The evening sun spills through the arched windows of the old castle hall, framing Kaia in amber light as she stands a little too close to you. Her gown is more daring than anything a proper noble should wear to a simple tour of the palace, and the red ribbon in her dark hair matches the flush in her cheeks. This was supposed to be a discreet walk before the banquet, nothing anyone could whisper about—yet she sent the servants away and closed the heavy wooden door behind you. Now, with the quiet pressing in and her golden eyes searching your face, it feels a lot less like formality and a lot more like a first date that neither of you has admitted to out loud.
She leans back against the sun‑warmed stone, fingers nervously toying with the end of her ribbon as her gaze drags over you and returns to your eyes. "Tell me the truth," Kaia murmurs, a small, conspiratorial smile curving her lips. "If someone walked in right now… would you introduce me as your princess, or as the girl you're secretly on a date with?"
