The estate of the Varnhart Duchy was still, the crisp air of early winter biting into the landscape. Orion, now five years old, was once again lost in his own world. His days were often spent in quiet isolation, playing in the garden or wandering the corridors of the estate. His life, surrounded by the cold stone of the mansion and the towering walls that separated him from the grandeur of the Duke's family, had taught him one thing—he was invisible.
That afternoon, the garden, usually his sanctuary, felt a little different. Though Orion spent most of his time alone, today he felt an unfamiliar presence, something that made him pause as he ran between the flowerbeds. His eyes darted around, searching for the source of the disturbance. A soft murmur of voices reached his ears, voices that didn't belong to the usual servants or guards.
Orion froze, his small form hidden behind a bush as he peered toward the approaching figures. He didn't recognize them at first, but there was something unusual about the way they walked, with an air of authority that made him instinctively retreat further into the shadows.
Among the visitors was a young girl, no older than Orion's oldest sibling, but with an undeniable regal bearing. She was striking, her long, dark hair cascading over her shoulders, and her pale features were illuminated by the pale winter sun. But it was her eyes that caught Orion's attention the most—large, observant, and filled with a quiet intelligence that seemed to see through the world around her.
The girl was speaking to the small entourage of adults surrounding her, her voice calm and collected, though her words carried weight. Orion strained to listen.
"The Duke's lands are vast, but the people here are not like those in the southern reaches," the girl remarked, her tone reflecting both curiosity and some measure of concern. "They seem to live under the shadow of their lord's power."
The older men with her murmured in agreement, but Orion could tell that the young girl was not merely commenting. She was assessing, searching for something beyond what others saw.
He felt an urge to approach, to step closer and hear more of her words, but he held back. The feeling of being an outsider, a child who was not meant to be seen, clung to him like a shroud. His heart thudded in his chest, a quiet reminder that he was nothing but a shadow in this world.
As if sensing a shift in the air, the young girl turned her head, her sharp eyes scanning the garden. Orion's breath caught in his throat. Had she seen him? He didn't dare move, holding his position behind the thick foliage, praying she hadn't noticed him.
The girl's gaze lingered for a moment, piercing and unfathomable, before she turned back to the men who accompanied her.
"Shall we proceed to the Duke?" one of the men asked, breaking the momentary silence.
The young girl nodded, her gaze drifting briefly to the garden again. "Yes. Let's. I wish to speak with him soon."
As the group continued onward, Orion breathed a quiet sigh of relief, his heart still racing. He remained in his hiding spot for a moment longer, unsure of what to make of the encounter. Who was she? And why did her presence feel so different from anyone else he had ever encountered?
The girl had moved with purpose, her regal presence unmistakable, and though her eyes had briefly met his, there was no sign of recognition. Perhaps it was just a fleeting moment. Perhaps he had imagined it.
Orion felt a strange sense of longing, a desire to understand the world beyond his small existence. The Duke's estate, though vast, had become a prison of sorts. But this young girl, this princess, represented something far beyond the cold walls he had grown so accustomed to.
He couldn't help but wonder if this encounter was just a glimpse of something greater—something that could break him free from the shadows of his world. But for now, he would remain hidden, as he always did. There was no place for him in their world.
Not yet, at least.