Princess Nyx's eyes lit up in a way Lucas hadn't quite seen before, like a child catching the first glimpse of a forbidden festival. There was a spark of mischief there, mingled with genuine excitement, and it made her seem far less like the composed, guarded royal she always pretended to be. She set the wine bottle down on the table with a gentle clink and leaned forward slightly.
"All right," she said, her voice lower now, as if she were already slipping into the mindset of someone about to commit a daring act. "Take me to live a commoner's life.… I trust you to keep me safe if things get… uncomfortable."
He arched a brow. "Uncomfortable? You make it sound like I'll have to fight off the entire city."
"You never know with commoners," Nyx teased, her tone light but her gaze steady. "They tend to… forget their place. Still, I'm not completely helpless."
