Chapter Eleven
Lady Tara arrived at the palace just as the sun began its descent, casting a golden hue across the towering spires and manicured gardens. She had come to meet Prince Eryx, but upon reaching his chambers, she was told by the prince's personal servant that he was not around.
"He's not here, my lady," the servant explained, bowing slightly. "The prince left for the mountain earlier this morning. He mentioned something about needing solitude."
Lady Tara frowned, a feeling of unease stirring in her chest. The mountain... the prince's sanctuary. She'd been here enough times to know that when Eryx needed space to think, that was where he went—no one was allowed to follow him there unless it was urgent. A place untouched by the bustle of the palace, and where his uncle's constant surveillance could not reach. She knew exactly where to find him.
Without wasting another moment, Lady Tara left the servant and made her way through the grand palace gates, following the winding path leading up the mountain. Her boots pressed against the soft earth, the scent of pine trees filling the air with every step, a sharp contrast to the floral perfume that clung to her skin. The road was quiet, save for the distant chirping of birds and the rustle of leaves in the wind.
When she finally reached the top, she spotted him near the tranquil pond—the prince, sitting cross-legged on a large stone, his legs folded beneath him. The serene mountain view stretched out before him, the kingdom sprawled in all its glory below, bathed in the late afternoon sun.
The sound of pebbles skipping across the water reached her ears. She could see his hands, moving with practiced ease, flicking small stones into the pond. Each pebble made a soft plop, sending ripples that distorted the image of the sky and the distant mountains reflected in the water. A few pebbles skipped before sinking, their faint splashes blending with the sound of the wind, and she couldn't help but watch, fascinated by his tranquil state.
Lady Tara knew this was a rare moment, where the prince could retreat from the weight of his responsibilities and his uncle's ever-watchful presence.
She took a step closer, her feet light on the ground, a purposeful quietness to her movements. She could sense that he was lost in thought, not noticing her approach. A flicker of mischief passed through her, and she decided to test how alert he was.
With swift, practiced grace, she closed the distance between them, her movements careful not to break the silence. She reached for her sword, her fingers brushing the hilt—just as she was about to strike, something unexpected happened.
Prince Eryx didn't flinch. He didn't even move.
He was still sitting by the pond, flicking another pebble into the water, as though he hadn't noticed her presence at all.
Lady Tara paused, surprise settling over her. How did he know I was there?
She stepped back, a frown knitting her brows as she finally spoke. "You didn't even flinch. Didn't hear me coming?"
Prince Eryx looked up at her, his face calm as ever, though his lips curled into a slight smile. "I knew you were there before you even took your first step."
She raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You could sense me?"
He nodded, his eyes glinting with quiet amusement. "You have a certain... scent."
Lady Tara's cheeks flushed slightly, though she masked it with a teasing smile. "Scent?"
He continued, his voice as smooth as the pond's surface. "It's subtle, but I know it well. The delicate scent of flowers and warmth. Like a garden after rain. A fragrance that reminds me of nobility."
Her heart skipped a beat. His words, unexpectedly flattering, made her feel a tinge of heat in her face, though she couldn't quite explain why. She looked away for a moment, letting her hair fall over her face to hide the blush creeping up her neck.
"I... I didn't realize I was that noticeable," she said, her tone a little more self-conscious than she'd intended.
Prince Eryx chuckled softly, flicking another stone into the pond, watching it skip across the water's surface before it sank into the depths. The pond was calm again, the ripples gently fading.
"It's not a bad thing," he said, his voice still light, but there was something deeper behind it, something she couldn't quite place. "But I've grown used to it. I know when someone's near, even if I don't see them."
Lady Tara walked over to the stone beside him, sitting down beside him. The view was magnificent from here, the kingdom sprawling beneath the vast sky, the mountains rising in the distance. It was peaceful. Quiet. She could understand why the prince often came here.
"Does it always help?" she asked softly, her voice almost a whisper as she stared out at the horizon. "When you need to think?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he picked up another pebble, his fingers caressing the smooth stone before tossing it into the water, watching it skip. His gaze seemed distant, lost in thought once more.
"Sometimes," he said finally, his voice tinged with a subtle sadness. "It gives me a moment of peace. A moment where I can be just... me, not the prince, not the heir. Just Eryx. In a world where everything else is always rushing around, here... I can breathe."
Lady Tara watched him, her heart softening. She understood that. The weight of the world could be heavy, especially when you were constantly under scrutiny, constantly expected to uphold a legacy.
"I can see why you come here," she said quietly, her gaze softening as well. "It's... peaceful."
"It is," he agreed, his fingers moving to flick another pebble. The sound of it striking the water was almost hypnotic, rhythmic, like a heartbeat. "And I think I'll stay here for a while longer. Will you join me?"
Lady Tara nodded, leaning back against the stone, her eyes still fixed on the water as the last rays of sunlight dipped behind the mountains.
"I'll stay. But only if you promise not to throw any more pebbles at me," she teased.
Prince Eryx chuckled, a genuine warmth to it. "No promises. But I'll make sure to aim at the pond."
As they sat there in comfortable silence, the world around them seemed to fade. There, beneath the sky's canvas of soft orange and pink, it was just the prince and the lady, sharing a quiet moment in the sanctuary of the mountains.