Meeting Prince Elvin.

~Katrina~

I wanted him to come back, to deny whatever Fortuna was saying—or at least to explain. But he didn't. He just left. What was he trying to do?

He kissed me, knowing I was meant to marry another man tomorrow. I should have known better; it was all just an act. Whatever happened at the farm or in my room had been nothing but a game to him. Now, it was over.

I felt like throwing the table across the room, but I held back. I wouldn't stoop to his level. I wouldn't become like him. I tried to forget what happened between us tonight, but the memory clung to me, every touch and word impossible to erase.

I had thought I saw a glimpse of the man I'd fallen for at the farm, but he had never truly existed. The king was a devil with a thousand faces. And one of those faces was designed to seduce women, making them feel special only to cast them aside.

"You'll feel better by morning," the royal physician murmured, handing me a bowl of bitter herbs. 

I sipped it, the taste as harsh as the bitterness I felt for him. I handed it back to Marissa and tried to settle my heart.

The queen mother, with concern in her eyes, asked the physician, "What's wrong with her?"

"The princess is just worn out," the physician replied gently. "She'll be well after some rest."

The queen mother stayed by my side as the physician left. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell Marissa," she said softly.

"Thank you, Mother," I replied.

She smiled softly and walked closer. "I never wanted you to stop being my daughter-in-law. Whatever happens, just remember, the gods have their ways. They will guide your path, my dear." Her voice cracked as she tried to hold back tears. And then, she left me alone.

Once she was gone, I called Marissa over to get answers.

"Why am I to marry this prince? Who is he, and why…?"

"Calm down, milady," Marissa said, quietly shutting the door before coming close. "I don't know everything, but I overheard Queen Fortuna's maid saying the king promised you to his cousin."

My heart twisted painfully. The king was behind it all. First, he dragged me to Xylonia, and now he was handing me off to someone else, as if I was nothing more than a game to him. Was I just a piece to be passed around in his court?

"Who is this cousin?" I asked, desperate for something, some detail that might help me make sense of this.

"Prince Elvin is… handsome," she replied, "and skilled with horses."

"Skilled with horses?" I repeated, puzzled. Maybe, if I could talk to this prince, I'd find a way out of this marriage.

"There's a game called Ride or Die. The king invented it, and Prince Elvin is one of the best," she explained.

"I see…" I trailed off, not wanting to hear any more about the king or his cousin. I pulled the blanket up to my chest and closed my eyes, letting the exhaustion take me.

Sleep came swiftly, but peace did not.

The next morning, I woke early and headed to the fields in search of Prince Elvin. 

Marissa had said that was where I'd find him. On the way, a strange, open-roofed complex caught my eye.

"What's this place for?" I asked, staring up at the towering structure.

"It's for the race, milady," Marissa answered. Without hesitation, I walked inside, feeling dwarfed by the vastness of it. 

The complex seemed to stretch out forever, filled with strange sculptures—a giant eagle with horns, fierce horses, and snakes. 

Each one looked more terrifying than the last. Then, as I wandered deeper, I saw it: a massive statue of a creature with claws and fangs. It wore a crown and had horns, with half of its face hidden behind a mask.

A shiver ran through me. It didn't take long to realize what I was looking at. This statue… it was meant to be the king. Staring at it, my body froze, fear rooting me in place. The longer I looked, the more I felt like I was staring into Karl's own eyes. Was he really this monster?

"We should go, milady," Marissa's voice snapped me out of my daze. I turned, still shaken. "It's just for entertainment. Nothing more," she said, though I wasn't convinced.

We left the complex, and within minutes, we reached the fields.

There were only a few people scattered about, but I immediately spotted Prince Elvin. He was blonde, slim, and graceful, though a bit shorter than me. 

When he saw me, he stopped what he was doing and walked over, his face lighting up.

"Princess Katrina?" His smile was warm, though there was a hint of curiosity. He must have heard stories about me already.

"Yes, Your Highness," I said, giving a small curtsy. His smile grew, and I wondered what he'd been told.

"You came to see me?" He looked almost shy, surprised that I'd sought him out. 

I nodded, but as I did, I noticed a familiar figure across the field, staring right at us.

King Karl.

He was standing close to a black mare, talking to Rowland. His eyes locked onto me, dark and intense, and I could tell he didn't like what he was seeing. But why should he care?

"You were saying something, milady?" Prince Elvin's voice brought my attention back, his gaze fixed on the ground, oblivious to the king's watchful eyes.

"Y-yes. I wanted to talk about… the wedding," I managed. The king didn't disappoint—he left his spot, striding over to us.

What was he going to do?