Autumn painted the Vreisz estate in shades of gold and auburn, and the crisp air carried a quiet promise of change. It had been five months since Riley had woken in this life as Vyrilleya Vreisz, and for the first time, the garden walls no longer felt like a boundary, but a shelter.
And today, they would be welcoming a prince.
Once every four years, the Imperial Family of the Fillemina Empire conducted regional visits to noble houses across the land. The most influential territories were always assigned to the Crown Prince, Myrilli Fillemina. The lesser, quieter regions? Assigned to the second prince.
And so, the Vreisz estate found itself preparing to host the second prince, Prince Navelleir Fillemina.
Riley had learned about the royal family during her lessons with Sventius. The Emperor, Arthur Fillemina, ruled with a calm strength. He was widely respected-regarded as just, measured, and wise. He had been blessed with four children: two princes and two princesses. Crestelle, the eldest, was a beautiful and elegant princess befitting her mother's background, the Hyerial's only daughter. Myrilli, the second born, was the shining heir and favored Crown Prince. His background was slightly less prestigious due to his mother's humble origin, but as the eldest son, his position as crown prince remained valid.
Then came Navelleir, the third-born and the second prince. He was the son of the previous empress, the one Arthur Fillemina truly loved. And lastly, the youngest, Princess Neverillisch-about whom little was known, other than her sickly constitution caused by her premature birth, the same birth that led to the Empress's death.
When Sventius briefly informed Riley about the imperial family, she couldn't help but notice that there was more to them than her father let on-especially about the Emperor. Sventius spoke of Arthur Fillemina with reverence, yet there was always a shadow behind his praise. A weight to his words. She didn't understand it then. But she would.
The Vreisz household had been bustling for weeks. Banners were dusted, floors polished, and a month-long plan was carefully laid out. Riley had expected grandeur-an entourage of carriages, soldiers in rows, a prince with a regal presence. Instead, when the royal carriage finally rolled into the courtyard, it carried only a small retinue of knights.
And an eleven-year-old boy.
Riley stood with her father, Viscount Sventius, Ramona, and the estate staff as the carriage doors opened. Out stepped a boy with silvery-blonde hair and an almost ethereal beauty, dressed immaculately in imperial white and red. His face was calm. His smile, practiced. His gaze, sharp.
He greeted Sventius with formality, then slowly glanced at Ramona and Riley. When his golden eyes met Riley's for the first time, she couldn't help but be struck by how perfect they looked with his pale skin and silver hair. He was, quite simply, stunning.
The formal greetings were exchanged. Courtesies, honors, introductions. Riley said nothing, standing quietly beside her father.
But there were only so many things an eleven-year-old visiting prince could discuss with adults. And so, inevitably, she was asked to accompany him. Riley, with her limited knowledge and unmastered etiquette, couldn't help but try to avoid crossing paths with the prince as much as she could. The last thing she wanted was to offend him, even unintentionally. She mostly accompanied him in the same room or stayed near in case he needed something.
But as the days passed, and she observed him more closely, she began to notice things.
Like how his expression faltered when no one was looking.
How the perfect prince mask he wore sometimes cracked-revealing a flicker of worry, or pain, or exhaustion.
How, despite all his poise, he often looked... lonely.
She didn't understand it. But she recognized it. The boy in her dreams wore the same expression.
Still, she kept her distance.
Until the incident happened.
Prince Navelleir was bored. Trapped in an unfamiliar estate, surrounded by adults he couldn't trust, and suffocating under expectations he didn't ask for. He missed his sister, Eve.
Riley, still occasionally made to accompany him, mentioned a nearby forest.
To her surprise, he expressed interest in going.
Alone.
He dismissed his knights, saying he wished to be alone, and to her surprise, the knights let him go so easily. As if being the second prince of this Empire didn't matter. As if he weren't that precious.
Prince Navelleir walked straight toward the forest, via the hidden passage Riley had found by accident one day while exploring the back garden. Alarmed by the prince's action, Riley quickly followed. In her rush to keep him in sight, she forgot to inform any knights.
The prince walked briskly. Riley found herself struggling to keep up, her dress entirely unsuitable for navigating the deep forest.
After some distance, Prince Navelleir suddenly stopped. He looked back, visibly irritated. "Go back," he said coldly.
"I can't let you go alone," Riley answered, panting as she continued walking toward him.
"Are you deaf? Did you not hear me say I wish to be alone?"
Riley recalled his exact words when dismissing his knights. But she couldn't understand why he wanted to go into an unfamiliar forest alone. "I promise I won't bother you."
As if realizing no words could sway this stubborn girl, he didn't reply. Instead, he walked even faster, hoping to leave her behind or tire her out so she'd give up.
But to his surprise, the girl continued-even as she clearly struggled.
Then he spotted water. Not quite wide or deep enough to be called a river, but the water flowed steadily, separating the land. It was the perfect width for an eleven-year-old boy to leap across, and so Prince Navelleir did just that. Effortlessly.
