The carriage ride back to the mansion was unusually quiet.
Liora sat across from Lucien, staring out the window.
The lights of Valthera passed by in long streaks of gold and silver.
She had expected the royal reception to be overwhelming.
She hadn’t expected it to make her think.
About Lucien.
About Vivienne.
About the way everyone seemed to know something she didn’t.
Finally, Lucien spoke.
“You’ve been quiet.”
Liora looked at him.
“I’m thinking.”
“That’s dangerous.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Was that a joke?”
“No.”
“It sounded like one.”
“Then perhaps you’re imagining things.”
She smiled despite herself.
Then her expression became serious again.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“Do you dislike Lady Vivienne?”
Lucien looked out the window.
“No.”
“Then why don’t you want to marry her?”
“Because liking someone isn’t the same as wanting to marry them.”
Liora nodded slowly.
“Fair.”
She hesitated.
“Does she dislike you?”
“No.”
“Then why doesn’t she refuse?”
Lucien was quiet.
“I don’t know.”
Liora remembered Vivienne’s words.
Sometimes duty is easier than admitting you don’t want the life everyone planned for you.
Maybe she did know.
Just not completely.
The next morning, Liora was back in the kitchen.
She had barely finished preparing breakfast when a familiar voice came from behind her.
“Good morning.”
She turned.
Lucien.
“You came to the kitchen again.”
“I live here.”
“Unfortunately.”
He raised an eyebrow.
Liora smiled.
“Breakfast?”
“Yes.”
She placed a plate in front of him.
He looked at it.
“You’ve reduced the vegetables.”
“You complained yesterday.”
“I didn’t complain.”
“You stared at them.”
“That isn’t complaining.”
“It’s your version.”
He shook his head.
For several minutes, they ate in silence.
Then Lucien spoke.
“About last night.”
Liora looked up.
“Yes?”
“You handled yourself well.”
She blinked.
“That’s what you wanted to tell me?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
She returned to eating.
Then she smiled.
“Although I almost walked into a pillar.”
“I saw.”
Her eyes widened.
“You saw that?”
“I was standing behind you.”
“Why didn’t you help me?”
“You recovered.”
“You could have caught me.”
“You seemed capable.”
Liora stared at him. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
“You really are difficult.”
“I’ve been told.”
That afternoon, a royal carriage arrived at the mansion.
Liora was carrying books when a servant hurried toward her.
“His Majesty wants you in the sitting room.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Liora followed her.
When she entered, she stopped.
Vivienne was sitting there.
She stood gracefully.
“Liora.”
“Lady Vivienne.”
Vivienne smiled.
“I hope I’m not interrupting your work.”
“No.”
Liora looked around.
“Is something wrong?”
“No.”
Vivienne gestured toward the chair.
“Please sit.”
Liora hesitated.
Then sat.
Vivienne remained standing for a moment before taking the chair opposite her.
“I wanted to speak with you.”
Liora’s stomach tightened.
“About what?”
“Last night.”
Liora waited.
Vivienne folded her hands in her lap.
“You seemed uncomfortable.”
“I was.”
Vivienne smiled.
“So was I.”
Liora hadn’t expected that.
“Why?”
“Because everyone was watching.”
“At the reception?”
“At me.”
Vivienne looked toward the window.
“My entire life has been planned.”
Liora listened quietly.
“My father decided which families I should be friends with.”
She smiled sadly.
“The Council decided which traditions I should follow.”
Her fingers tightened slightly.
“And my engagement to Lucien was decided before either of us had a choice.”
Liora looked at her.
“Do you love him?”
Vivienne’s eyes widened slightly.
Then she laughed.
“You’re very direct.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
She thought for a moment.
“No.”
Liora nodded.
“Do you love someone else?”
Vivienne looked away.
There was a long silence.
Then she answered softly.
“Yes.”
Liora’s expression softened.
“Does he know?”
“I don’t know.”
“Does he love you?”
“I think so.”
“Then why aren’t you together?”
Vivienne smiled sadly.
“Because sometimes two people can love each other and still be too afraid to choose it.”
Liora understood that more than she expected.
Vivienne looked at her.
“You know, you’re very different from what I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
“A frightened girl.”
Liora frowned.
“I’m not frightened.”
“I know.”
Vivienne smiled.
“That’s what surprised me.”
The door opened.
Lucien entered.
His eyes moved from Vivienne to Liora.
“Everything all right?”
Vivienne stood.
“Yes.”
Lucien looked at Liora.
She nodded.
“I’m fine.”
Vivienne turned toward him.
“I’ll leave you both.”
She walked toward the door.
Then stopped beside Lucien.
“Your Majesty.”
He looked at her.
“We should speak again soon.”
“Agreed.”
Vivienne left.
Liora watched the door close.
Then looked at Lucien.
“She isn’t what I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
“Someone who wanted to marry you.”
Lucien gave a quiet laugh.
“Neither of us does.”
Liora looked at him.
“Then why does everyone keep pushing it?”
“Because our marriage would benefit powerful families.”
“So it’s political.”
“Yes.”
Liora frowned.
“That sounds awful.”
“It is.”
She looked down.
“She loves someone else.”
Lucien’s expression changed slightly.
“You spoke about that?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t ask for details.
Instead, he walked toward the window.
“Vivienne has always been expected to do what her family wants.”
Liora remembered her own family.
People deciding what she should sacrifice.
What she should give.
What her future should look like.
She understood.
“That’s terrible.”
Lucien glanced at her.
“You understand her.”
“Maybe.”
Liora stood.
“Because I know what it’s like when people decide your life for you.”
Lucien became very still.
She didn’t notice.
She was already gathering the books she had brought.
“I’ll take these to the library.”
She walked away.
Lucien watched her leave.
Her words stayed with him.
I know what it’s like when people decide your life for you.
For the first time, he wondered whether his own decisions—even the ones he made to protect her—might someday make her feel the same way.
He didn’t know why the thought bothered him.
But it did.
That evening, far from the mansion, Vivienne stood on a balcony overlooking Valthera.
A familiar voice spoke behind her.
“You shouldn’t have come.”
She turned.
Her expression softened.
“I needed to.”
The man stepped into the moonlight.
He had calm eyes and a quiet smile.
Vivienne looked at him for a long moment.
“Elliot.”
He smiled.
“Hello, Vivienne.”
For the first time that day, she looked genuinely happy.
And neither of them noticed the shadow moving across the rooftops nearby.
Watching.
Waiting.
Listening.