I spent the rest of the evening avoiding him.Every time I felt the weight of his gaze, I slipped behind another group of chattering nobles or found an excuse to linger near the refreshment table. My heart never stopped racing.
In the novel, Crown Prince Kael barely spared Livianna a glance that night. She had been the one chasing him.Now, it felt like the roles had reversed.
Finally, I saw my chance — the musicians were striking up another waltz, and most of the court was gathering on the dance floor. I slipped toward the side door that led to the palace gardens. If I could just get some air and stay out of sight until it was time to leave, I could call tonight a success.
Cool night air greeted me as I stepped outside. Moonlight washed over the marble path, turning the hedges silver. For the first time that evening, my shoulders loosened.
That was when I heard footsteps.
"Running away so soon?"
I spun around. The Crown Prince stood at the edge of the garden, his hands clasped behind his back, a faint smirk on his lips.
"I wasn't—" I began, but he stepped closer, his boots silent on the stone.
"Strange," he said, circling me like a predator who'd found unexpected prey. "You've spent years trying to capture my attention. Tonight, you won't even look at me. Should I be offended?"
My throat tightened. "I simply didn't wish to disturb you, Your Highness."
His golden eyes narrowed, studying my face with unsettling focus. "You're different tonight."
I forced a polite smile. "Perhaps I've simply… grown tired."
He stopped just a step away from me. "No, Livianna. You've changed." His voice dropped lower, as if sharing a secret meant only for me. "And I find myself… intrigued."
Before I could respond, he reached for my hand — not to kiss it, but to turn it palm-up. His thumb brushed over my skin, as if testing something.
A shiver ran through me.
"I'll see you again soon," he said, releasing me. Then he walked back toward the ballroom without another word, leaving me standing in the moonlit garden, heart pounding.
This wasn't supposed to happen.If he was already paying this much attention to me… surviving the year was going to be much harder than I thought.