THE SHADOW BOUND CROWN

After a long day of strolling through the kingdom, Aurelia and Laurien excused themselves to freshen up before dinner. Their absence left Lysara with Calla and Marienne, who were setting the table and preparing the final touches for the meal.

"You don't have to help with this," Marienne chided playfully as Lysara reached for the plates. "You may have spent time away, but you're still the princess."

Lysara scoffed. "A title doesn't make me useless." She placed the cups neatly in their places before glancing toward the direction where the siblings had disappeared.

Marienne smirked knowingly. "The prince seems like a good man. I never expected a foreign royal to willingly dress as a commoner and blend in."

"He is," Lysara admitted. "Though I think the prospect of winning my sister's hand outweighs his pride."

"Well, charm goes a long way," Marienne mused. "Especially when it's genuine."

Lysara merely hummed in response, her mind briefly wandering before Marienne clapped her hands together. "Enough about them. Go freshen up before dinner."

Knowing that resistance was futile, Lysara relented and made her way to the guest quarters. She moved through the hallway with familiarity, reaching for the door handle without knocking, as she had many times before.

Only this time, she was met with the sight of Aurelia—half-dressed, standing near the bed, her back partially turned as she pulled a tunic over her bare shoulders.

But turned as she heard the door creak open.

Lysara froze. So did Aurelia.

A stunned silence stretched between them before Aurelia's face turned beet red. "What—"

Lysara's mind caught up to her actions, and she nearly tripped over her own feet in her haste to step back. "I— I didn't know you were—"

"Get out!" Aurelia shrieked, yanking the tunic over herself fully as her flushed face deepened in color.

Lysara didn't need to be told twice. She spun on her heel and bolted, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs as she practically ran down the hall.

The image of Aurelia, her pale skin flushed from the heat of the bath, still damp with faint droplets trailing down the smooth expanse of her back, was seared into her mind. The gentle curve of her waist, the toned elegance of her form—neither too delicate nor too harsh—was accentuated in the soft light of the room. Her long hair, still wet, clung in waves over her shoulders, framing her in an almost ethereal glow. Lysara swallowed hard, willing her face to return to normal as she sought refuge in Calla's room.

Calla, who had been about to check on the commotion, paused as Lysara entered in a flurry. "What was that scream?" she asked suspiciously.

"Nothing," Lysara said quickly. "Can I use your room to change?"

Calla raised an eyebrow at the rushed request but ultimately sighed and let her in. "Fine. But I expect an explanation later."

Meanwhile, Aurelia was still standing in her room, breath shallow, her hands clutching the hem of her tunic.

She scowled at herself, her embarrassment mixing with frustration. "It was nothing," she muttered under her breath, trying to convince herself. It wasn't like Lysara had never seen another woman before. Yet, her heart still pounded relentlessly in her chest.

Shaking herself out of her thoughts, Aurelia quickly finished dressing. The struggle to tie the clasps on her own was a reminder of how accustomed she was to royal maids assisting her. By the time she finally managed, she was still pink in the cheeks.

By the time she entered the dining area, Laurien had already arrived, looking fresh and relaxed. Calla followed shortly after, though Lysara was noticeably absent.

Aurelia busied herself, sitting down as if nothing had happened, though the moment Lysara finally walked in, she felt her face warm again.

Lysara hesitated in the doorway for a brief moment, as if debating whether she should just turn and run. She forced herself to walk in, however, taking a seat across from Aurelia.

The tension at the table was palpable, though only Aurelia and Lysara knew why.

Aurelia deliberately avoided Lysara's gaze, pretending to be entirely invested in her meal. She picked at her food carefully, only answering questions in short, clipped sentences.

Lysara, on the other hand, found herself stealing glances at Aurelia. The mortified expression the princess had worn earlier replayed in her mind, and Lysara had the sudden and overwhelming urge to apologize. But how could she when her mind was still betraying her with the image of Aurelia's bare skin?

Her face heated, and Aurelia, catching the slight blush, stiffened. Their eyes met for a brief second, and in that moment, both of them turned away, equally flustered.

Laurien, oblivious to the silent war between them, continued eating as normal, occasionally making light conversation with Calla and Marienne.

As the meal came to an end, Marienne suggested they prepare the floating lamps for the festival. The small, delicate lanterns were to be lit and released later in the night, each carrying a wish or a prayer.

They naturally paired off to assemble them, but before Lysara could even think about suggesting something, Aurelia quickly spoke up.

"I'll pair with Laurien."

Lysara blinked at the sudden announcement, her stomach twisting at the avoidance. She wasn't even given a chance to protest. Aurelia was already moving to sit beside her brother, leaving Lysara to partner with Calla.

"Did something happen between you two?" Calla whispered under her breath, noting the clear avoidance.

"No," Lysara replied too quickly, focused on setting the lamp's base.

Calla wasn't convinced but chose not to press further. Instead, they worked in relative silence, only interrupted by Laurien's occasional humming and Marienne's fond chuckles.

Once the lamps were complete, they prepared to head out for the festival. The town center was already alight with torches and festivities, the air buzzing with laughter and cheer.

Aurelia, still determined to ignore Lysara, walked ahead with Laurien toward the festival grounds. Lysara followed behind, frustrated but saying nothing.

And for the first time since they had met, Lysara realized she truly hated being ignored by Aurelia.