SECRET LOVE WITH PRINCE

The grand halls of Elarion's royal palace gleamed under the soft glow of chandeliers, their golden light reflecting off polished marble floors. Lush velvet drapes cascaded from towering windows, framing the moonlit gardens beyond. To any outsider, this was a kingdom of beauty and prosperity, where the royal family ruled with grace and wisdom.

But for Princess Seraphina Valeria Elarion, this palace was nothing more than a gilded cage.

She stood at the edge of the grand ballroom, her fingers curling into the fabric of her gown. The corset was too tight, the lace itching against her skin, but it was the least of her concerns. Tonight, her father, King Edric, had gathered the court for an announcement one she had dreaded for weeks.

The whispers among the nobility had already begun.

"The princess is to be betrothed."

"A political alliance with the kingdom of Vellador Prince Kael is a formidable man."

"Such fortune for Elarion. But does the princess truly wish for this?"

The last question sent a shiver down Seraphina's spine. No, she did not wish for this. But her wishes did not matter in the world of royalty.

Her gaze flickered across the room, searching, yearning. And then she found him.

Prince Adrian.

Her breath caught.

He stood near the grand staircase, dressed in the deep blue and silver of the Elarion royal family. The younger prince, always overshadowed by his elder brother, the heir to the throne. He had no kingdom promised to him, no duty to wed for the sake of treaties. But he was bound by the same unspoken rules-rules that forbade them from being together.

And yet, the moment their eyes met, the rest of the world faded.

For a single heartbeat, it was just them. The memories of stolen glances, of hushed conversations in the palace gardens, of hands brushing together when no one was looking-each one burned into her soul.

But reality shattered the moment her father spoke.

"Tonight, we celebrate the union of Elarion and Vellador," King Edric proclaimed, his voice echoing through the hall. "My daughter, Princess Seraphina, is to be betrothed to Prince Kael of Vellador, securing peace between our great nations."

The nobles erupted in applause. Seraphina's heart crumbled.

She dared not look at Adrian again. If she did, she feared the world would see the truth in her eyes.

That her heart did not belong to her future husband.

It belonged to a prince she could never have.

The applause thundered through the grand ballroom, but to Princess Seraphina, it sounded like a death knell. Her father stood at the head of the room, his presence commanding as ever, his expression firm. He was a king first, a father second. And tonight, he had made a decision that would bind her to a future she did not want.

The weight of expectation pressed down on her, suffocating.

She forced a smile, though her heart pounded like a caged bird desperate to escape. Beside her, Queen Evelyne, her mother, gave her a gentle but expectant nod silent encouragement to play her part.

Seraphina's hands clenched at her sides as the doors to the ballroom opened. The guards stood at attention as a tall figure strode inside.

Prince Kael of Vellador.

The man who was to be her husband.

He was as imposing as the rumors claimed-broad-shouldered, dressed in the crimson and gold of his kingdom, with piercing storm-gray eyes that missed nothing. A warrior prince. A conqueror in waiting.

His gaze settled on her, unreadable. She had never met him before this night, yet soon, she would be bound to him in marriage, her life entangled with his forever.

A hand brushed against hers.

A whisper of a touch.

Seraphina's breath hitched. She knew that touch.

Prince Adrian.

He stood close, barely a step behind her, his presence like a fire in the cold. To the court, he was merely escorting his father's announcement. To her, he was a temptation she could not afford.

"Seraphina," his voice was barely audible, just for her.

She dared not turn to him. If she did, her mask would shatter.

"Princess Seraphina," Kael greeted, his deep voice cutting through the tension. He bowed slightly, a display of respect, but there was something guarded in his expression.

Seraphina swallowed her emotions and curtsied, as was expected. "Prince Kael. Welcome to Elarion."

She spoke the words with practiced grace, but inside, she was unraveling.

A steward stepped forward. "May I present His Highness, Prince Kael of Vellador, son of King Aldric, heir to the Obsidian Throne."

More applause. More whispers.

Prince Kael's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he turned to address her father. "King Edric, I am honored by this union. May it bring lasting peace to both our kingdoms."

The king inclined his head. "That is our greatest hope."

But Seraphina knew better. Alliances like these were not about peace. They were about power.

Her fingers twitched at her side, longing for the warmth of Adrian's hand again. But he had already stepped back, slipping into the shadows where he belonged.

He was forbidden.

And soon, she would belong to another.

The weight of the moment pressed down on Princess Seraphina as Prince Kael's piercing gaze studied her. He was a stranger, yet within weeks, he would be her husband. The thought made her stomach twist.

She forced a gracious smile, the kind expected of a princess, and ignored the erratic beating of her heart. Adrian had stepped back into the crowd, but she could still feel his presence, as if an invisible tether connected them.

King Edric clapped his hands once, drawing attention back to himself. "Tonight is a night of celebration. A feast has been prepared in honor of this union!"

Servants moved swiftly, carrying in trays of golden-roasted meats, fruits glazed in honey, and goblets of the kingdom's finest wine. The ballroom erupted into polite conversation and laughter as nobles took their places at the long tables.

Seraphina barely noticed any of it.

As the honored guest, Prince Kael was given the seat beside her. His presence was overbearing, his silence unsettling.

"You seem troubled, Princess," Kael said after a long moment, his voice smooth but unreadable.

Seraphina lifted her goblet to her lips, buying herself a moment before responding. "Not troubled. Merely... overwhelmed."

"A fair answer," he admitted, his eyes sharp. "We do not know each other, and yet our fates are now intertwined. I imagine that must be difficult."

She glanced at him, surprised by his bluntness. "You do not seem troubled by it."

Kael took a sip of his wine, his expression giving nothing away. "I am a prince, and soon to be king. My duty is to my kingdom. Emotions have little place in such matters."

A cold answer, but an expected one.

She nodded, though something inside her rebelled against it. Was that to be her fate? A lifetime of duty without love?

Her fingers toyed with the stem of her goblet. "And yet, you agreed to this marriage."

Kael exhaled softly, as if amused. "My kingdom gains a powerful alliance. Your kingdom secures its borders. We both fulfill our duty."

Duty. That word again.

She swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat. She wanted to argue to tell him that marriage should be more than a contract. But what use were such words when they were born into lives where love was a luxury, not a right?

Her eyes flickered across the table, searching for Adrian.

She found him seated with the other nobles, his expression unreadable. But she knew him well enough to see the tension in his posture, the way his fingers curled slightly around his goblet. He was struggling just as much as she was.

"Look at me," she silently willed him.

As if hearing her thoughts, his gaze lifted.

And in that fleeting moment, the world around them disappeared.

But then, Kael followed her gaze.

Seraphina quickly looked away, heat rushing to her face. Had he noticed? Had she been too obvious?

Kael set his goblet down with deliberate care. "Your brother seems rather... interested in this arrangement," he said lightly, though there was something in his tone that made her stomach twist.

She forced a laugh, pretending not to understand. "Adrian is my closest friend. He wants what is best for me."

Kael studied her for a long moment before giving a slow nod. "Of course."

The conversation moved on, but Seraphina knew she had made a mistake.

Kael was watching her now.

And worse, he was watching Adrian too.