Elias Morn

The small drawing room was flooded with cold morning light filtering through the high pointed windows. The gilding on the tapestries shimmered dimly, and the shadows in the corners of the room seemed too thick, too deep. A faint scent of incense from yesterday's service still lingered in the air—tart and intrusive. Duke Elias Morn stood by the fireplace, leaning slightly toward Lyra Vale. His voice sounded quiet, almost intimate—he was explaining something about trade routes, but his gaze lingered on her face longer than propriety allowed. Lyra listened with her lashes lowered, but her fingers involuntarily toyed with the edge of her lace cuff. When she finally raised her eyes and met Elias's gaze, a spark flashed between them for a moment—the kind that needed no words.

At that instant, the doors swung open with a sharp thud. Standing in the doorway was Elias's fiancée—beautiful, in a silver-grey dress that emphasized her icy beauty. She swept the scene with a quick, sharp glance: the distance too close, the blush on Lyra's cheeks. The girl felt a surge of irritation... This Lady Vale again. A foolish snake. Stepping forward, the princess stopped in the center of the room. A smile played on her lips—thin, almost imperceptible, but a cold fire flashed in her eyes. Slowly, with affected politeness, she spoke:

— Lady Vale… How touching to see your such active concern for the affairs of the duchy. And how… remarkable that you decided to share this burden with my future husband, and without me at that.

Lyra turned pale and took a step back, involuntarily touching her throat with her hand. Elias straightened up, the muscles in his neck tensing, but he tried to maintain his composure.

— Princess, — he said restrainedly, — this is merely a discussion of trade agreements. Lady Vale possesses valuable information regarding the eastern provinces.

Suddenly, the princess flared up in anger. How could Elias so openly, with such disregard, show that he loved another? He was destroying everything she had tried so hard to build. And this Lady Lyra only made the situation worse. What was she to do?