Dying for this recharge.

The next day, I found myself standing before the palace steps, where a polished carriage waited. Its side was beautifully painted with the Grand Dukedom's insignia.

I took a deep breath and stepped closer, feeling both thrilled and uneasy.

As I drew closer, Prince Theo leaned out from the carriage, offering a warm smile. "Good morning, Avaris," he greeted.

Even though he could see the weariness pulling at my face, I returned the smile. The dark circles beneath my eyes must have been obvious, but I was careful not to let on. "Good morning, Your Grace."

Once I settled into the carriage, Theo’s smile turned curious. "You look worn out," he said softly.

I offered a slight shake of my head. "It’s nothing, really." How could I tell Theo I’d been tormented by dreams, haunted by a man who felt both familiar and foreign, both alluring and terrifying. I wasn’t even sure it was real.

As the carriage started rolling forward, it moved slowly through the roads that led to the border. My hands tightened in my lap as I stared out the window, the landscape slipping by. I haven’t been back to the borders since the death of my parents.

Every sound outside sounded sharper, my heart was racing, and every bump in the road made me feel a little more anxious.

After an hour of travel, we reached the border, a wide expanse where Theo’s entourage and guards had already gathered, waiting for the emperor’s envoys. A few knights and officials from the Grand Dukedom busied themselves arranging final preparations.

At that moment, a border soldier came up, bowed low in front of Theo, and whispered something. “Your Grace, we have just received word from our messenger. The Third Prince will be accompanying the envoys.”

Theo's eyebrows raised in astonishment. "The Third Prince? That’s... unexpected." His gaze turned thoughtful, clearly trying to piece together the reason for this rare visit. "I wonder what brings him all this way to the Grand Dukedom."

When the soldier had left, Theo turned to me. “It seems the Third Prince will be joining us,” he explained with a puzzled tone.

I blinked, confused. “The Third Prince?” I asked, my voice carrying genuine surprise. “I didn’t know there was a Third Prince. I thought the Emperor only had two sons—Prince Elias, the Crown Prince, and Prince Lysander. And Princess Seraphine.”

Theo gave a knowing smile. “It’s not widely known. You see, the former Empress, the Emperor's sister, who was only on the throne for a short time before she passed, bore a son. She conceived him from a man who came from a distant land, and the child was hidden from the court. That child became…” Theo’s voice trailed off as the sounds of trumpets blared in the distance.

“The envoys are arriving!” a herald’s voice rang out, drawing the attention of everyone at the border. The group quickly assembled, bowing their heads in preparation.

The line of carriages moved forward, each bearing the Emperor's crest. The first few carriages carried officials and other dignitaries, whose serious expressions were partially visible behind the curtains.

But it was the last carriage that drew everyone's attention. It stood out for its dark design; its surface was patterned in a threatening pattern, rimmed in black and deep crimson as if to ward off anyone who might approach.

When the carriage stopped, the air seemed to get tighter. After a moment, the door opened, and a tall figure stepped out, his presence intimidating.

“Prince Dyvian is here!” someone announced.

I felt my breath catch in my throat. I raised my gaze, feeling a wave of disbelief wash over me as I recognized the man stepping out of the carriage as the haunting figure from my dreams.

The very one who had responded to my desperate thoughts on the brink of death. It was Dyvian.

As our gazes met in the distance, my heart hammered against my ribcage, flashing back to the strange dreams and the intensity of Dyvian's gaze. A tiny, sly smile pulled at Dyvian's lips, as though he, too, recognized me.

I stood frozen, unsure whether to run—though that wasn’t really an option. So I stayed rooted to the spot, my gaze locked with his as his piercing eyes bore into mine.

Before I could fully process my jumbled thoughts, he began walking toward me, a deliberate smirk tugging at his lips.

Prince Theo, standing beside me, inclined his head respectfully. “Your Highness, welcome to the Grand Dukedom.”

But Dyvian didn’t even spare him a glance. His crimson eyes remained fixed on me, and I could feel my throat being constricted.

Judging by the murmurs from those around us, I wasn’t the only one caught off guard.

He stopped right in front of me, reaching for my hand before I could flinch away. The contact sent a jolt through me as he exhaled deeply, a faint trace of satisfaction crossing his features.

“Ah,” he whispered, his smugness leaking through his

voice. “I was dying for this recharge.”

Wha... What?!