CHAPTER FIFTY ONE
IRIS
The sound of my father’s boots echoed beside mine as we walked down the long, candlelit corridor.
The hall was silent save for the faint murmur of music drifting from beyond the great doors at the end.
My gown brushed the marble floor, heavy and soft, and my pulse thudded in my ears with every step.
When we reached the doors, my father stopped. His hand
gripped my bare arm, tightly. I turned my head to meet his sharp gaze.
“You will smile,” he said in a low voice. “You will tell everyone how honoured you are to be a part of this union. Do you understand?”
It took all my strength to nod. “Yes, Father.”
His expression softened only slightly. “Good.”
The grand doors opened with a deep, echoing creak, and light flooded the corridor. My heart skipped a beat.
“Go,” he said simply.
I stepped forward.
A herald standing at the threshold raised his voice, clear and strong, announcing, “Her Royal Highness, Princess Iris of Elarion.”
The ballroom fell quiet for a breath. Then the soft hum of strings
continued, and I walked in.
The sight before me almost stole my breath.
Chandeliers hung high above, their crystals catching the silver moonlight and scattering it across the marble floors.
The walls were lined with silk drapes in pale gold and rose, and garlands of white roses wound around tall pillars.
Guests in fine attire filled the space, their jewels glittering like stars.
The air smelled of honeyed wine and burning candles.
Every eye turned toward me. Conversations stopped. Laughter
faded.
And then I saw him.
Lorenzo stood near the center of the room, dressed in deep blue and silver, a goblet in his hand. His head turned at the sound of my name, and when his eyes found me, they widened slightly. For a brief moment, admiration flickered across his face.
I forced a smile and took another step forward. My heart pounded faster with every movement and I wished I were anywhere but here.
As I stepped down from the dais, Lorenzo met me halfway. His eyes swept over me in quiet appraisal before he gave a small smile, the kind meant for the crowd as much as for me.
“You look beautiful,” he said softly, taking my hand and lifting it toward his lips. His mouth brushed against my palm, a gesture that drew approving murmurs from the crowd nearby.
The touch made my skin crawl. I forced my lips to curve into a faint smile. “Thank you,” I whispered, though the words caught somewhere in my throat.
He raised his hand then, signaling the musicians.
The sound of violins swelled through the hall, filling the air with a melody so elegant it almost hurt to listen.
The harp joined next, its strings trembling like sunlight over water, and all around the room the guests turned toward us, their eyes full of expectation.
Lorenzo’s hand found my waist. “We will lead the first dance,”
he said quietly.
There was no choice but to nod.
He stepped closer, drawing me into the center of the ballroom. The nobles parted in graceful formation, leaving a wide circle of polished marble for us to dance upon. I could feel their gazes following every step, weighing every movement, judging every inch of my posture.
The music deepened, rich and full, and we began to move.
His hand guided mine, his other pressing firmly against the small of my back as he led me into the rhythm.
Our steps were slow and measured at first, sweeping across the floor in elegant arcs.
My gown shimmered in the candlelight, the pink silk catching silver sparkles each time I turned.
The fabric brushed the floor like waves, and my breath came shallow beneath the tight corset.
Around us, the rest of the court began to follow suit. Couples in
velvet and silk glided across the floor.
Lorenzo leaned closer, his voice low near my ear. “They’re watching,” he murmured. “Smile, Iris. You’re their princess. They need to see their future queen happy.”
I lifted my chin, forcing the corners of my lips upward. My smile felt painted on, fragile as glass. We turned again until everything spun into a blur of color and light. My chest tightened, and I could barely keep my breath steady.
The melody rose to its peak, faster now. He turned me sharply,
his hand never loosening its hold. I could see our reflection on the polished floor, the perfect picture of grace, the perfect illusion.
Then, at last, the music slowed. He pulled me closer for the final step, bowing slightly as he brought my hand to his lips again. The musicians struck the last note, and the ballroom erupted into polite applause.
Lorenzo smiled for the crowd, and I mirrored it. But as I looked around the glittering room, the silver and crystal and smiling faces, all I could feel was the hollow ache in my chest.
“Perhaps I should get us something to drink?” Lorenzo said in a light and pleasant tone.
Before I could answer, my eyes caught on a familiar figure standing among the servants near the wall. Raven. Her hands were folded neatly in front of her apron, her face still and polite, but her eyes met mine for the briefest moment. There was sadness there,
but something softer too. Understanding.
It felt good to see a familiar face after the suffocating dance, after the applause that rang hollow in my ears. I gave her a small, almost invisible nod.
Lorenzo followed my gaze. When his eyes found her, I saw the faintest flicker in his expression. Something unreadable but heavy. His eyes dropped for a heartbeat, then lifted again. His face returned to its composed charm.
I wanted to look away, to focus on anything else, and then I saw
him.
Standing near one of the marble pillars, dressed in full armor, helm on and posture straight as a blade. Even through the crowd, I knew him. I would know him anywhere. William.
