A maid led me through the grand corridors of the palace to Aurelius's chambers—our chambers now. He and his mother had been summoned by the king, leaving me alone to settle in.
As I stepped inside, my breath caught in awe. The room was far larger than my own back in my kingdom. A grand chandelier hung from the ceiling, its many candles unlit but glimmering faintly in the afternoon light. In the far corner, a towering bookshelf stood, filled with countless books. Beside it, a polished wooden wine cabinet gleamed, stocked with bottles of deep crimson and gold.
A small, unlit fireplace sat against the wall, waiting for the cold night to arrive. And then there was the bed—large, draped in silk sheets, placed near a set of doors that led to another part of the chambers.
Curious, I stepped forward, opening one of the doors.
The first led to a lavish bath chamber, its marble tub already prepared, though untouched. The second revealed a closet, lined with gowns, shoes, and delicate jewelry, all arranged neatly in elegant wooden cabinets.
I blinked in surprise. They already prepared everything for me?
A sudden knock on the door startled me.
I quickly stepped out of the closet and hurried to open it, revealing two young women standing outside.
"Your Highness," they greeted in unison, dipping into a curtsy.
I stared at them in wonder, unsure of their presence, until one of them spoke.
"We are your ladies-in-waiting, personally sent by Her Majesty, the Queen."
The brown-haired girl introduced herself first. "My name is Ayna, Your Highness."
The black-haired girl followed. "And I am Samira."
I repeated their names softly, committing them to memory. "Ayna and Samira."
Samira smiled. "Your Highness, it is getting late. We must prepare you for tonight."
Ayna clasped her hands together eagerly. "Yes! We must make you look so enchanting that His Highness will fall to his knees the moment he lays eyes on you."
They both giggled.
It took me a moment to understand what they were implying. Oh. My entire face burned in realization.
"Ugh… stop giggling and help me bathe, both of you." I blurted quickly, desperate to change the subject.
They exchanged knowing smiles but bowed respectfully. "As you wish, Your Highness."
The warm water rippled around me as I sank into the bathtub, rose petals floating across the surface.
Ayna gently washed my hair, her fingers combing through the silver strands, while Samira carefully scrubbed my skin. Their touch was delicate yet precise, ensuring I was perfectly prepared.
Once I was done, they wrapped me in a soft towel and guided me back to the closet.
"Now, Your Highness," Ayna said, holding up two nightgowns. "Which do you prefer? This red one or this white one?"
Before I could answer, Samira leaned in with a mischievous grin. "Oh, Your Highness, you must wear the red one. You'll look absolutely divine, and I believe His Highness won't be able to take his eyes off you."
"Yes, yes! This one is truly beautiful," Ayna agreed, her excitement making it impossible to refuse.
"Fine," I sighed, allowing them to slip me into the crimson silk gown.
They sat me before the mirror, brushing my long, silver hair.
"Your Highness has such beautiful, soft hair," Samira murmured, admiration in her tone. "It matches your eyes perfectly."
I smiled faintly. "Thank you, Samira."
Ayna, who had been tending to the fireplace, spoke up. "Yes, Your Highness. Now I understand why Her Majesty chose you as His Highness's bride."
Her words made me pause.
A sudden thought crept into my mind—one I had been wondering about since my arrival.
"Can I ask you both something?" I hesitated.
They turned to me, attentive. "Of course, Your Highness. We will answer truthfully."
I swallowed, unsure if it was appropriate to ask, but my curiosity burned too strongly to ignore.
"I was wondering…" I hesitated before finally asking, "Aurelius's father has blonde hair. His mother too. And their eyes are completely different from his. Why does Aurelius have black hair and gray eyes?"
The room fell silent.
Ayna and Samira exchanged glances, blinking in surprise.
"Oh… You didn't know, Your Highness?" Ayna finally said.
My brows furrowed. "Know what?"
Samira was the one to answer this time. "Prince Aurelius isn't actually their son. He was adopted by Her Majesty, the Queen, because she has no children of her own."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
He was adopted.
Like me.
For a moment, I simply sat there, unable to process the revelation.
That… was quite the coincidence.
"It is true, Your Highness. It is said that His Highness helped Her Majesty when she was attacked during a visit to her mother's town. Back then, he was just a boy, but he helped her take down bandits. Her Majesty was deeply grateful, and since he had no parents, she decided to take him in as her own. That is all we have heard, Your Highness. If you wish to know more, you should ask His Highness himself or Her Majesty," Ayna explained.
I listened in stunned silence, my thoughts swirling.
I nodded, trying to process it. "I see. Thank you for telling me."
"It is our honor to serve you, Your Highness. We believe it is time for His Highness to return to his chambers. If you'll excuse us, we shall retire for the night," Samira said with a polite bow.
I glanced outside and saw that the night had deepened. Nodding, I watched as they left, closing the door behind them.
For a long moment, I stood there, unable to shake off what I had just learned. The revelation felt…unexpected, yet strangely fitting. A sudden tap against the window by the wind startled me, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned toward the sound and noticed the large balcony I had yet to explore.
Curious, I rose to my feet and made my way toward it. The cool night air greeted me as I stepped outside.
And then I saw it.
The city stretched before me, bathed in the golden glow of lanterns strung across the streets. Fires flickered warmly in the houses below, and the palace, perched atop its hill, overlooked it all like a silent guardian. The sight was breathtaking.
So beautiful…
I was so lost in admiration that I didn't notice the tall figure behind me—until a voice whispered near my ear.
"What are you doing out here?"
I nearly jumped, clutching my heart as I spun around.