Episode 2 : A Princess in the Courtyard

The arrival of Princess Selene had stirred a quiet tension in Tharith, one that even the morning sun could not dispel. Kaelen kept her sword at her side, though the sparring had ended. Her mind was not on training now but on the foreign princess who observed every movement as if reading secrets written in the air.

“Kaelen,” called the Tharith prince, though his voice carried less playfulness and more curiosity now. “Why don’t you show her your technique? Impress her, if you dare.”

Kaelen shot him a sideways glance. “Impress her, or warn her?”

“Both,” he replied with a grin.

Kaelen sighed and stepped toward the practice dummy. She raised her sword, feeling its familiar weight, and allowed herself to slip into rhythm. Each strike, each swing, was precise, fluid, and purposeful. She had trained for years, honing her speed, her agility, and her ability to anticipate an opponent. Yet as Selene stepped closer, observing silently, Kaelen felt something unfamiliar—nerves.

Selene’s violet eyes followed every movement. Not a flicker of judgment, not a pause, only quiet assessment. Kaelen couldn’t decide if she was being measured or admired, and that indecision tugged at her chest.

When Kaelen finished, Selene stepped forward, her own posture poised and elegant. “You are skilled,” she said softly, though there was steel beneath the gentleness. “Tharith is lucky to have someone like you in its defense.”

Kaelen’s heart skipped a beat. Flattery had never affected her before, not like this. She straightened her back and allowed a small, confident smile. “You flatter me too easily, Princess Selene. Surely the rumors of your diplomacy are exaggerated?”

Selene’s lips curved in a faint smile. “Perhaps. Or perhaps the rumors underestimate me.” Her gaze lingered on Kaelen for a moment longer than necessary, and Kaelen felt the heat rise to her cheeks.

The Tharith prince cleared his throat, breaking the tension. “Enough with the compliments. We have work to do.”

Work. Yes. The court had more pressing matters than idle words between two princesses from different lands. A messenger arrived at that moment, bowing deeply before the group. “Your Highness, there has been a disturbance near the northern borders. Bandits—or perhaps mercenaries—have been reported attacking trade caravans.”

Kaelen’s expression hardened. “Mercenaries?” she repeated. “From where?”

The messenger hesitated. “Unclear, Princess. They are skilled and organized. Some suggest they are acting on orders from a foreign faction, though it is unconfirmed.”

Selene stepped closer, her violet eyes locking with Kaelen’s. “This could be a test of loyalty, or an opportunity. Either way, it requires precision, intelligence, and courage. I intend to see this situation through firsthand.”

Kaelen’s pulse quickened. Here it was—the moment she had long suspected would come: a test beyond training, beyond walls and dummies, where skill and cunning would determine the kingdom’s future. And now, standing beside her, was Selene Veyra—not just a diplomat, not just a princess—but someone whose presence stirred something more profound than she had expected.

“I will accompany you,” Kaelen said, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and protectiveness. “We will see this through together.”

Selene inclined her head, a rare softness breaking through her composed exterior. “I would like nothing more.”

As they turned toward the northern gates, preparing for a journey neither could yet understand fully, Kaelen felt the stirrings of something dangerous and beautiful: a partnership forged not by duty alone, but by curiosity, respect, and the faintest whisper of attraction. Somewhere along the path ahead, their fates—along with the fate of Tharith—would intertwine in ways neither of them could yet imagine.

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