Chapter 1: The Beginning of Us
(A Stormy Night – The Royal Palace Gates, 10 Years Ago)
Guard
(Pulling open the heavy palace doors, rain dripping from his armor)
Your Majesty, we found a child outside the palace gates.
King Aldric Steele
(Seated on his throne, rubbing his temples)
"A child? Another beggar?"
Guard
(Placing a small, shivering girl wrapped in tattered cloth before the king)
"No. She was alone in the forest. No scent of family, no name except what she calls herself—Lyra."
Draven 16 years old
(Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, expression unreadable)
"You expect us to take in some stray?"
Queen Elira Steele
(Kneeling beside the girl, brushing wet hair from her pale face)
"She’s burning up. She won’t survive the night without care."
Lyra 9 years old
(Weakly opening her eyes, voice barely above a whisper)
"I… I don’t remember anything else."
King Aldric Steele
(Sighing)
"A girl with no past… interesting."
Queen Elira Steele
(Softly)
"Then we will give her a future."
(The Palace – A Month Later)
Lyra 9 years old
(Staring at her reflection in the golden mirror, fidgeting with the silk dress she was given)
"I don’t belong here."
Draven 16 years old
(Leaning against the doorway, smirking)
"You don’t. But here you are anyway."
Lyra 9 years old
(Frowning)
"Why do you hate me?"
Draven 16 years old
(Walking into the room, stopping just in front of her)
"I don’t hate you. I just don’t trust things that appear out of nowhere."
Lyra 9 years old
(Crossing her arms, stubborn)
"Well, I don’t trust arrogant dragon princes either."
Draven 16 years old
(Grinning darkly)
"Good. Then we understand each other."
Training Grounds – 3 Years Later
Lyra 12 years old
(Watching Draven train with his sword, eyes full of admiration)
"Teach me!"
Dravin 19 years old
(Raising an eyebrow, amused)
"You? You’d trip over your own feet before even lifting a sword."
Orin young
(laughing from the sidelines)
"Careful, Draven, she might be better than you one day."
Dravin 19 years old
(Rolling his eyes)
"I highly doubt that."
Lyra 12 years old
(Grabbing a wooden practice blade, determination burning in her eyes)
"Try me."
Royal Court – A Banquet Night
Lyra 14 years old
(Sitting beside Draven at a grand feast, stealing glances at the foreign prince visiting)
"He’s handsome."
Dravin 21 years old
(Glancing at the prince with disinterest)
"He’s weak."
Lyra 14 years old
(Teasing)
"You think every man is weak except yourself."
Dravin 21 years old
(Raising a brow, smirking)
"That’s because it’s true."
Marion young
(Grinning)
"Draven, do I detect jealousy? Should we be worried about a brawl breaking out?"
Dravin 21 years old
(Leaning back, unfazed)
"No. Because if he so much as looks at Lyra the wrong way, there won’t be a brawl. Just a body."
Lyra 14 years old
(Blushing, heart skipping a beat at his possessive tone)
"Draven, stop it!"
(The Present – Lyra’s 19th Birthday, Early Morning – The Royal Garden)
Lyra
(Walking barefoot across the dew-covered grass, inhaling the scent of roses)
"Another year older… another step closer to leaving this place."
King Draven
(Watching her from the balcony, unreadable expression)
"You won’t leave."
Lyra
(Turning, startled)
"Draven. What are you—?"
King Draven
(Jumping down effortlessly, stepping towards her)
"You’re thinking about the engagement announcement, aren’t you?"
Lyra
(Looking away, forcing a smile)
"Why wouldn’t I? That’s what I was raised for—to marry for alliance, to serve the kingdom."
King Draven
(Jaw clenching, golden eyes darkening)
"That’s not what you were raised for."
Lyra
(Softly, avoiding his gaze)
"Then what was I raised for?"
King Draven
(Not answering, just staring at her as if he’s holding something back)
"…Forget it."
Prince Marion Steele
(Appearing from behind the hedges, smirking)
"Well, if we’re talking about leaving, I think we should celebrate Lyra’s birthday before she runs off to marry some frost prince."
Lyra
(Rolling her eyes, smiling slightly)
"I’m not running anywhere, Marion."
Orin Voss
"Good, because the royal court would be furious if the bride-to-be disappears before her own engagement feast."
King Draven
(Still silent, gaze locked onto Lyra as if weighing something in his mind)
Lyra
(Looking back at him, confused by the unreadable look in his golden eyes)
Prince Marion Steele
(Grinning at Draven)
"Brother, you look like you just lost a war."
King Draven
(Not breaking his gaze from Lyra)
"Perhaps I have."
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