Far away from the forest where Alina hid, King Elric rode through the dense woodlands on horseback, his cape fluttering behind him like a stormcloud. The wind carried the scent of wildflowers and danger. He wasn't here for the thrill of the hunt—he was here to breathe, to escape the suffocating duties of his throne, and the marriage he never wanted.
Raelynn's proposal had come wrapped in silk and deception. "The princess is beautiful," she had said. "Perfect for you, a royal bloodline to match yours. She's obedient. Sweet."
But Elric didn't want a girl forged in obedience.
He wanted a queen who could challenge him. Someone wild, someone with fire in her eyes.
He hadn't met her yet.
---
As Elric's men hunted deer nearby, he rode deeper into the woods. Something called to him, a strange tug in his chest, guiding him away from the trail.
That's when he saw her.
By the river, a girl knelt, washing her hands. Her brown hair was tied in a messy braid, her dress worn, but something about her posture screamed nobility.
She looked up—and froze.
So did he.
Her eyes were wide, the same color as midnight sky. And even in rags, she carried herself like someone born to wear a crown.
"Are you lost?" Elric asked, dismounting.
"I'm… just passing through," she said, hiding her locket quickly.
"You don't look like a traveler," he said. "Or a peasant."
Alina's jaw tensed. "What does a peasant look like to you, Your Highness?"
Elric smirked. "So you know who I am."
"I've seen enough kings to last me a lifetime."
His smile faded. "Then maybe you haven't met the right one."
They stared at each other—two strangers tied by fate.
Neither of them knew this was the beginning.
Not just of love.
But of truth, revenge, and war.