“We’ll be there in a moment.”
nikolie nodded and hurried off.
Alexander tried to reach for Alexandria’s hand.
“We should go. First classes start early tomorrow.”
She pulled her hand away.
“This conversation isn’t finished,” she said quietly.
He nodded, tense.
“I know.”
Together, they walked toward the palace gates—toward the waiting limo, the start of their final semester at Greenway University, and a truth Alexander clearly wasn’t ready to share.
