The sound had been small.

Barely more than a sharp intake of breath forced into the shape of a muffled cry.

But in the quiet stretch of the corridor, it was enough.

Both men turned at once.

Lily froze where she stood, her injured foot still slightly raised from where it had struck the edge of the stone divider. The pain lingered, sharp and throbbing, but it was quickly overshadowed by something far worse....the sudden awareness of two pairs of eyes fixed directly on her.

For a moment, no one spoke.

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating, pressing down on her chest until it became difficult to breathe.

Then Seth stepped forward.

Unlike the Duke, whose stillness carried a quiet, controlled weight, Seth moved with a lighter ease, though there was nothing careless about the way his eyes assessed her from head to toe.

"Well," he said, his tone mild but edged with curiosity, "this is unexpected."

Lily swallowed.

Her mind scrambled.

Say something.

Seth tilted his head slightly, recognition dawning across his features. "You are the princess’s maid... aren’t you?"

Lily forced herself to bow quickly, lowering her gaze in what she hoped resembled composure rather than panic.

"Yes, sir."

Seth’s expression did not soften.

"If that is the case," he continued, folding his arms loosely, "then I must ask.....what are you doing this far from the princess’s wing?"

The question landed cleanly.

Directly.

Lily hesitated.

Just for a second.

But in that second, too many thoughts collided at once, leaving her with nothing clear to say.

"I... was sent," she replied finally, the words coming out uneven despite her effort to steady them. "I was sent to... attend to something."

Seth raised a brow.

"To attend to something," he repeated, as though testing the shape of her answer. "And that required you to hide behind a corridor divider?"

Lily’s throat tightened.

"I wasn’t hiding," she said quickly. "I only...."

"Only what?" Seth pressed, taking another step closer. "Lost your way? Became curious? Or perhaps...."

"That will be enough."

The interruption was quiet.

Yet final.

Seth stopped immediately.

Lily’s breath caught as her gaze shifted....slowly, reluctantly...toward the Duke.

Xandros had not moved from where he stood, but something in his presence had changed. There was a subtle sharpness now, a quiet authority that made the space feel smaller, tighter, as though the walls themselves were closing in.

"I was intending," he said calmly, his gaze resting on Lily, "to receive a report regarding the princess."

The words struck her like a blow.

Report.

Princess.

For a split second, her heart stopped.

Then it began again....faster.

Louder.

He knows.

Panic surged through her chest, rising so quickly it almost forced her to step back.

Xandros watched her reaction carefully.

Then, almost thoughtfully, he added, "But it seems... it would be more efficient to ask directly."

Lily’s instincts screamed at her to leave.

To run.

To escape before whatever this was became something she could not undo.

Her body shifted.....

And she turned.

But she didn’t make it far.

Seth moved faster.

His hand closed firmly around her wrist, stopping her in place before she could take more than a single step.

"Now, now," he said lightly, though his grip did not loosen. "Running only makes things look worse."

Lily struggled instinctively, but the hold was unyielding.

"Please...." she began, her voice trembling now, "I didn’t mean...."

"Look at me."

The command came from Xandros.

Soft.

Controlled.

And impossible to ignore.

Lily’s resistance faltered.

Her movements slowed, then stilled entirely as she turned her head toward him.

Their eyes met.

And something changed.

The world seemed to narrow, the edges of her awareness blurring as his gaze held hers.....not forceful, not harsh, but undeniably powerful.

Her thoughts dulled.

Her panic quieted.

Replaced by something else.

Stillness. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Yes," she murmured faintly.

Xandros stepped closer, his expression unreadable.

"Answer carefully," he said.

Lily nodded once.

"Is the princess... the legitimate daughter of the king?"

"Yes," Lily replied at once, her voice steady, devoid of hesitation.

Xandros’ gaze did not waver.

"Then why was she sent away?"

There was no pause.

"No queen wanted her," Lily said plainly. "The current queen convinced the king to exile her. She was sent away when she was eight. She was only brought back now... for the marriage."

Silence followed.

Not heavy.

Not tense.

Simply... still.

Seth’s grip on her wrist loosened slightly, though he did not release her completely.

Xandros studied her for a moment longer.

"And what were you doing here?" he asked.

Lily’s lips parted.

"I came to spy," she said, the words leaving her without resistance. "To see if you were dangerous... to the princess."

Seth let out a quiet breath that almost sounded like a suppressed laugh.

Xandros inclined his head slightly.

"I see."

His tone was calm.

Too calm.

"What a... diligent effort."

The faintest trace of sarcasm slipped through his words.

Lily did not react.

Could not.

Xandros turned away, as though the matter had already lost its importance.

"That will be all," he said.

And just like that....

He walked away.

Seth watched him go, then glanced back at Lily.

For a brief moment, his expression softened....not with kindness, but with something closer to understanding.

Then his gaze sharpened again.

"Look at me."

Lily obeyed instantly.

"You will forget everything that happened here," Seth said evenly. "You were never stopped. You were never questioned. You will return to the princess."

Her eyes remained fixed on his.

"Yes."

"And you will act normally."

"Yes."

Seth released her wrist.

The moment stretched.....

Then snapped.

Lily blinked.

Her focus shifted.

Confusion clouded her expression as she looked around, her brows knitting together slightly.

"S-Sir...?" she said, noticing Seth standing before her. "What... are you doing here?"

Seth studied her for a second.

"What are you doing here?" he countered.

Lily hesitated.

"I... I think I lost my way," she said quickly, bowing her head. "I was looking for something, but I must have taken the wrong corridor."

Seth nodded slowly.

"Careless," he said.

"Yes, sir. My apologies."

She straightened, still uncertain, still slightly disoriented....but unable to place why.

Then, without waiting further, she turned and hurried away.

Seth watched her go.

"...A good liar," he murmured under his breath.

By the time Lily returned to Rosaline’s chambers, the familiar quiet of the room settled her nerves, even if she did not understand why her heart still felt unsettled.

Rosaline remained asleep, her expression peaceful, her breathing steady.

For a moment, Lily simply stood there, watching her.

Then she smiled softly.

"At least you’re resting," she whispered.

Carefully, she adjusted the covers around her before stepping back.

There was still something that needed to be done.

The wedding.

It was tomorrow.

And yet, the gown had not arrived.

With a small frown, Lily turned and left the room once more, this time moving with clearer purpose as she made her way toward the Queen’s wing.

The corridors here were brighter, more adorned, reflecting the presence of someone who demanded both beauty and attention.

As Lily approached, voices reached her ears.

Sharp.

Tense.

She slowed.

"...this is not right," a male voice was saying.....frustrated, restrained.

The Prince.

Lily’s steps halted completely.

"You are overstepping," Queen Vivienne replied, her tone smooth but carrying an edge beneath it.

"I am speaking about my sister...."

"You will remember your place," the Queen interrupted, her voice cooling further. "Everything being done is for the good of the kingdom."

"The kingdom?" the Prince scoffed. "Or your ambitions?"

Silence followed.

Thick.

Dangerous.

Lily stood frozen just outside the corridor, her heart beginning to race again....not from confusion this time, but from something far more real.

She shouldn’t be hearing this.

She knew that.

And yet.....

She didn’t move.