The Royal guardsmen who had accompanied Crown Prince Silverstein Ashton Ivan Caestria into battle let out a triumphant shout as they approached the gates of the Castle of Caestria. The entire entourage clapped in unison, a thunderous ovation that echoed through the courtyard. The air seemed to hum with anticipation as they made way for the Crown Prince to make his entrance. It was as if time itself held its breath for his arrival.
Silverstein dismounted his horse with the grace of a cat, his movements fluid and swift. The applause continued, reverberating off the ancient castle walls. The royal family and the Duke's households, gathered in honor of his return, joined in the applause, their expressions a mixture of joy, relief, and pride.
"Oh, my baby!" Queen Selina cried, her voice trembling with emotion. Without a second thought, she rushed forward, enveloping her son in a tight embrace. It had been a year since she last saw him, and her heart had longed for this moment.
"At this rate, Mother, you're going to squash me," Silverstein chuckled, looking down at his mother's brunette hair. He was a full head taller than her, his broad frame dwarfing her petite stature.
As he gently pried himself free from her grasp, he saw his father, King Aaron, approaching with a warm, fatherly smile. The King, a man known for his reserved nature, couldn't hide the pride in his eyes.
"Welcome home, son. I'm so proud of you," King Aaron said as he embraced his firstborn, his voice soft but firm.
Silverstein returned the smile, though his attention had already shifted beyond his parents. Standing not far behind them were the four Duke families, accompanied by their daughters. He caught on quickly—he had heard whispers of the plan to choose a bride upon his return from war. It seemed the rumors were true.
Leaving his parents' side, Silverstein strode toward the assembled families. The four young women, all striking in their own right, stood in a row. They had been preparing for this moment, but as he approached, three of them were clearly stunned by his presence. Kiara, however, remained composed—she and Silverstein had been childhood friends, and their bond was one of familiarity.
Alexandra Carmarthen couldn't take her eyes off the Crown Prince, and neither could the other noblewomen. They had seen handsome men before, but Silverstein was something else entirely. His presence was magnetic, and there was a dangerous edge to his beauty, like a storm that could break at any moment. As he approached, he bowed his head toward the Dukes and their families—a gesture none of them had expected.
The Dukes were momentarily taken aback but quickly returned the bow. Alfred Carmarthen, Alexandra's father, stepped forward, offering the Prince a light hug.
"Welcome back, Your Royal Highness," Alfred said warmly. Though Silverstein may not have remembered him, Alfred had known the Prince since he was a boy.
The other Dukes followed suit, each giving their greetings. Then it was the young women's turn. Kiara was the first to move, stepping forward with a confidence born of familiarity. She placed her hand on his shoulder, her voice sweet and melodic as she greeted him.
"Welcome back from the war, Ashton," she said softly, using his second name with a playful smile. "I missed you." Without hesitation, she embraced him, her arms wrapping tightly around him as though they had been alone in the room.
The Prince remained still, not returning the embrace, though his expression remained polite. The King, sensing the need for more privacy, dismissed the crowd that had gathered to witness the moment, along with the entourage that had accompanied Silverstein home from the battlefield. Only the Royals and the Duke's families remained.
Kiara reluctantly released her hold on Silverstein and returned to her place. The next two women, Cherish and Ashley, greeted him with grace but kept their distance, offering no more than polite words.
Finally, it was Alexandra's turn. Her heart raced as Silverstein approached her, his towering frame casting a shadow over her. She swallowed nervously, her eyes tracing the sharp lines of his face, the mesmerizing contrast between his dark, charcoal hair and the golden fire in his eyes.
"Welcome back, Crown Prince Silverstein," she managed to say, bowing as her voice wavered. Her breath hitched as she realized just how close he was, her neck craning to meet his gaze. Up close, he was even more striking—his skin unblemished and fair, a red mole resting under his left eye. His lips were thin, a soft shade of pink, and his long lashes framed his fiery golden eyes, giving him an almost ethereal beauty.
Silverstein blinked, studying her for a moment before speaking. "What's your name?" he asked, his voice smooth, almost teasing.
"Alexandra Carmarthen," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. It came out like the squeak of a mouse, and to her horror, she saw the Prince's lips curl into a small chuckle.
Kiara's eyes narrowed as she watched the exchange, her gaze shooting daggers at Alexandra from across the courtyard, though none seemed to notice but Alexandra herself.
Silverstein nodded and turned back toward his parents. "We should go inside, Mother, before the sun rises too high." With that, the group made their way into the castle, the air still buzzing with the energy of his return.
Queen Selina barely left her son's side, chattering animatedly about all the changes that had occurred in the castle during his absence. But Silverstein's attention kept wandering, his mind drifting back to the ginger-haired girl he had just met.
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When lunchtime arrived, everyone gathered in the grand dining room. The room was opulent, with a long table stretching down its center, enough to seat thirty guests. Music filled the space, a soft celebration of Silverstein's return.
The King sat at the head of the table, his wife to his right, and Silverstein on his left. The Duke families sat accordingly, each taking their assigned place at the vast table.
Alexandra sat beside her parents, quietly picking at her rice and sauce. Despite her efforts to remain composed, she couldn't stop sneaking glances at the Crown Prince. Every so often, her eyes would drift toward him, and each time her gaze lingered just a little longer than she intended. He was simply too captivating.
Then, to her horror, their eyes met. Alexandra froze, her heart pounding in her chest. Silverstein didn't look away. Instead, he smirked, a small, knowing smile that sent heat rushing to her face. She quickly turned back to her plate, nearly choking on a grain of rice in her flustered state.
Silverstein's smirk remained, amused by her reaction. Alexandra mentally berated herself. Why couldn't she stop looking at him? What must he think of her? Surely, he would get the wrong impression!