The palace no longer felt like home.
Servants moved quickly through the halls, carrying silks, jewels, and carefully folded garments. Every corner of Mooncrest buzzed with quiet urgency.
Preparations had begun.
Lilac stood in her chamber, unmoving as maids surrounded her.
"Raise your arm, my lady."
She obeyed without thinking.
"This fabric suits you perfectly."
"Turn slightly. yes, like that."
Their voices blurred into noise.
Lilac stared at her reflection. The girl in the mirror looked the same… yet completely different.
A bride.
A stranger.
"You may leave," she said softly.
The maids hesitated, then bowed and exited.
The moment the door closed, the silence returned and with it, the weight in her chest.
A soft knock followed.
"Lilac…"
"Come in."
Riven stepped inside.
His presence alone shifted the air. His silver eyes flickered faintly, sharper than usual, filled with something restless… dangerous.
"You shouldn't be alone," he said, closing the door behind him.
Lilac let out a weak breath. "I wanted to be."
Riven studied her carefully. "They're preparing you like you have no choice."
"I don't," she replied quietly.
"That's not true." His voice hardened. "There's always a way out."
Lilac looked at him. "Riven…"
"I mean it," he stepped closer. "Come with me. Before it's too late."
Her heart skipped.
"Leave the palace?" she whispered.
"Yes."
She shook her head slowly. "I can't… this is my home."
"They're sending you away," he countered. "To a man you don't even know."
Lilac's voice trembled. "Running would make it worse."
Riven's jaw tightened. "Staying will destroy you."
Silence stretched between them.
"…I'll think about it," she said finally.
But even she knew that wasn't a promise.
Riven exhaled slowly, frustration barely contained. "I won't let them take you like this."
Across the corridor, Rael stood still.
Watching.
He hadn't meant to stop, but the voices had caught his attention. Now, he simply listened.
His golden eyes darkened slightly.
"…Come with me."
The words echoed faintly from behind the door.
Rael's expression didn't change but something shifted.
So she had someone willing to defy a queen for her.
Interesting.
He turned away slowly, as if the conversation no longer mattered.
But it lingered.
Later that evening, the palace gardens were lit softly by lanterns.
Lilac walked slowly, needing air, needing space away from everything closing in on her.
"You like running away to quiet places."
She froze.
Rael.
He stepped out from the shadows, his presence as steady as ever, golden eyes fixed on her.
"I'm not running," she said softly.
"That's exactly what this looks like."
Lilac sighed. "Why are you here?"
Rael shrugged slightly. "Nowhere else to be."
She frowned. "You're about to get married, and you're acting like it means nothing."
"It doesn't."
The bluntness hit again.
Lilac looked away. "It means everything to me."
Rael watched her closely this time.
"You'll adjust."
"I don't want to adjust!"
Her voice broke slightly, and she immediately turned away.
Rael stepped closer just slightly.
"…You have someone planning to take you away," he said.
Lilac froze.
"What…?"
Rael's gaze remained steady. "Your guard. The one with silver eyes."
Her heart began to race.
"You heard"
"I hear more than people think."
Lilac shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Then tell him that."
"I will."
Rael studied her for a moment longer.
"…Good," he said.
She frowned. "Good?"
"I don't like unfinished things."
Lilac stared at him. "Is that all this is to you? Something to complete?"
Rael didn't answer immediately.
"…Yes."
The honesty stung.
But this time, she didn't cry.
She just looked at him.
"You're a cruel person." She said
Rael met her gaze without hesitation. "That's what I've been told."
And for once… he didn't deny it.