"You should tell them, dear brother," Sera said, resting her chin on her palm. "Tell them about the lady who’s caught your attention."
Kyle’s entire body went still.
"Oh?" Queen Helena mused, finally looking up from her tea, a small, knowing smile curving her lips.
King Darius raised a brow in amusent. "A woman?"
Kyle placed his knife down calmly and stared at Seraphina with an intense look. "I don’t know what you think you heard—"
"Oh, Kyle," Seraphina interrupted, her golden eyes gleaming mischievously, "I didn’t think I heard anything. I know what I heard." She tapped her temple. "I have a very sharp mory, you know."
Kyle exhaled sharply, but before he could shut this down, his mother sighed dramatically.
"Well, it’s about ti," Helena said, resting her chin on her palm. "I was beginning to think you’d never take an interest in anyone."
"I have interests, Mother," Kyle deadpanned.
"Yes, yes," she waved a hand dismissively. "Politics, war strategies, economic advantages—fascinating. But you and I both know that’s not what I an."
Kyle closed his eyes briefly.
His father chuckled. "An alpha heir already in view before you even take the title? That’s promising."
Seraphina leaned in. "We’re all very proud."
Kyle pinched the bridge of his nose. "You’re all insufferable."
Queen Helena simply smiled. "And yet, you haven’t denied it."
Kyle inhaled deeply, dragging his fork through his plate. "Alright," he muttered. "Fine. I got attracted to her."
Seraphina gasped dramatically. "Oh, Kyle likes soone! Mother, get the royal seamstresses ready. There’s a Luna to prepare for."
Helena chuckled, but her eyes glead with interest. "And who, exactly, is this woman?"
Kyle exhaled, knowing there was no escape now. He leaned back in his chair, swirling the wine in his goblet before saying simply, "Her na is Evelina."
The playful energy at the table stilled.
For the first ti, his parents did not imdiately respond.
Seraphina sat up straighter, suddenly far more intrigued than amused.
Kyle watched his mother and father exchange glances. He braced himself for resistance, for an argunt, maybe even outright refusal.
Instead—
His father nodded, seemingly pleased.
His mother smiled slowly. "The sa woman who found the cure in Arcadia?"
Kyle hesitated before nodding. "Yes."
A beat of silence.
Then, to his utter disbelief—
His mother bead.
"Oh, I like her already."
His father chuckled. "Intelligent and capable. She’ll make an excellent Luna."
Kyle blinked. That was... not the reaction he had expected.
Seraphina grinned. "Well, well, well. I was only teasing, but now I’m actually excited to et her."
Kyle narrowed his eyes at them all. "You’re not going to object?"
His mother took a delicate sip of her tea before responding. "Why would we? You said it yourself—she unknowingly disrupted a plan that took months to prepare. She found the cure to a poison ant to cripple an entire kingdom. That kind of intelligence, that kind of resilience, is exactly what an Alpha needs in a Luna."
His father nodded in agreent. "A strong mate ans a strong pack."
Kyle stared. "You do realize she doesn’t even know my real identity, right?"
Seraphina tilted her head. "Oh? You didn’t tell her you were Prince Kyle of Oakenshaw?"
Kyle sighed. "I told her my na was Blaze."
Seraphina burst into laughter. "Blaze? Oh, Kyle, you didn’t."
Kyle shot her a look. "It was necessary."
Seraphina wiped away a fake tear. "Oh, this is so much better than I thought."
His mother, though clearly amused, kept her voice even. "Well, that just ans you’ll have to return to Arcadia sooner."
Kyle frowned. "For what?"
His father gave him a pointed look. "To claim her, of course."
Kyle nearly choked on his wine.
Seraphina clapped her hands together. "This is fantastic. My dear, calculating, always-in-control brother is in an absolute ss over a woman." She sighed happily. "It’s like the best story ever written."
Kyle ran a hand down his face. "You’re all impossible."
Queen Helena reached over, placing a hand over his. "Kyle."
He exhaled, looking at her.
Her expression softened. "If she’s as brilliant as you say she is, then she’s going to be an asset. But more importantly..." She squeezed his hand slightly. "If she’s the one who has truly caught your attention, then we will support you."
Kyle swallowed, feeling sothing settle in his chest. He had always been good at keeping his emotions in check. A lifeti of training, of knowing he would one day take the throne, had taught him control.
Discipline.
The importance of making decisions with his mind, not his heart.
And yet, as he sat at the grand dining table of Oakenshaw Palace, watching his family smirk and tease him, he felt distinctly out of control.
His father’s words—"She’ll make an excellent Luna."—lingered in his mind.
An asset.
That word left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Evelina wasn’t just so advantageous match to strengthen the pack. She wasn’t soone to be used.
At least, he didn’t want that.
She was fire and steel, soone who had unknowingly disrupted an entire political sche simply by being herself. Soone who stood her ground when the world tried to break her.
And Kyle?
He didn’t want her because she was an asset.
He wanted her because she was his equal.
Kyle took a slow sip of his wine, keeping his expression unreadable. He wasn’t about to share that with his family.
"So..." His father’s voice broke through his thoughts. "When do you plan on seeing her again?"
Kyle looked away briefly. "She’s still in Arcadia. And I have no reason to return yet."
His father raised a brow. "You want her to find out who you really are from soone else?"
Kyle’s jaw tightened.
His mother smiled knowingly. "I imagine she won’t take it well."
Kyle huffed a quiet laugh. "No. She won’t."
Seraphina grinned. "Which ans you better make it up to her very well."
Kyle exhaled through his nose. "I’ll handle it."
His father studied him for a long mont. "Do you need anything else?"
Kyle’s blue eyes glead. "Just ti."
His father nodded. "Then take it."
His mother’s smile lingered as she lifted her teacup. "Because sothing tells this is just the beginning."
Seraphina smirked. "Oh, definitely."
Kyle, for the first ti that morning, smiled slightly.
Yes.
This was just the beginning.
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