My breath caught in my throat. The light from the chandeliers gleamed faintly off the steel of his armor, but it wasn’t that I saw. It was the way he stood, steady and proud, as if the chaos of the world couldn’t touch him. Even from across the room, my heart knew his presence.
For a moment, I forgot where I was. Forgotten titles, vows, and everything I was supposed to be. I wanted to go to him. To reach for him, just once more.
I turned back to Lorenzo quickly before my thoughts could betray me. “A drink would be nice,” I said, my voice softer than I intended.
He smiled, pleased by the answer. “Excellent,” he said.
Without hesitation, he turned and began to weave through the crowd toward the long table of silver cups and crystal decanters.
As soon as Lorenzo’s back was turned, I exhaled a shaky breath, my pulse hammering so loudly I was certain someone would hear it.
I didn’t think. I couldn’t. My feet moved before reason could stop them, slipping through the shifting crowd, past nobles in gold and silk, past the gleaming chandeliers and the sound of laughter that suddenly felt far away.
When I reached him, the words left me in a rush. “William.”
He turned at once, and before I could stop myself, my arms were around him. The cold metal of his armor pressed against my chest, and his arms came around me all the same, strong and sure. For a heartbeat, I let myself breathe. For a heartbeat, I was safe.
I felt the weight of eyes turning toward us, whispers already rippling through the air, but I didn’t care. Not tonight. Not when this could be the last time.
“Come,” I whispered urgently, pulling back just enough to look up at him. “Please.”
He didn’t hesitate. He only nodded once, a silent understanding passing between us.
We moved quickly past the crowd until we reached the open balcony. The night air outside was cool, but it felt like the first real breath I had taken all night. The wind brushed against my
bare shoulders, making me shiver, though I hardly cared. All that mattered was him.
The music from the ballroom faded behind us, replaced by the soft rush of the sea below and the faint hum of the night. I turned to face him. My heart was beating so fast and my chest rose too fast. His armor and helm caught the line of the moon, hiding a face I longed to see.
Without speaking, I reached up. My fingers brushed over the cold metal before finding the clasps at the sides. He didn’t move or speak. The soft click as I unfastened it, sounded far louder than it should have. I lifted the helm away and set it carefully on the edge of the balcony.
There he was. His face. His beautiful, beautiful face.
For a heartbeat, we just looked at each other. Neither of us dared to breathe.
Then I stepped closer. My hand touched his jaw, and he leaned into it, eyes softening as he exhaled. My breath trembled, my heart racing faster than ever. I rose on my toes and kissed him.
It was gentle at first before his hand slid to the back of my neck as he drew me closer. The other settled at my waist, firm and steady. The taste of salt lingered on our lips, carried by the sea breeze and maybe the tears I hadn’t realized were falling.
The world around us disappeared. There was no sound but our breathing, no light but the moon, no one but us. His lips moved against mine, slow and full of feeling, and I felt something deep in my chest unravel.
When we broke apart, our foreheads stayed pressed together. His hand was still at my waist, holding me there as if letting go would undo everything. I closed my eyes, trying to memorize the warmth of his skin, the scent of him, the feel of his arm around me.
“I love you so much,” he whispered, pulling me closer. “More than anything in this world.”
My heart twisted painfully. “I love you too,” I said, my words
barely reaching him. It was all I could manage, and yet it felt like everything.
He exhaled slowly, his thumb brushing over my jaw. “No matter what happens,” he said softly, “remember that.”
For a moment, I thought he meant to hold me again. But then he stepped back. My eyes opened, confused. He moved toward the balcony railing, standing far too close.
“William,” I said quietly with a shaky voice. “What are you doing?”
He turned, and there was such calm in his face it made my heart break. “May the world give us another chance,” he said. “I’ll be waiting.”
Then he turned away. I froze, watching as he planted a hand on the railing. My chest tightened so painfully I could barely breathe.
“William, please,” I whispered. But he didn’t stop. He swung his
leg over the edge, steady and sure.
And then he was gone.
“William!” I screamed loudly, running forward until my hands hit the cold stone of the balcony edge. My breath caught when I looked down. He was there below, moving quickly through the courtyard. The night swallowed him bit by bit as he passed through the gates.
“William, come back!” I screamed on the top of my lungs. The tears came fast, spilling down my face, blurring everything in
front of me. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe.
All I knew was that my heart was breaking. The pain was so sharp it stole the air from my lungs and forced me onto my knees. The tears wouldn’t stop. My fingers gripped the cold stone until they ached.
He was leaving.
Leaving me.
The thought ripped through me like a wound that would never heal. I pressed a trembling hand to my chest as if that could hold it together, as if I could stop the ache from spreading.
“No,” I whispered. The word came out cracked and small. “No, please.”
I stumbled to my feet, wiping at my face even though it did nothing. The gates were still open in the distance, his shadow fading further with every heartbeat. My mind screamed at me to
move. To run. To stop him before it was too late.
I climbed onto the railing, my hands shaking as I pulled myself up. The wind hit my face, cold and sharp, but I didn’t care. All I could think about was reaching him, finding him, begging him to stay.
But before I could climb over, a pair of hands grabbed me.