The evening did not soften anything. If anything, it made everything worse. The banquet hall burned with light. Gold chandeliers hung from above, casting warm glows across polished floors and jeweled goblets. Music drifted in the air, soft at first, then louder as the night deepened. Laughter followed. Conversations layered over each other. Servants moved in practiced silence between nobles who barely noticed them.
It should have been easy to disappear into it. For everyone else, it was. For Maria, it wasn't. Her eyes kept finding him. No matter where she stood. No matter who spoke to her.
No matter how hard she tried to focus on anything else.
Drexo.
He wasn't even trying to draw attention. That was the problem. He moved like he belonged everywhere, like the room shaped itself around him. Calm. Controlled. Unbothered.
But every time he turned, their eyes met. Not once. Not twice. But Again, and again..Each time, something inside her tightened. Each time, she told herself it was the last..It never was.
Across the hall, Drexo felt it. He didn't need to look to know, there was a pull..Constant, and persistent..Like something tugging at him from across the room.
And when he gave in, when he turned, there she was. Always watching. Not openly. Not carelessly. But enough that it reached him.
Enough that it stayed. His chest tightened. His heartbeat picked up, just slightly. Then more. And that alone would have been enough to unsettle him.
But Robert was there. Always close to her. Drexo's jaw tightened as he watched Robert's hand slide over Maria's fingers.
Slow, and familiar. Comfortable. Like it belonged there.
Again, and again. Each touch landed somewhere deeper than it should have. Drexo looked away once. Then back again. He couldn't help it. And every time he saw it, his chest reacted.
Not just the pull toward her. But something sharper. Something that pressed against his ribs like it wanted out.
Across the hall, Maria saw it too. Friya. She didn't miss it. Friya stayed close to Drexo like a shadow that refused to detach. Her laughter was louder than it needed to be. Her hands lingered longer than necessary.
On his arm. On his shoulder. Sliding lightly across his chest as she leaned in to whisper something. Too close. Too comfortable.
Maria's fingers curled slightly at her sides..She looked away. Then she looked back again. Why was she even looking? She shouldn't be. She had no reason to be.
And yet, Her eyes went back. Again. And again. The music swelled. Voices rose. But under all of it, something else was building.
Something quieter. More dangerous. By the time the night began to settle, it hadn't eased. It had only grown. When the final course was cleared and the noise shifted toward dancing, Maria shifted in her seat.
Slowly, and carefully. "I have to go to sleep." Her voice came soft, and controlled.
Robert turned to her immediately. His hand found hers again. Gentler this time. "Please stay for a while.".His thumb brushed lightly over her skin. "The dance will start soon once the king leaves."
Maria looked at him. Really looked this time. There was nothing wrong with him. Nothing, he was kind, and attentive.
Everything she was supposed to want. She smiled softly. Her hand lifted, brushing gently over his face.
A familiar gesture. One that should have felt natural. "Oh my dear!" Her voice lowered slightly. "I wish I could." A small pause. "But I am already tired."
Robert held her gaze for a moment. Then nodded. No resistance. No pressure. "Then go get some rest."
Maria nodded once. Then leaned forward..Her lips pressed lightly against his forehead.
Brief, and Simple. But across the room, Drexo saw it. And something inside him snapped tight. The image didn't stay where it should have. It didn't pass. It stayed.
Sharp, and clear.
Like a blade drawn slowly across something that shouldn't bleed but did anyway. His jaw tightened. His chest felt too tight. Maria pulled away. Turned. And left the hall. She didn't look back. Not once.
Her room didn't bring peace. The door closed behind her with a soft click.
Silence followed. Real silence this time..No music. No voices. No watching eyes. It should have helped.
Maria moved across the room slowly. Then stopped. Then she moved again. Then stopped again. Her thoughts wouldn't settle. Her body wouldn't either. She sat, then stood. Then paced.
Her hands brushed through her hair once. Then again. Her breath came uneven. And no matter what she tried, her mind went back.
Friya's hand sliding across Drexo's chest. That look. That closeness.
Maria's fist hit the wall. A dull sound. Not loud. But enough.."I am angry when I shouldn't be.".Her voice came low, and tight.
"He isn't mine." The words felt wrong even as she said them. "He is Friya's." She stood there for a moment.
Still.
Then her body gave slightly. She slid down against the wall, resting her back against it. Her head tilted back. Her eyes closed.
"But why?" She exhaled sharply "does it hurt this much?"
The question stayed. Unanswered, unwelcome. The room remained quiet. But inside her, nothing was.
Across the palace, Drexo didn't sleep either..He lay on his bed. Eyes open, staring at nothing. And yet seeing everything that has played out in the hall. Her face never left his sight.
