Kael stood at the top of the grand staircase; his eyes fixed on the approaching carriage. He had been preparing for this moment for weeks, but now that it was finally here, he found himself unable to shake the weight of anticipation. The Strigi Princess, jij, was coming—his future wife, a woman of power and pride, but one he had never truly met. The carriage wheels crunched slowly against the cobblestones, the noise almost deafening in the silence of the castle courtyard. The castle gates opened, and royal guards stepped forward, standing at attention as Alara’s presence became undeniable.
She stepped out of the carriage with a confidence that seemed to fill the space around her. Her golden eyes scanned the surroundings, and when they met his, Kael felt an immediate jolt of awareness. She was assessing him, he could see it in the way she held herself, every inch of her poised and prepared for whatever this meeting would bring. Orin, her loyal knight, remained a step behind, ever watchful. Kael didn’t miss the way Orin’s eyes briefly flickered to him, sizing him up with the same intensity. Kael’s posture didn’t waver; he kept his gaze steady, unflinching, but there was no denying the tension between them.
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“Your Highness,” Orin spoke, his voice low but respectful as he moved to stand behind jij, positioning himself like the shield he was. “It’s an honor to meet you, Prince Kael.” There was an edge to his words, a quiet challenge that Kael didn’t miss. Orin, like every other protector, would be on guard, but Kael had no intention of backing down. The silence stretched between him and jij, neither of them making a move to speak first. Kael could feel her testing him, just as much as he was testing her.
Kael nodded briefly; the weight of his words carefully measured. "The honor is mine. Now, Princess, we finally meet." His voice was steady, the subtle challenge in his tone deliberate, though he knew that this was only the beginning of the power play between them. Neither of them would be quick to yield, and as the tension hung in the air, Kael knew this was just the start of what was to come.
