"We need answers," Relia growled after a few monts of silence had passed. Jasper was busy fetching the prince’s boots.
Evelina nodded to herself. Agreed.
She stood abruptly, straightening her dress.
Jasper blinked. "Where are you going, Lady Evelina?"
Evelina gave him a knowing look. "To get so air."
Jasper smirked, tilting his head. "Air, huh?"
She rolled her eyes and moved toward the door.
But even as she left the room, she could hear Jasper muttering under his breath.
Evelina wandered through the palace halls, her mind racing.
She needed to find Kyle.
Or rather... she had a feeling he would find her.
She wasn’t wrong.
As she turned a corner near one of the palace balconies, she felt him before she saw him.
That sa, steady presence. That sa infuriating confidence.
She slowed her steps—just slightly—before stepping onto the balcony.
And there he was.
Kyle leaned against the stone railing, gazing out at the palace gardens as if he had all the ti in the world. His hands were clasped loosely behind his back, his posture relaxed—too relaxed.
Like he had been expecting her.
Evelina exhaled sharply before stepping forward. "So."
Kyle didn’t turn right away. "So."
Evelina tilted her head. "We et again."
Finally, he turned.
His deep blue eyes t hers, filled with an unreadable intensity. A slow smirk curled at the corner of his lips.
"Indeed, we do."
Evelina crossed her arms. "Blaze or Kyle... which should I call you, Your Highness?"
Kyle chuckled softly, stepping closer. "You wound , Evelina." His voice was smooth, amused. "I thought we were past formalities."
Evelina arched a brow. "Right. Because kidnapping really strengthened our bond."
Kyle’s smirk widened. "It did for ."
Evelina fought the urge to slap him. Gods, he was infuriating.
She exhaled sharply. "What do you really want, Kyle?"
Kyle tilted his head. "Isn’t it obvious?"
Evelina’s eyes narrowed.
Kyle took another step closer, lowering his voice.
"I told you in the throne room, didn’t I?"
His gaze darkened slightly, his voice dropping to sothing more serious.
"I ca here for you."
Evelina’s breath hitched.
Relia growled.
Evelina clenched her jaw. "Well, that’s unfortunate for you."
Kyle chuckled. "Why? Because of Damian?"
Evelina’s hands curled into fists at her sides. "Because I don’t belong to anyone."
Kyle’s gaze flickered. "No," he murmured. "I suppose you don’t."
A pause.
A breath.
And then—
Kyle smirked. "But that won’t stop ."
Evelina’s heart pounded.
She had expected him to be persistent.
She had not expected him to be this direct.
Kyle took a slow step forward.
And for the first ti since eting him, Evelina wasn’t sure if she should step back.
Kyle smirked more broadly when he noticed her hesitation, his sharp blue eyes flickering with sothing unreadable.
For a mont, Evelina thought he might step even closer—but instead, he did the opposite.
Slowly, he took a step back, his hands sliding into the pockets of his immaculately tailored coat.
"I won’t deny it," he admitted in a smooth voice. "I was drawn to you from the first ti I saw you."
Evelina’s jaw tensed. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides as she forced herself to keep her breathing steady. This was a dangerous ga—one she refused to lose.
She arched a brow. "And I’m guessing the first ti you saw wasn’t the night you kidnapped ."
Kyle let out a low chuckle. "Kidnapped is such a harsh word."
Evelina scoffed. "Oh, I’m sorry. Should I say forcibly removed from my surroundings without my consent instead?"
Kyle grinned. "That does sound more poetic."
Evelina exhaled sharply. Gods, he was insufferable.
Her irritation only grew when he tilted his head slightly, studying her as though he was thoroughly enjoying the verbal sparring.
"So?" Evelina pressed. "When did you first see ?"
Kyle didn’t answer right away.
He leaned back against the stone railing of the balcony and looked at the moonlit gardens. His face still showed so amusent, but now it also looked more thoughtful.
"The first ti I saw you," he murmured, "was long before we spoke. Long before you even knew I existed."
Evelina frowned.
She had expected so level of deception—expected him to dance around the truth like any good politician would. But the way he said it... the weight behind his words...
This wasn’t a ga to him.
Kyle’s eyes flickered back to hers, and there was sothing unsettlingly genuine in them.
"You intrigued ," he said simply. "More than I care to admit."
Evelina narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms. "So... you’ve been stalking ."
Kyle let out a soft laugh. "Stalking is such an ugly word."
Evelina scoffed. "Oh? And what word would you use, Your Highness?"
Kyle smirked, tilting his head slightly. "Observing."
Evelina rolled her eyes. "Right. A royal stalker. That makes it so much better."
Kyle chuckled but didn’t deny it.
And that irritated her even more.
"You have a habit of inserting yourself into my life without warning," she muttered, shaking her head. "First, you kidnapped . Then, you show up in Arcadia with a marriage proposal like it’s a casual business deal."
Kyle’s smirk softened slightly, turning into sothing far more dangerous—sothing real.
"It’s not casual to ," he said quietly.
Evelina’s breath caught.
The air between them grew heavy, the tension curling tighter, pressing against her ribs.
Kyle took a step forward again, slowly and more deliberate this ti.
"I ca here for you, Evelina," he murmured, his voice lower, softer. "And I don’t intend to leave without you."
Evelina’s pulse pounded.
Relia growled. "He’s serious."
Evelina exhaled slowly. "Then you’re going to be very disappointed."
Kyle’s smirk returned, but there was a glint of sothing sharper behind it.
"We’ll see."
Evelina clenched her jaw.
She hated how calm he was. How utterly unshaken he remained. It was as if nothing she said could rattle him.
As if he had already decided how this was going to end.
But Evelina Drewstone was no one’s prize.
She stepped forward, closing the space between them slightly, her chin tilting up defiantly.
"You think you can just claim like I’m so diplomatic token?" she asked.
Kyle’s gaze didn’t waver.
"No," he murmured. "I think you’re stronger than that."
Evelina inhaled sharply.
Kyle leaned in just slightly, his breath warm against the cool night air.
"I think you’re stronger than all of this," he continued. "And I know deep down you’ll make a very powerful Luna. That’s why I’m here."
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