Chapter 4 – The Day That Wouldn’t End

Amber had devised what she believed to be a foolproof plan: drown herself in errands and responsibilities so thoroughly that a certain vexing nobleman would finally grow bored and disappear.

It was a brilliant plan. In theory.

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**Morning at the Market**

“Fresh herbs, two bolts of linen, and whatever fruit looks least suspicious,” Amber told Sylphy as they strolled into the bustling market. She wore a hood, hoping to blend with the townsfolk.

And there he was. Already leaning casually by the fruit stand, examining an apple like it was the most fascinating treasure in the world. Vlad.

Amber stopped dead. *He did not. He absolutely did not.*

“Morning, sunshine,” he greeted with that insufferable grin. “Shopping without me? I’m hurt.”

Amber groaned. “Don’t you have kingdoms to run? A war council to attend? Bandits to scare?”

“None of those are as entertaining as this.” He dropped the apple back into the basket and fell into step beside her.

Sylphy’s lips twitched as if she might laugh. Amber shot her a glare that promised a lecture later.

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**The Ranch Inspection**

Fine. If shopping wouldn’t shake him off, work would. Amber marched to the ranch, where the stables needed checking. She leaned against a stall door, speaking to the stablemaster about feed supplies.

When she turned around—Vlad was brushing her horse. *Her horse.* The usually aloof creature leaned into his touch, the traitor.

Amber crossed her arms. “Do you have to insert yourself into every corner of my life?”

Vlad smiled innocently. “What? I’m helping. Look, he likes me.”

“I’d like you gone.”

“Ah, but I thrive on rejection.”

Sylphy muffled a laugh again. Amber muttered something under her breath that sounded like *poison ivy would make a better companion.*

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**Into the Misty Forest**

By late afternoon, Amber was convinced that surely—surely—he would give up. Instead, when she saddled up to patrol the edge of the Misty Forest, Vlad was already waiting on horseback.

“I thought I’d join you,” he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Amber tugged her reins sharply. “This isn’t a social ride. It’s patrol.”

“All the better. Who knows? Maybe I’ll save you.”

She gave him a long, flat look. “If something comes out of that forest, I’ll feed it to you first.”

He laughed, delighted.

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**The Day’s End**

By sunset, Amber was ready to collapse from sheer exasperation. No matter what task she took up—shopping, ranch work, forest patrol—Vlad had been right there, pestering her like a shadow she couldn’t shake.

Back at her manor, Sylphy set down Amber’s bow with care, lips quivering with amusement.

“You know,” Sylphy said gently, “he doesn’t seem like he’ll stop.”

Amber flopped onto her chair, throwing an arm across her face. “Then may the gods take pity on me, because this feels less like noble mischief and more like a curse etched in blood.”

Her words were half-jest, half-truth. Little did she know, destiny had only begun weaving her into something far more dangerous than a noble’s playful persistence.

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