A few days had passed since Orion's unsettling encounter with Cassian in the garden, and the tension in the estate had only grown. Orion, still stung by his brother's harsh words, found solace in the only place where he could be free—his quiet refuge in the servants' quarters. It was a small, cramped room tucked away in the corner of the estate, but it was his. A place where no one would look for him, and where he could escape the judgmental stares of his siblings and the cold indifference of the world around him.
Yet, despite the comfort of solitude, Orion couldn't shake the feeling that things were changing. The winds of fate were shifting, and something lingered in the air—a sense that something important was about to happen.
And then, just as he had begun to settle into his routine, the news came. The princess was returning to the estate.
Princess Diana. The girl who had smiled at him during the banquet all those months ago. The girl who had, for a brief moment, treated him as though he were more than just a servant's child. The thought of seeing her again stirred something within him—a mix of excitement and anxiety. But more than anything, it reminded him of a truth he had long tried to ignore: he was not meant to be in her world.
The royal procession arrived a few hours after the announcement, as the sun began to dip below the horizon. Orion stood by the window of his small room, gazing out at the courtyard. He could see the royal carriage drawing closer, the banners fluttering in the breeze, and the sound of the horses' hooves echoing through the grounds. He didn't know why, but his heart raced as the princess's presence grew nearer.
He knew he should stay hidden, remain out of sight, as he always did when the royal family visited. But this time, he couldn't help himself. He wanted to see her again, even if it was from a distance. He didn't dare approach her—he knew his place—but perhaps, just once, he could allow himself to feel like he mattered, if only for a moment.
As he slipped quietly through the hallways, Orion made his way to the garden. He stayed to the shadows, keeping out of sight of the servants and guards who might recognize him. The last thing he needed was another confrontation, especially not after the way Cassian had looked at him the other day.
When he reached the garden, he found a quiet corner where he could watch the royal procession without being seen. The princess had dismounted from her carriage, her golden hair shining in the fading light of the day. She was dressed in the finest silk, her posture regal and poised. Even from afar, Orion could feel the weight of her presence.
His heart fluttered in his chest as she passed through the garden, her eyes scanning the area as she walked toward the entrance of the estate. Her gaze swept over the grounds, and for a brief moment, their eyes met.
Orion froze, his breath catching in his throat. The princess's gaze lingered on him, her eyes softening ever so slightly as she passed. Her expression was one of recognition, though she said nothing. She continued on her way, her attendants close behind her, but Orion stood rooted to the spot, unable to move.
He knew it was a fleeting moment, one that would disappear as quickly as it had come. She was a princess, a being of noble blood and high status, and he was nothing. He was the son of a maid, a mistake who had no place in her world. Yet, in that brief exchange, something unspoken had passed between them, something that made Orion's heart ache with longing.
The moment faded, and the princess disappeared into the main hall, leaving Orion standing alone in the garden, his chest tight with a mixture of emotions. He had no right to hope, no right to dream of a life where someone like her could ever care about someone like him.
Still, as he turned to make his way back to the servants' quarters, he couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted. Whether it was the princess's fleeting glance or the realization that he had been seen, for just a moment, Orion felt as though he had been granted a small piece of hope.
And that hope, no matter how fleeting, was enough to keep him moving forward, even in a world that seemed to have no place for him.