Dracye felt himself falling into her eyes, as if wandering through a sunny warm summer forest where time itself had slowed. Even from where he stood, the force of her gaze held him captive, though she was not looking at him. Her focus was elsewhere, yet he was helplessly pulled into her orbit, as if caught in the inexorable flow of some greater, unseen fate.
Her lips, soft and pale as rose petals just touched by lights, carried the faintest curve, a whisper of motion that ignited a hunger he could not name, a longing that seized him entirely, to stir something unnamable and aching within. Every detail of her, every subtle motion, consumed his very being.
And Drayce's expression melted, shifting from the hauglty, bored mask he had worn earlier. It was as if something ancient inside him had gone still.
Whatever smile had curled his lips moments ago vanished entirely. Whatever sharp, prowling thoughts had occupied his mind… fell silent. For a breathless, suspended moment, he forgot who he was. He forgot the crowd, the cheers, the mission, the peril of venturing into enemy territory. Even his mighty title, even the vast empire he commanded, all the power, all his ambitions were meaningless before her.
His eyes had found her face and refused to leave it. His breaths grew shallow, almost reverent, as if even the air itself dared not disturb the fragile stillness that stretched between them. No words came to his lips, no curse, no thought, not even the whisper of sound. He was too stunned, too utterly undone.
That face…
The delicate flush of her cheeks, the quiet, luminous light in her eyes, it unraveled him completely. It plucked the very shape of his thoughts and left him bare, as if she had reached inside him and played on the strings of his soul and laid them open before him.
He didn't even realize he was moving until the soft brush of flower petals against his boots reminded him. Unknowingly or perhaps unable to resist he followed the convoy. Or rather… he followed her. Every step he took was in service for her alone, every heartbeat consumed by her presence, as if memorizing her face, her eyes, the curve of her cheek, the tilt of her lips, might be the only way to survive. His gaze never left her. Not even noticing the carriage, not the guards, not the throngs of onlookers. Only her.
The vast world he had once sought to rule now shrank, collapsing inward until it existed only for her. She seemed his center for the moment. There was only her in his world now. Drayce, utterly enthralled, could do nothing but follow, consumed by her impossible, intoxicating beauty. And everything outside the curve of her cheek and the turn of her gaze… ceased to exist.
***
Stone avenues spilled into the riverfront, where the grand plaza fanned outward like the curve of a fan. The Sacred River Vele shimmered like molten glass, dotted with lanterns on its edge, each patiently waiting for the ceremonial release that came but once every generation, a moment meant to honor both the gods and the legacy of the realm.
The crowd had thickened, pressing inward with a mixture of reverence and excitement. Citizens, nobles, and foreign dignitaries alike now filled every available space beneath the night sky, each confined to their designated place yet straining forward, eyes locked on the ceremonial platform ahead.
Trumpets sounded, sharp and resonant, announcing the arrival of the royal carriages.
First came the King and Queen, their steps slow and measured as attendants helped them down onto the platform of polished white stone. Then followed Crown Prince Callisto and Lady Mirabel, his bride-to-be.
But when Elinessa's carriage drew nearer…
The loud cheers returned, she was the people's favorite, whispered about in children's lullaby. Elinessa stepped out and moved gracefully to join her family near the edge of the river, where the first lanterns would soon be released.
Somewhere just beyond the noble line, woven into the throng, Dracye stood, blended seamlessly among the crowd. Somehow, in a matter of moments, he had found himself in the perfect vantage point; a small bridge that offered a sweeping view of the platform and the river beyond. From here, he could take in the entirety of the scene. And beyond it all… her. She was laid bare before him. He could see her clearly, untouched by the crowd. Nothing could conceal the intensity of his gaze. Her every movement was being etched into his mind with painstaking clarity.
Then a hush fell over the gathered crowd marking the start of the ceremony.
The priests stepped forward in their white robes, their voices rising and falling in the tongue of the river.
