Chapter 1 – Leon
The village is unbearably loud.
Children scream through the streets while merchants shove bread and fabrics into people’s
hands, all desperate for attention. I grip the reins of my horse tighter as I ride through the
crowded square, already regretting leaving the castle.
The villagers lower their heads immediately when they notice me.
Good.
At least someone in this kingdom still understands respect.
“Move,” I say coldly as a group blocks the path ahead.
They scramble away in panic, nearly tripping over themselves. I sigh in irritation and
continue riding through the village, ignoring the constant bowing and nervous glances.
These inspections are pointless.
The people are fed.
The kingdom is thriving.
What more could they possibly want?
I’m about to turn my horse toward the castle gates when laughter echoes through the
square.
Real laughter.
Not the fake kind people use around royalty.
I glance toward the sound and freeze slightly.
Children are gathered around the fountain near the centre of the village. Tiny hands reach
into the air while giggles bounce off the stone walls around them.
And in the middle of it all stands a woman.
Long white hair cascades down her back in soft waves, glowing beneath the sunlight like
fresh snow. A light blue dress swirls around her legs as she spins gracefully across the
cobblestone, smiling so brightly it almost looks unreal.
Bright blue glitter dances through the air from her fingertips.
The children squeal in delight as glowing ribbons spiral above their heads like tiny stars.
I stare longer than I should. One little girl laughs as the woman twirls her around gently. Another child clings to her arm
while she creates shimmering butterflies that flutter through the air before dissolving into
glitter.
She laughs softly.
The sound is strangely calming.
My horse slows beneath me as I continue watching her.
Beautiful.
Annoyingly beautiful.
A guard beside me clears his throat awkwardly. “Your Highness?”
I ignore him.
The woman spins again, white hair flying around her shoulders while the children clap and
cheer. She looks completely carefree, dancing with them like she doesn’t have a single
burden in the world.
I can’t remember the last time I saw someone smile like that.
Then one of the children notices me.
The laughter dies instantly.
Fear spreads through the crowd as parents rush forward and yank their children back. The
villagers bow quickly, their heads lowered toward the ground.
But the woman doesn’t.
She slowly turns toward me instead.
And gods—
Her eyes are impossibly blue.
They lock onto mine without even a flicker of fear inside them.
The square goes silent.
“Bow before the prince,” one of my guards snaps at her.
Whispers erupt around us.
“What is she doing?”
“She’ll be arrested—”
“Gods help her…”But she simply stands there calmly as glitter floats around her like falling stars.
Looking at me as though I’m merely another man in the village.
Not the crown prince.
Not the future king.
Just a man.
Something sharp twists in my chest.
I slide off my horse slowly, my boots hitting the cobblestone with a heavy thud. The villagers
tense immediately as I walk toward her.
Up close, she’s somehow even more stunning.
Her skin glows beneath the sunlight. Her white hair falls past her waist like silk, and her blue
eyes almost seem to shimmer when she blinks.
She smells faintly like lavender.
I stop directly in front of her.
The children hide behind her dress immediately.
Interesting.
“You’re either very brave,” I say coldly, “or very stupid.”
The villagers look horrified at my tone.
But the woman only tilts her head slightly.
“You look exhausted,” she says softly.
I blink once.
Excuse me?
No one speaks to me like that.
Ever.
My jaw tightens slightly as I study her face, waiting for fear to appear.
It never does.
“What is your name?” I ask flatly.
“Lyra.”
The name settles strangely in my chest. I glance toward the fading glitter around her fingertips. “Magic inside the kingdom requires
authorization.”
A few villagers go pale.
But Lyra only looks toward the children beside her before meeting my gaze again.
“They were smiling,” she says quietly. “I didn’t think joy needed permission.”
Silence fills the square.
One of my guards looks seconds away from fainting.
I should arrest her for speaking to me this way.
I should leave.
I should stop staring at her.
Instead, I find myself noticing the way sunlight catches in her white hair while the little girl
behind her clutches the fabric of her dress tightly.
And for the first time in months—
Something feels interesting again.
I step closer to her slowly.
Close enough to notice the glitter dusted across her cheeks.
Close enough to watch her breathing falter slightly for the first time.
“There’s something very dangerous about you, Lyra,” I murmur.
Her brows furrow softly. “Dangerous?”
A slow smirk pulls onto my face.
“Yes,” I say quietly. “You don’t fear me.”
