The great hall of House Valen was already prepared for the Crown Prince.
Tall candles burned along the walls, filling the enormous room with warm golden light. Servants moved quietly between the tables, making sure everything was perfect.
At the far end of the hall stood Lady Valen.
Rin's mother.
She wore a dark blue gown decorated with silver embroidery, her posture straight and expression cold.
Beside her stood a young man.
The Crown Prince.
Rin stopped at the entrance.
For a moment, he simply observed him.
The prince was around Rin's age, perhaps slightly older. He wore formal royal clothing, a dark coat embroidered with the symbol of the kingdom. His expression was calm and polite, but there was something distant in his eyes.
This was the man Aelion was supposed to marry.
Rin felt absolutely nothing.
Not even the slightest attraction.
Instead, he thought of Eryndor.
So this is where it begins.
Aelion's voice appeared quietly in his mind.
Rin didn't answer.
