"Chosen for what?"
"To be Arin's study partner," Alaric said. "Though that wasn't the full truth."
Daphne frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
He glanced at her. "Every crown prince has one, a hidden companion. Someone who grows with him, trains with him, learns beside him. Someone who can speak freely to him without the court listening."
Her eyes widened. "A secret friend?"
"More than that," he said. "A shadow. Someone who is meant to keep him grounded… or replace him, if things went wrong."
Daphne went very still. "And that was you."
"Yes."
She swallowed. "Did you know that was what you were being prepared for?"
"No," Alaric said. "Not then. I just knew I was taken to the palace and told I'd be studying with another boy."
"And that boy was Arin."
He nodded. "He didn't speak much, didn't smile. He didn't trust anyone."
"And you?" she asked.
"I thought he was stupid," Alaric said plainly.
She burst out laughing. "You did not."
