The city of Asteruya was still buzzing with shock. The King was furious, and the palace was in chaos. The Royal Family's princess, Lady Seraphine, had actually run away from her wedding duty.
Then, the final problem arrived.
The Calm Before the Storm.
The royal carriage bearing Yuzael Valestrian pulled up to the palace gates. Yuzael stepped out, looking every bit the elegant prince described by the nobles—perfectly dressed, a cold aura surrounding him, and handsome in a 'too perfect' way. His sharp blue/silver eyes scanned the frantic palace staff.
He was the groom, and he looked entirely nonchalant.
He was immediately taken to the King, who was pacing angrily.
"Prince Yuzael! I am utterly disgraced! My daughter, Seraphine, has vanished! She refuses the arranged marriage!" the King roared, throwing his hands up.
Yuzael simply stood there, his face unmoving. He listened to the entire story of Seraphine's careless, clumsy escape with an air of complete indifference. He seemed to act like he didn't care about anything, certainly not the princess who was supposed to be his bride.
Unseen Observation
"Your Majesty," Yuzael finally said, his voice cold and steady. "I came here for an alliance, not a wedding. If your princess chooses to run, that is her right."
His words sounded polite, but they were actually quietly mocking. He was known for being irritating because he acted superior.
The King was relieved by Yuzael's calm acceptance, believing the prince genuinely didn't care.
But if anyone had watched Yuzael's face closely, they would have noticed something else entirely. Even as he spoke those cold lines, his sharp blue/silver eyes were taking in every single detail: the guard rotations, the note Seraphine left Kael, the direction her trail led. He was secretly observing people very deeply, something no one expected from the nonchalant prince.
He wasn't heartbroken, but he was certainly intrigued. This runaway princess was proving to be more interesting than he thought. He had a protective instinct, but he hid it well, preferring to stay cold and distant.
"I will stay here for a short time to discuss the alliance terms," Yuzael stated, his voice a low command. "But in the meantime, I will join the search party. Not to bring her back for the wedding, but to ensure the future queen of the alliance is safe."
He knew exactly where Seraphine was going, and he was already planning his move. He wasn't interested in a wedding, but he definitely was interested in the girl who dared to defy him.