THE SHADOW BOUND CROWN

Princess Aurelia moved swiftly through the dimly lit corridors of the castle, her heart pounding with exhilaration. She had escaped the grand hall, slipping past her ever-watchful guards, craving a moment of solitude away from the suffocating expectations of the matchmaking event.

She moved silently, with awe at the slightly different castle from her own back home. Unlike the icy colorless castle from her home this one was filled with color the hallways full of portraits depicting various people and other forms art.

She deeply engrossed and fully captivated moving in deeper into place touching the many paintings and sculptures in display with a curiosity that bordered that of a child. She crossed a garden smelling in the fresh air and could not help but gaze up at the cloudless starlit sky a rare smile creeping up on her face.

"This is lovely i almost left without coming here, good thing i lost those fools," she harrumphed thinking of how oppressive the atmosphere inside was, and how it almost made her regret following her brother but at least now it was almost worth it. 

She then slowly crossed the garden back inside the castle and continued venturing in further. 

However, as she wandered deeper into the unfamiliar passages, she soon realized she was utterly lost. The usual presence of maids and sentries was absent, all occupied with the festivities, leaving the corridors eerily silent.

Frustration mounted as she searched for a way back, but instead of finding an exit, she felt an urgent need arise—she needed to relieve herself. Spotting a slightly ajar door, she darted inside, only to find herself in what appeared to be a private chamber. The room was sparsely illuminated, and without a second thought, she rushed towards the adjoining washroom. Just as she finished and stepped back into the main chamber, the door to the balcony creaked open.

Lysara had returned from her night escapades, still clad in her dark knight persona. The moment she stepped inside and noticed the unexpected presence, she froze. Aurelia, equally stunned, opened her mouth to scream, but before she could utter a sound, Lysara moved with inhuman speed, appearing behind her in an instant. A cold blade pressed against Aurelia's throat.

"Not a sound," Lysara warned, her voice low and threatening.

Aurelia's pulse raced. "Who—who are you?" she whispered, her eyes darting toward the masked figure holding her hostage.

Lysara knew she had mere moments before guards might come searching for the missing princess. She had to act fast. Taking a deep breath, she willed her mask away, revealing her face.

Aurelia gasped. "You're—"

"Yes," Lysara interrupted, her voice tense. "Now, you have two choices: you call your guards, or you help me keep this secret."

Aurelia hesitated, the reality of the situation dawning upon her. If she screamed, if she called for help, she would expose this royal scandal—but more than that, she would lose this thrilling secret she had just uncovered.

Lysara narrowed her eyes. "Think fast, Princess."

After a beat, Aurelia exhaled sharply. "Fine. But on one condition."

Lysara arched a brow, intrigued. "And that is?"

"You will be my guide. Show me the castle, take me around the kingdom while I'm here," Aurelia stated, her voice steadier now.

Lysara clenched her jaw, weighing her options. Killing a foreign princess was out of the question. And if keeping her close ensured her silence, then so be it.

"Agreed," she said at last, lowering her blade. "But if you betray me—"

Aurelia smirked. "I won't. This secret is far too delicious to share."

They regarded each other in the dim light, an unspoken truce forming between them. Neither knew it yet, but their fates had just become irreversibly entwined.