Steel clashed against steel.
The sharp ringing of blades striking echoed across the wide palace courtyard as soldiers practiced beneath the bright morning sun. Dust rose beneath their boots as they moved across the sand, shields lifted and swords flashing with every strike.
Voices carried through the yard.
"Keep your guard up!"
"You're too slow!"
"Again!"
The training grounds of the palace were always alive at this hour.
Archers stood along the far wall, drawing longbows and releasing arrows that cut through the air before striking wooden targets with solid thuds. Nearby, recruits practiced sword drills while their instructor paced back and forth like a restless wolf.
Princess Ariana stepped through the stone archway that led into the training grounds.
Her presence was quiet, almost gentle, compared to the chaos of training.
Sunlight caught her hair immediately.
Long strands of fiery red fell over her shoulders like living flame, the rare color glowing brightly under the morning sky. It was a striking contrast against the pale blue silk of her dress, making her appear almost otherworldly among the dust and steel of the courtyard.
Serena walked beside her, observing the soldiers with mild amusement.
"You always come here when you want to escape the palace."
Ariana watched two soldiers sparring nearby.
Their swords moved quickly, striking and sliding against each other as they tried to break the other's defense.
"I like watching them train," Ariana replied calmly.
Serena smirked.
"No. You like escaping the endless lectures of the royal council."
Ariana smiled faintly but didn't argue.
They walked slowly along the edge of the yard.
Several soldiers noticed the princess and immediately straightened, offering respectful bows before returning to their practice.
Ariana acknowledged them politely.
Her attention drifted toward the center of the training ground.
A group of soldiers had gathered around a man giving quiet instructions.
Sebastian Rulli.
The son of General Marcus.
He stood among the soldiers with the relaxed confidence of someone who had grown up around weapons his entire life.
Sebastian was tall and strongly built, his shoulders broad from years of training. His dark hair fell slightly across his forehead, stirred occasionally by the wind that moved through the courtyard.
His eyes were a deep shade of green—sharp, observant, and steady as he watched the soldiers sparring before him.
He was handsome in a quiet way.
Not the overwhelming, commanding presence of a king or warlord.
But the kind of man soldiers trusted and respected.
"Your stance is wrong,"
Sebastian said calmly to one of the recruits.
The young man adjusted his grip on the sword.
Sebastian stepped forward and corrected the angle of his arm.
"Like this."
The recruit nodded quickly.
"Yes, sir."
Ariana watched him for a brief moment.
Then she looked away.
Serena noticed the glance immediately.
Of course she did.
But she said nothing.
At that moment, a clumsy recruit nearby lost his grip on his wooden practice sword.
The weapon slipped from his hand and slid across the sand.
Straight toward Ariana.
"Oh!" Serena exclaimed.
Before the sword reached the princess, someone stepped forward and caught it.
Sebastian.
The movement was quick and effortless.
He straightened slowly, the wooden weapon resting easily in his hand.
For the briefest moment, his green eyes met Ariana's blue ones.
Neither of them reacted.
No smile.
No greeting.
Nothing that would suggest familiarity.
Ariana remained perfectly composed.
"Thank you," she said politely.
Sebastian lowered his gaze respectfully.
"You're welcome, Your Highness."
His tone was formal.
Careful.
He handed the sword back to the embarrassed recruit.
"Focus," Sebastian said calmly.
"Carelessness gets people injured."
"Yes, sir," the soldier muttered.
Serena folded her arms thoughtfully.
Then she suddenly spoke.
"Oh! Your Highness."
She pointed toward the archery range.
"The captain mentioned new longbows arrived yesterday.
Should we see them?"
Ariana immediately understood.
"You go ahead," Ariana replied calmly. "I'll follow."
Serena gave her a quick knowing glance before walking toward the archers.
The moment she left, the noise of the training yard filled the silence between Ariana and Sebastian.
Sebastian spoke quietly without looking at her.
"You shouldn't come here so often."
Ariana kept her gaze on the soldiers sparring nearby.
"You didn't say that last week."
"That was before the palace guards started asking questions."
Ariana's lips curved slightly.
"So you are paying attention."
Sebastian allowed himself the faintest smile.
"I always pay attention where you're concerned."
A soldier walked past them carrying a shield, forcing them both into silence.
When he moved away, Ariana spoke again.
"Serena says the northern kingdoms are becoming restless."
"They are," Sebastian replied.
"Do you think war will come?"
Sebastian glanced toward the horizon beyond the palace walls.
"Eventually."
The sound of clashing swords echoed again through the courtyard.
Everything looked peaceful.
But tension lingered beneath the surface.
Ariana turned slightly.
"If someone sees us speaking too long—"
"I know."
Sebastian straightened immediately as a group of soldiers approached.
His expression returned to the disciplined calm expected of a general's son.
"I should return to training," he said formally.
Ariana nodded.
"Of course."
Their eyes met once more.
Then Sebastian turned and walked back toward the sparring soldiers.
As if nothing had happened.
Serena returned a moment later carrying an arrow she had borrowed from one of the archers.
"You missed it," she said cheerfully.
"The captain almost hit the center target twice."
Ariana smiled faintly.
"How impressive."
Serena leaned closer as they walked.
"You had exactly three minutes."
Ariana raised an eyebrow.
"You were counting?"
Serena grinned.
"Of course."
Ariana shook her head softly.
"You're terrible."
Serena laughed.
"No," she said.
"I'm helpful."