Maria leaning forward, and kissing Robert's forehead.
It came again, and again. The image replayed without permission. Without mercy.
His fists clenched tightly. The sheets beneath his hands twisted slightly with the pressure. "Why does it hurt this much?"
The words slipped out under his breath. Rough, and unsteady. His jaw tightened..His chest rose sharply. Then fell. Then rose again.
He turned onto his side. Then onto his back. Then he sat up. Nothing worked. Nothing eased the ache in his heart.
Time stretched. Slow and heavy. Dragging itself forward. Until the silence became unbearable.
"No." The word came out sharper this time, more certain. He swung his legs off the bed. "I will not remain here suffering alone while she is enjoying her sleep."
The thought didn't even sound right. But it didn't matter. The feeling didn't care about logic. He stood and moved.
His hand reached for the door. Then he paused just for a second. Something in him pushed back. This is wrong. This is inappropriate. This shouldn't happen.
He knew it. Every part of him knew it. But the pull didn't reduce. The same one from the mountain, stronger, and louder now.
It didn't let go. He opened the door. And stepped out.
The corridor was quiet. Dimly lit, and empty. His steps were quick. But not rushed, but controlled.
Like he had already decided. By the time he reached her door, he didn't hesitate..His hand lifted. Then he knocked. Soft, but clear.
Inside, Maria's brows furrowed. Her head lifted slightly. "Who could that be at this hour?" Her voice came quiet and confused. "Has Evelyn not slept?"
She pushed herself up, and moved toward the door. Each step was slow, and careful. Her hand reached for the handle, and turned it. The door clicked open. And she froze.
Her heart stopped. Just for a second. Then slammed hard against her chest.
Drexo was standing there. Looking at her..Not asking. Not waiting. His hand came forward. Pushed the door open wider. He stepped in. Like he belonged there. Like there was no question about it. Then he turned, and shut the door behind him.
The sound echoed softly in the room. Maria didn't move. She didn't speak..Her body felt caught between reactions.
Then, "What… what are you… you doing here…" The words stumbled out. Uneven, and uncertain.
Drexo stepped closer. Slow, and measured. His eyes never left hers. "I tried." His voice came low. "to take you off my mind.".Another step. "But I couldn't."
Maria turned slightly..Breaking the direct line of his gaze. But not fully. There was something in his eyes, something dangerous.
Pulling.
"You shouldn't be here.".Her voice softened without her permission. "Tomorrow is your engagement ceremony."
Her breath became ragged.
"You should be with Friya.' She swallowed. "and not me."
He nodded once. "I should." He took another step closer. "But it is you…" His voice dropped further. "…my heart has chosen."
The words landed somewhere deep. Too deep. "Not her, and not any other woman out there. You alone.."
He took another step. He was close now..Too close. "You possessed me!"
He exhaled faintly. "From the very first time I saw you at the arena."
Maria's breath hitched. Her body reacted before her mind could stop it..A tremor ran through her.
Small, but real. "You shouldn't be here," her voice barely held. "Please leave." But he didn't move away. He didn't create distance.
Drexo stepped closer again. Now, she could feel his breath. Warm, and close. "I am where I should be."
He paused.
"Where I should have been a long time ago.".Her eyes welled slightly. Her chest tightened. Everything in her pulled forward. Toward him.
Her body leaned just slightly. Her thoughts blurred. She knew what she wanted. And that was the problem. "I am engaged!" Her voice broke slightly. "To your cousin, Robert Rendell."
The words felt heavier now. "This is inappropriate." Drexo nodded. "I agree." His voice was almost calm. "But I think I might die of thinking about you."
That did it. Something in his eyes shifted. Something real. Something that didn't pretend.
Maria saw it. She felt it. It scared her, but at the same time excited her. She broke eye contact, and turned away.
She knew she was losing her resistance and if she didn't do something about it, there would be no resistance left in her. She moved to the door. Her hand grabbed it, and pulled it open.
"Leave." Her voice steadied slightly. "Please leave."
But he didn't..He moved closer again. This time, His hand came up, and held her cheeks gently, but firmly enough.
That touch broke all the resistance she had left. They slipped away. Her body responded instantly. Her breath caught. Her chest rose sharply. Her fingers twitched at her sides. She felt it. Every part of it. And she couldn't deny it anymore.
Drexo leaned closer. His voice dropped to a whisper. Right against her. "Tell me…" he paused. "I am the only one feeling this."
Maria's breath shook. "Tell me!" His voice softened further. "I am the only one wanting this." Her eyes fluttered slightly. "Tell me I am mad." A final breath. "and I will leave."