Days passed in a blur of whispered conversations and stolen glances. The palace no longer felt like a sanctuary but a cage lined with eyes that watched, waited, and judged. I learned quickly that smiles could hide daggers, and friends might be foes in disguise.
One evening, as the sun dipped behind the towering spires, Kael summoned me to the private library — a place filled with ancient tomes and secrets long forgotten. The heavy scent of old paper and leather wrapped around us like a cloak.
He closed the massive door behind me with a soft click, his expression unreadable. "I have questions, Livianna," he said, voice low and deliberate.
I met his gaze, steady despite the flutter in my chest. "Ask."
He paced slowly, his steps echoing against the marble floor. "Why have you changed so much? The Livianna I knew was reckless, loud, desperate for attention." He stopped, eyes piercing. "Now, you are cautious, almost… cold."
I hesitated. How much could I reveal without unraveling my secret? "People change, Your Highness."
"True." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "But change like yours… it hides something."
Before I could answer, a soft knock interrupted us. A servant entered, whispering urgent news: a plot against the Crown Prince had been uncovered.
Kael's face darkened. "This palace is a nest of vipers."
I stepped closer. "Then we must be careful whom we trust."
His golden eyes softened for a moment. "Maybe… we can trust each other."
The words hung between us, fragile and dangerous.
In that ancient library, surrounded by shadows and secrets, I realized that surviving the palace would require more than cunning—it would demand alliance, and perhaps, something more.