On a calm morning, Dalirina stood in the royal kitchen with the Head of the Royal Court. Her dragon, Elinor, wasn't there—yet the air felt heavy with the topic.
The Head spoke sternly, her eyes like flint: "I told you from the very beginning—stay away from those dragons. You'll only bring chaos upon yourself."
Dalirina stared at her sharply. "Now you suddenly care about my safety? Why have you never told me the real reason? About my mother? My father?"
She stepped closer, her jaw tight, an aura of defiance radiating from her. "You've lived for over a thousand years... you know everything, yet you pretend to forget."
A heavy, suffocating silence followed.
Then the Head said coldly: "Your mother was a farm girl. The king brought her here to serve. Your father died before you were even born. And I? I was simply a friend to your grandmother. That's all. Are you satisfied now?"
Dalirina studied her for a long moment, searching for a crack in the mask. "And the dragons? Why the endless warnings?"
The woman sighed, clearly exasperated: "Because they are ruin, Dalirina! A whole kingdom was erased by them. I've told you this until my voice grew thin."
But Dalirina, composed and calm, replied with a cool, sharp edge: "Your words are dull… You're just making excuses."
She turned on her heel and walked out.
In the long hallway leading to the princesses' quarters, Dalirina crossed paths with Nazar. She bowed politely, a flicker of hope in her eyes: "Nazar? Why don't you hang out with us anymore, like we used to?"
Nazar looked down at her with absolute arrogance, her voice dripping with disdain: "I'm not some simple maid who has time to wander around. I am a princess. I have priorities... I am preparing to become the Queen of this kingdom, as you well know."
Dalirina was stunned, her heart stinging. Her eyes flared with immediate anger, yet she forced another bow and walked away silently, her chest boiling with unspoken fury.
Once she escaped the palace, she headed straight to the secluded back garden. There, she kicked a rock furiously, muttering to herself: "I'm not a princess... but I live free! No chains, no fake smiles. And I'm certainly not a fool like her."
She mocked Nazar in a high-pitched, sarcastic whine: "I'm preparing to become queen..."
She laughed bitterly, whispering to the empty air: "Ha! As if Fairo would ever marry you."
Suddenly, a smooth, deep voice spoke from behind her: "Maybe I will."
Dalirina froze. She turned slowly to see Fairo standing in the garden shadows. He had heard everything. Flustered, her cheeks burning, she snapped: "I don't care! Marry her, don't marry her—that's your business!"
She approached him with a glare, poking his chest. "Hey... don't you dare tell her what you heard. I'll kill you."
The Prince erupted into laughter. "Who's killing who now? I could have you executed for threatening royal blood, you know."
She looked him dead in the eyes. "You wouldn't. You know you can't."
He smiled, a look of genuine amusement dancing in his eyes. "You really are strange, Dalirina." He raised his hands in mock surrender. "Don't worry, I won't tell her. I'm absolutely terrified right now."
Dalirina narrowed her eyes. "You're always joking." She turned her gaze to the vast sky, her voice softening. "If Elinor were here, I'd tell her to toss you far away, like she always does."
Fairo noticed the sudden shroud of sadness in her eyes. "You miss her?"
Tears welled up, but she forced them back. "Yes. A lot."
Fairo gently patted her shoulder, his voice dropping to a rare, soft tenderness: "I miss her too." He added with a teasing grin: "Kind of."
She looked at him, a faint smile breaking through, and playfully punched his shoulder. "You're the worst. I wasn't joking."
All of it happened under Nazar's toxic gaze.
She watched them from a distant balcony, every interaction feeding the raging fire of envy in her heart. But this time… Dalirina noticed her.
Instead of hiding, Dalirina smiled brightly. She stepped closer to Fairo, laughing and joking—purely to spite the princess.
Nazar clenched her fists so hard her knuckles turned white. That smile would soon be wiped away forever.