Seraphina hurried through the polished halls of the palace, her soft slippers nearly slipping on the marble as she made her way toward the prince's chambers. One of the maids had mentioned that the Crown Prince's friends—nobles from other powerful houses—had arrived early. She knew the prince would want to be informed before they reached him unannounced.
Stopping in front of his door, she knocked briskly. "Your Highness?"
Silence.
She frowned and knocked again, a little louder this time. "Your Highness, it's Seraphina. I have news—your guests have arrived."
Still no response.
Her fingers hovered hesitantly over the doorknob. "I'm coming in if that's alright..."
She pressed the door open slightly, leaning in to peek. The moment she did, her foot slipped just a little—just enough to send her stumbling inside.
With a soft gasp, she lost her balance and toppled forward—
—right into a pair of warm arms.
Strong hands steadied her, and the scent of cedarwood and parchment hit her nose. Her eyes darted up—and there he was. Crown Prince Kael.
His shirt was slightly unbuttoned, his hair still damp from a recent bath. For a heartbeat, the world went still.
His arms remained around her, firm and unyielding. "Are you always this dramatic when delivering messages, Seraphina?"
Her cheeks burned. She quickly stepped back, brushing imaginary dust from her skirt. "Your friends have arrived. I didn't mean to—fall. You weren't answering."
He arched an amused brow, but his eyes lingered on her a second longer than necessary. "Perhaps I didn't answer because I was hoping you'd fall into my arms."
She blinked. "Excuse me?"
He chuckled. "Nothing."
Her heart fluttered as she turned toward the door. "You should get dressed. They're waiting."
"Yes," he said slowly, watching her retreat. "But now they'll have to wait a little longer."
As Seraphina stepped out of the Crown Prince's chamber, cheeks still flushed from the unexpected fall, she straightened her gown and inhaled deeply. Composure, she reminded herself. She had a job to do.
The grand hall where the prince's guests were gathering wasn't far, but she'd lost precious time. With quick steps, she hurried through the corridor, her boots clicking softly against the marble. She rounded the corner at full speed—
—and collided headfirst into something—or rather, someone.
A firm chest met her shoulder, and she stumbled back in surprise. Strong hands caught her before she could fall for the second time that day.
"Careful," a deep voice murmured, tinged with amusement.
Seraphina blinked up at the tall figure. The man before her had a regal presence—broad shoulders, sharp cheekbones, and silver-lined navy-blue eyes that held a teasing glint. He wore the formal coat of a high-ranking noble,adding character to his otherwise striking face.
"The infamous palace halls," he said with a small smirk. "More dangerous than the battlefield, apparently."
"I-I'm sorry," she stammered, quickly stepping away and bowing her head. "I wasn't watching where I was going."
"No harm done." His gaze lingered on her. "You must be Lady Seraphina Vale. The prince mentioned you."
She stiffened slightly. "You are?"
"Duke Alric Thorne of House Eirwood," he said with a graceful nod. "Childhood friend of His Highness. And now, apparently, his favorite topic."
Seraphina's heart skipped. "I was just on my way to greet you and the other guests."
"Then allow me to escort you, Lady Vale," he said smoothly, offering his arm.
Caught off guard, she hesitated before placing her hand gently on his arm. As they walked together, she could feel his curious gaze flick to her every now and then.
And behind them, unnoticed, Kael watched from the shadows of the corridor—his arms folded, expression unreadable, but his eyes fixed on the sight of Seraphina walking with someone else.