Facing the stream that now separated her from the prince, Riley didn't hesitate. She lifted her dress to her knees and stepped straight into the water. It would take her about three normal steps to cross, but the current was stronger than expected. She had no choice but to shorten her strides and tread carefully. Yet the fabric of her dress obstructed her view of the uneven riverbed, and inevitably-she slipped.
She groaned in pain. She had fallen on a rock, landing hard on her bottom. Thankfully, she'd slipped just before reaching the far bank. Hurriedly, she stood up, soaked and dirty, and continued after the stubborn prince.
"I really shouldn't have worn a dress to a forest! If only the prince had been kind enough to let me change into something more comfortable!" she groaned silently.
Still, she pressed on.
Despite her wet, heavy dress, she followed him. And then, suddenly-she saw the prince disappear. As if he'd been swallowed by the ground.
"Your Highness!" Riley ran with all her might-and fell in after him.
She shut her eyes reflexively-but to her surprise, she felt no pain.
"What an idiot," came the prince's voice, incredibly close.
When she opened her eyes, she was in his arms. He had caught her.
Riley gasped and quickly scrambled away. "Ah, I'm terribly sorry, Your Highness!" she said, bowing repeatedly.
"Forget it." Prince Navelleir's voice was cold. Then he murmured to himself, barely audible, "Not that you'd understand how stupid you're being."
Riley raised her head. The prince was already looking upward, thinking. She got beside him and followed his gaze. They both assessed the situation. The pit was deep. Steep. Smooth walls. Clearly a trap for wild animals.
"The soil's too slippery to climb. There's not much to use for support," he muttered.
"Uhm, Your Highness, how about using me as your footstool? Maybe you could reach the edge?" Riley offered hesitantly.
The prince looked her over and scoffed. "Right. As if your pathetic bones could hold me. Try again."
She flushed and looked away. "Well, it was just a thought-"
"Here's a better one." He knelt. "I'll lift you. You climb out."
"I-I can't step on a prince's shoulder!"
"Do you have a better idea?"
"...No."
"Exactly. Now get on before I change my mind."
Prince Navelleir had one knee down, waiting.
Reluctantly, Riley approached. She stepped carefully onto his bent knee, then his shoulders. He gritted his teeth as pain pulsed through his ankle, but he held steady.
"Almost there!" she gasped. Her fingers brushed the edge-
And then she slipped.
They tumbled to the ground, landing in a heap. She had fallen on him. Again.
He groaned. Riley quickly moved away, then sat near the pit wall, hugging her knees. Her eyes brimmed with tears.
Prince Navelleir joined her, now visibly limping slightly from his hurt ankle. Riley buried her face in her knees. Tears began to fall.
"I'm sorry," she whispered once the prince had sat beside her.
"For what?"
"For everything. For telling you about the forest. For falling in. For getting you hurt."
He looked at her sideways.
"...Most of that's my fault."
"But still, you're hurt. And we're both trapped here."
They sat in silence.
"You should stop crying," he muttered. "It's getting annoying."
She sniffed, wiping her face. "Then let me cry in your place. Since I know you won't."
He blinked.
Something tugged in his chest.
From Navelleir's perspective, Vyrilleya Vreisz was just a dumb, uneducated noble girl. He couldn't help but get irritated whenever he saw her smile at basically nothing-when she grinned after the Viscount gently pointed out her innocent misspeaks, or when she laughed during afternoon tea with the Viscountess.
Navelleir had been informed by the Viscount that the girl had only started receiving noble education four months ago, due to an accident that caused her to lose her memory. He didn't go into details, and Navelleir couldn't care less. But something about the girl always ticked him off.
Like always, she did it again today.
Navelleir never felt comfortable being away from his sickly sister for long. And today, he was particularly irritated knowing His Majesty the Emperor had purposely extended his stay in Vreisz territory. He knew it must have been the Queen's doing-her relentless efforts to bully him. But even knowing that, Navelleir couldn't help but feel angry at the Emperor too-his so-called father.
Then he remembered the forest that the girl, Vyrilleya, had told him about days ago. A calm, beautiful forest just behind the mansion. Going there might clear his mind. He was tired of always wearing his royal mask. Tired of facing the hypocritical knights who claimed loyalty to him while actually serving the Queen-and boasting about dying for his sake.
Yeah. He just needed some peace. Alone. Then he'd return to being the perfect prince.
"Rogas, Skank, you're both dismissed for the day. I wish to be alone. Do not follow me."
The two knights who always accompanied him exchanged a glance, then bowed politely. "As you wish, Your Highness," they said, and left without looking back.
Prince Navelleir finally felt like he could breathe again. Then he slipped out, using the secret passage the girl had told him about.
But to his surprise, she followed. The same girl who never dared approach him unless absolutely necessary.
