en that day with a

the duties wa

crown weighing he

hing in the morni

and greeted him. Even as the palace moved like a well-oiled machine around him. Something uns

s he reached for his clothes. His hands moved almost on their own, tying the silk sash around his waist, fastening

iden of

who the w

wer, was a man weighed down by duty and loneli

, somethi

ame th

n

ic

ans

fro

waited for per

creaked o

ere sh

en

ust stepped into a dream she did not belong in. Her chest rose and fell quic

not have

is eyes landed on her,

clouds. Her dark hair framed her face, a few loose strands falling near her cheeks. Her skin

e's breat

p back withou

?" His voice came out sharp, harsh, ang

ly, lowering her gaze. "I was told to clean

s soft. Trem

are? his mind shouted.

to regain control. His eyes scanned her quickly, from her bowed head t

, her braid slippin

d. Please f

ice cr

rned t

ai

rd fell heavy

ma f

ully, she lif

eyes

world

, as it always did. When he looked into someone's eyes, he could sense their inten

a, there was n

dec

mal

mbit

espect... and

settl

felt

n. When she looked into someone's eyes, she could sense whether they m

w lone

aw pr

ed beneath a crown

gazes

le

ovi

en breath an

ince looked

etly, almost roug

, her heart poundin

behind her wit

remained wh

ng had

he could

t last, his voice steady d

ter, Ramel

in a sharp, deliberate way. Her dark hair was neatl

oftly, lowering her hea

her. "Explain. A kitchen maid ent

ipped-but her fac

The maid assigned to your chambers fell ill this morning. I

tly, eyes shining with ca

pressed, his gaze

," Ramela continued gently. "It was an unfortunate mi

watched h

wer st

howed hi

l

dan

arkn

d her true inten

lly. "Be careful. Ord

la said, bowing. "It w

o leave, her

, her thou

he not p

ve been humiliated.

d looked at Elenm

embered th

from

rl u

ould bind bl

curled int

t. And if she grows close to the p

as she wa

not a

bbed her hands again and again. Water splas

still feel

ear his

e strange pull

ng had

ing da

ing be

stood alone in his chamber,

ordinary,

omething greater

s eyes glimmered w

had s

hecy had

em could stop