Bastian appeared at the edge of the training ground, holding a towel in his hands. He approached the Duke cautiously, his movements respectful and unobtrusive. The soft crunch of gravel beneath his boots was the only sound that broke the silence of the late afternoon.
"Duke Felice," he said, his voice soft. "Her Majesty, the Crown Princess Hiraya, has arrived."
Somehow, being addressed as *Hiraya* felt strange to her. She never really minded it—since people very rarely mentioned her name—but it still felt weird.
The Duke paused mid-motion, his eyes widening slightly. He turned toward Silver, his gaze locking with hers. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The world around her faded away, and all that remained was the intensity of his stare.
Then, a slow smile spread across his lips, and Silver felt her stomach flip. He was even more devastating up close, his eyes sparkling with amusement and a hint of… something else. Something that made her heart race even faster.