He tried to shake her off by walking faster. But she was stubborn.
Then he spotted the river. Not wide enough to be called a real river, but fast-flowing. He thought she would surely stop if he crossed it. No noble girl would want to get her shoes wet, let alone ruin her dress.
To his surprise, she didn't stop.
He paused briefly when he heard her slip. His body moved instinctively-almost rushing to help. But he stopped himself. He turned away and kept walking.
Just treat this as your punishment for always irritating me.
But now, sitting beside her in this pit, back leaned against the hard soil wall, watching her cry on his behalf, something twisted in his chest.
He watched her for quite a long time. Then he realized, slowly, painfully-that he wasn't angry at her.
He was jealous.
She was clumsy. Naïve. Poorly educated.
But she was loved. Treasured.
She laughed easily. Smiled often. And even now, soaking wet and covered in dirt, she shone.
He was better than her in everything-mannerisms, etiquette, conversation, knowledge, strength, skill. And yet, she was so clearly treasured. Just by being alive. Not only by the Viscount and Viscountess, but even by all the servants, knights, and all the estate workers.
He looked at her again. She had finally calmed down. She was still sniffling, but her tears had stopped. Her dress was soaked-its pale yellow now stained muddy brown from the river and the pit. A gust of wind stirred the leaves overhead. She hugged her knees a little tighter. The cold must be creeping in now, sinking through her soaked dress into her bones.
The sun had almost set. The air was cooling fast.
Without a word, Navelleir shrugged off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.
"Your Highness, I-"
"Just wear it," he said flatly. "I'm warm anyway."
She hesitates for a bit before nodded softly. "Thank you."
Silence settled between them again, but it felt lighter this time.
"Uhm... Your Highness... do you not like staying in the Reverie? In Vreisz Mansion?" she asked hesitantly.
Navelleir looked at her. "No. Why do you ask?"
"Because you always look like you want to leave as soon as possible."
Navelleir blinked. How did she know? Had he slipped? Had his mask faltered?
"You know..." she continued. "You always have this sad and lonely look whenever you're alone. Like all the splendor of being a prince can't fix what's really hurting inside."
Navelleir remained silent.
Riley rushed to add, "Oh-sorry! If I said something rude, I didn't mean to-"
"No. You were right."
"Sorry?"
"You were right. I do want to leave. As fast as I can."
"...Is it because of me? I noticed you always seemed angry when I'm around. But I swear I never meant to offend you, Your Highness!"
"Oh really?" A faint smile tugged at the corner of Navelleir's lips. So she had noticed.
Riley nodded. "I'm even trying my best not to get in your way!"
"Following me into a forest was part of that 'trying your best not to get in my way'?" he teased, smirking-not cruelly, but playfully.
Riley flushed. "Uh... well... that is..."
Navelleir laughed-really laughed. This must be his first genuine laugh since he came here. In fact, this might be his first genuine laugh after so long.
Riley stared. Wow... he's so beautiful when he laughs.
"Well, thanks," he said. "But no boy likes being called beautiful."
Did I say that out loud?! Riley could feel her whole face burning. She wanted to dig a hole and bury herself.
Navelleir chuckled again, seeing her curl up in embarrassment. "Relax. I was talking about my sister. I miss her. That's why I want to leave quickly and go back to the palace."
Riley sighed in relief. "Oh... I only ever heard a little about Her Highness Neveri-Nevereill...?"
"Neverillisch," Navelleir corrected her quickly. "Please don't mix up my name with my sister's, no matter how much you like me."
Riley flushed again. Did he just tease me?!
"Hey, I'm not! Your Highness's name and Her Highness's are just really similar and hard to remember! That's all!"
Navelleir chuckled. "Fair. My name and her are indeed quite a mouthful. Then how about just calling me Nave?"
Riley gasped. "How dare I?! Besides, is that really okay?"
"It's fine if the prince himself gives permission." He shrugged. "In formal settings, of course, you'll still need to use my proper title. But when we're alone, you can call me Nave."
"Then... you may call me Riley, just like everyone else!"
Navelleir looked at her. She was smiling-her violet eyes shining.
That smile. The one that used to annoy him.
It didn't anymore.
Instead... it felt freeing.
"Sure," he said.
Not long after, the Vreisz knights found them.
By then, Riley had fallen asleep, leaning against Nave's shoulder. By Nave's order, the knights jumped into the pit to carry her out first-carefully, gently. Then they retrieved the prince, handing him off to the belatedly-arrived imperial knights.
Rogas, one of the royal escorts, bowed stiffly. "Your Highness. We are relieved to see you safe."
Nave scoffed by the obvious lie. "You're late."
That night, after a warm bath and treatment for his ankle, Navelleir lay in bed, staring out the window at the moon.
He thought of her-wet dress, clumsy steps, stubbornness, tears, and all.
"Riley, huh?" he murmured to the night. "What an interesting girl."