Chapter 3: The Princess and the Mask

Marriage was war.

Not the kind fought with swords and armies, but the kind fought with whispers, power, and deception.

The kind where one wrong move meant losing everything.

And I had no intention of losing.

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The doors to the royal chamber swung open with an almost lazy grace. Gold-trimmed wood, carved with the sigils of Aurelia, parted before me like a beast baring its fangs.

A sign of power. A silent message.

They were not afraid of me.

Good. Let them lower their guard.

Inside, the room was lavish, the scent of rosewood and embers filling the air. The firelight flickered against the polished marble floors, casting shadows on the woman seated near the window.

Princess Evelyn of Aurelia.

She was not what I expected.

Her long, ink-black hair flowed down her back in carefully arranged waves, a stark contrast against her smooth ivory skin. Sharp eyes—colder than winter’s edge—watched me with a patience that felt unnatural. Not a flicker of nervousness. Not a sign of weakness.

Her dress was elegant but practical, lacking the excessive embroidery of a woman desperate to impress. She wore no crown, no elaborate jewels. Just a simple pendant around her throat—small, unassuming.

But the way she carried herself?

She didn’t need gold to command attention.

"Your Highness," she greeted smoothly, her voice like silk over steel. "You've kept me waiting."

I smiled, stepping inside without breaking eye contact. "My apologies. I had to remind myself why I agreed to this meeting at all."

She arched a brow. "And? Have you found your reason?"

I let the silence stretch. A test. She was baiting me, watching my every move.

So I gave her nothing.

"Perhaps," I mused. "Though I suspect I should be asking you the same."

Her lips curled at the edges—not a smile, but something close to amusement. "Oh? You doubt my kingdom’s generosity?"

I laughed. "Aurelia is many things. Generous is not one of them."

She exhaled through her nose, something between a sigh and a chuckle. "Clever. I expected as much."

Then she stood.

Her movements were deliberate—graceful, yet controlled, as if every step was a calculated decision. She stopped just short of me, close enough that I could catch the faint scent of jasmine and something sharper beneath it—like the lingering trace of steel.

"Tell me, Prince Lucian," she murmured, studying me like one might examine a caged beast. "Do you always play the fool? Or is that simply the role you've been given?"

For a brief moment, time froze.

Because in that instant, I knew—she saw through me.

Not completely. Not enough to uncover what I truly was.

But enough to know that I was not what I seemed.

Clever indeed.

I tilted my head, feigning confusion. "I'm not sure what you mean, Princess. Everyone knows I am but a frail and unremarkable prince."

She hummed, circling me slowly. A predator watching prey. Or perhaps, one monster recognizing another.

"Unremarkable?" she echoed, voice laced with mockery. "And yet, you’re the only prince King Aldric refuses to acknowledge in public. The only one he never speaks of."

She stopped behind me, her voice barely above a whisper.

"The only one Aurelia specifically requested."

My breath was steady. Controlled.

So.

She wasn’t just playing political games. She was digging. Searching for something.

But two could play this game.

I turned slowly, letting our gazes meet again. This close, I could see the sharpness in her eyes, the way her lips curved slightly—not in warmth, but in amusement.

"Then let me ask you something, Princess." My voice was soft, but edged with quiet challenge.

"If Aurelia truly wanted me so badly…"

I leaned in, just enough to watch her eyes narrow in response.

"Why does its crown princess look so disappointed?"

For the first time, her expression flickered. A flash of something—annoyance? Amusement? Something darker?

And then, she smiled.

A real smile, but not a kind one.

"Perhaps," she murmured, "I expected a better opponent."

I smirked. "Then I suppose you'll be pleasantly surprised."

Her eyes gleamed. "We shall see."

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