"Lady Selene, it is an honor to finally meet you formally," Yuto said as she descended from the horse with effortless grace.
The very horse that belonged to Selene.
A faint, amused smile touched Yuto's lips. Quite a temper, she thought lightly. Such fire in someone so breathtaking—how unfitting, yet how mesmerizing, no wonder the king was enchanted.
Lady Selene stood rigid, her gaze fixed not on Yuto at first, but on the reins still resting in her hands. The horse that the king himself had gifted her. A symbol of his favor. Of pride.
And now another sat astride it.
Slowly, Selene lifted her eyes.
They were cold.
"My apologies for the lack of decorum," Yuto continued smoothly. "I am Prince Yuto of the Kingdom of Elarion."
Her voice was composed, each word delivered with flawless royal restraint.
For a brief moment, Selene said nothing. The silence pressed heavily between them.
Then, at last, she spoke.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," she said coolly, though the words carried no warmth. Her gaze flicked pointedly to the horse. "And yet, I do not recall granting permission for my mount to be used."
The air tightened.
Yuto released the reins at once, her smile unbroken. "Then please accept my sincerest apologies. Your king himself insisted upon my use of it for a certain task."
That was a lie.
The maid's gaze snapped to Yuto in an instant, her eyes widening in a brief blink of surprise, as though a dozen questions crowded her mind. Yet not a single one escaped her lips.
I hope she believes it and doesn't drag this out, Yuto thought, her calm exterior unwavering. She hardly ever rides this horse anyway—so what's the problem?
A subtle shift passed over Selene's face—surprise, quickly masked.
"The king," she echoed softly.
Her eyes returned to Yuto, sharper now. "How… generous of him."
The guards nearby stiffened, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.
"I trust," Selene added, her tone edged with restraint, "that the ride was to your liking."
Yuto met her gaze without hesitation. She was baffled that the woman had believed her. It had been far too easy.
"Immensely."
For the first time, something dangerous stirred in Selene's eyes—annoyance tangled with a curiosity she did not welcome.
And deep within Yuto's chest, that strange, invisible pull tightened once more—quiet, insistent, impossible to ignore.
Selene put on a practiced, polite smile before leaving with her guards and maid. Yuto rolled her eyes in relief as the group disappeared from view.
"Wow," the maid breathed, lowering her voice. "That was smooth… but be careful. The lady is dangerous. She's from the Ravenhurst family."
"You know that family, right?"
Yuto snickered, leaning slightly. "I'm not afraid of them. I just don't like the way they play their games."
The maid nodded, as if agreeing.
"I like your energy," Yuto said, her tone warmer now. "What was your name again?"
"Mara," the maid replied, enjoying the subtle thrill of a prince asking her name.
"It truly is a beautiful name," the maid said softly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Mara tilted her head slightly, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Overstay? I think Lady Selene would have made sure of that anyway."
Yuto smirked faintly. "Perhaps."
She led the horse back toward the stable gate, her boots clicking softly on the cobblestones. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the courtyard, and for a moment, the world felt calm—though Yuto knew that peace was always fleeting around.
Mara followed a few steps behind, her gaze curious but cautious.
"So… Prince Yuto, where will you go now?" she asked.
Yuto glanced over her shoulder, meeting the maid's eyes briefly before looking forward. "I have appointments elsewhere."
Mara's lips curved into a knowing smile. "You seem unbothered by all of this. Most would be trembling in their boots around Lady Selene."
Yuto's eyes flickered with quiet amusement. "Fear isn't beneficial. And besides…" She paused, letting a small, sly smile appear. "It's far more interesting to watch the games than to be crushed by them."
Mara tilted her head, clearly puzzled, but Yuto only laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with quiet amusement.
"See you another time, then," she called over her shoulder, giving a small wave as she turned to leave.
Mara watched her go, lips twitching as if a smile threatened to break through. "That… was something," she murmured to herself, "But I'm liking him already."