Although she could not understand the words, at first she was fascinated, caught in the rhythm, the way their tones rose like waves and fell like sighs. But fascination quickly dulled into weariness; the verses seemed endless. Her legs ached from standing still. She nearly yawned once. If the people saw their beloved princess gaping, they'd never live it down. So she straightened her back, tilted her chin at an angle she hoped looked reverent. Inside, however, she was counting lanterns and wondering if anyone would notice if she quietly dozed off.
Seeing her bored brother's face she decided to poke him, "Brother, how long do you think he'll go on this time?"
Callisto smirked faintly, replying under his breath, "Long enough for my beard to grow twice over, I wager."
"If that happens, what do you think about braiding it. We can also prepare ribbons for it. Mother will want it to match it with your ceremonial sash."
"Then at least the kingdom will have something memorable from tonight."
"You're impossible. Aren't you supposed to look inspired right now?"
"I am inspired," he said before looking toward the king " ....by Father's heroic struggle to stay awake. Look at him, he has perfected the art so much so that our poor mother can't distinguish his resting face."
"So," she whispered, stifling a laugh "who do you think will fall asleep first? You or Father?"
"Father. Without question! He has mastered the art of sleeping with his eyes open." he replied, meanwhile his gaze drifted across the front rows of nobles. "Though, if you ask me, the real entertainment's over there."
She followed his line of sight with curiosity . "Where?"
"Your best friend. Lady Florence," he said, looking toward a young lady dressed in an overly embezzled gown. "I suppose, she's trying to outshine the lanterns with that gown. I swear, I saw three people blinded when she turned around."
"She's not my friend!" Eli retorted, remembering or rather reading the summary of the incident, where little Lady Florence with few of her minions had tried to snatch the jeweled headpiece Mira had given her.
And even now, six months into this world, they had never missed a single chance to humiliate her. Dealing with the duke's only daughter was exhausting.
Callisto's gaze slid toward the front rows of nobles. His lips twitched. "Although, Lord Astor might give our father competition. He's been nodding off for the last ten minutes. Look-look, there he goes again."
Elinessa dared a glance and muffled another laugh behind her hand. "If he falls over, do you think anyone will notice?"
"Not until he starts snoring," Callisto added dryly. "And people beside him will pretend it's part of the hymn."
Eli couldn't control herself this time, earning a playful nudge from her mother.
"Mind your composure, dear," the Queen whispered, sternly.
After a moment hush fell over the crowd as the High Priest lifted his arms. "These flames," he intoned, his voice carrying over the still water, "bear the weight of memory and of hope. They fly for peace. For renewal. For the threads of fate to find their place again." It was the signal to release the lanterns.
The first lantern rose from the royal hands, father and mother, the King and Queen. Then her brother, the Crown Prince, and Lady Mirabel stepped forward. Their lantern glowed brightly, with their smiles reflecting in the river below.
Finally, it was her turn. She stepped forward alone. Her hands trembled slightly as she knelt, lifting the lantern from its stand. The river below shifted softly, its surface already alight with reflection of drifting gold in the sky. Her hair caught against her cheek as she leaned down.
She lit the lantern carefully, its glow painted her hands in warm amber. And then she released it. The delicate frame swayed before catching the current of the air, rising with the others.
Unseen by her, from the shadowed span of the bridge, Drayce only watched her. For him Elinessa's silhouette stood bathed in golden glow, her golden hair caught the flicker like soft fire, strands turning molten beneath the moonlight. She seemed almost otherworldly.
zzk—zzzk—zzk
A faint, stuttering sound cut through the night in the background. No one in the crowd noticed it, their eyes remained on the drifting lanterns, their faces softened by the glow. The sound barely lingered before the world itself seemed to respond as a sudden gust ripped through the riverfront. Lantern in the sky trembled. Banners flapped of their poles and cracked like whips. Petals, once neatly decorated along the river's edge, scattered skyward in a wild flurry. The calm ceremony fractured in an instant.