The halls of the Eryndell palace brimmed with quiet elegance, each corner echoing centuries of regal tradition. Unlike the bustling Myranian courts, Eryndell's royal family governed with a measured grace, blending diplomacy with the subtle rigidity of old-world monarchy.
King Orwin, Silver's father, was a man of paradoxes. His penchant for strategy had kept the kingdom's borders secure, but his exacting nature often strained familial relationships. Silver, ever the dutiful crown prince, bore the weight of expectation with quiet resilience, though his private sparring sessions with Mist and Coal hinted at cracks beneath his polished exterior.
Mist had recently been appointed Silver's personal attendant, though his role often blurred the lines between confidant, sparring partner, and silent critic. Silver respected Mist's keen observational skills and his ability to keep a secret—a rare quality in a court teeming with political ambition.
And then there was Coal.
Technically an outsider, Coal's familial ties to the Myranian throne made him a distant cousin by virtue of shared ancestors—a tenuous connection at best. Yet his effortless charisma and natural aptitude for diplomacy had earned him an honorary place in the inner circle. This, of course, annoyed Silver to no end.
Coal and Silver had first met during their early years at the "Council of Crowns," an annual summit where heirs from allied and rival kingdoms gathered to discuss trade, alliances, and the occasional petty grievance. The council had been less about politics for them, more about games of strategy that devolved into chaotic chases around the marble-floored halls.
Even then, Coal had been a wildcard—a quick-witted boy with an audacious streak. While other heirs followed decorum, Coal found ways to circumvent it, often dragging an exasperated Silver into his antics. Candle, though younger than the rest, had been a quiet observer in those meetings, always perched in the corner with her golden eyes silently taking everything in.
Coal's banishment from Myrania wasn't a topic of open discussion, though whispers floated among the nobility. Some claimed it was tied to his family's fractured legacy; others speculated about a misstep during an internal power struggle. Whatever the reason, the exile had given him freedom, but at a cost.
"Coal's loyalty is mercurial," King Orwin had once remarked to Silver. "He has the charm of a diplomat but the instincts of a rebel. Keep him close, but watch your back."
Despite this, Silver found himself begrudgingly reliant on Coal, particularly in situations requiring finesse. Coal's unconventional methods often yielded results, even if they left a trail of exasperated nobles in his wake.
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Coal had always been a man of chaos, but in the most charming way. His days were filled with wild flirtations, mischievous smiles, and a general tendency to leave people guessing whether he was in on the joke or just the cause of it. His antics around the campus were well-known. He'd wink at the most unsuspecting girls in the library, spin a charming tale to the barista in the campus café, and make an entrance in every room he walked into, often followed by a trail of laughter or raised eyebrows.
But today was a different kind of day. Coal had been walking back from sparring practice, his muscles still humming with energy and his grin as wide as ever, when he noticed something—or rather, someone—that stopped him dead in his tracks.
It wasn't a grand spectacle, nothing that would make anyone else stop in their tracks. Just a few merchants standing on the edge of the courtyard, yelling at a girl. A girl who looked like she didn't belong in the middle of their tirade, her posture tense but her face devoid of any obvious reaction to the verbal barrage.
At first, Coal thought nothing of it. He was a busy man, after all. But then he looked closer, and he saw her eyes.
Golden. The kind of eyes that pulled you in like a whirlpool. The moment his gaze met hers, a spark of recognition flickered in him—though he couldn't place it. He had a strange feeling, like his body was magnetized, his every muscle pulling toward her.
Before he knew it, Coal was walking over, all charm, all confidence, with that trademark grin plastered across his face.
"Hey!" he called out, his voice carrying across the courtyard, "Is there a problem here?"
The merchants paused, momentarily distracted by the interruption, and immediately, the one who had been yelling turned to Coal. "Mind your own business, boy. This is none of your concern."
But Coal wasn't one to take that lying down. In one smooth motion, he lunged toward the merchant, his hand raised in mock threat, and, well—his fist ended up colliding with the merchant's shoulder a bit harder than intended. The man staggered back, but Coal had missed his mark, and he found himself tumbling forward, landing straight into the girl's lap.
Coal blinked, stunned for a second, before bursting into laughter. "Well, this is embarrassing," he said, looking up into her surprised face. "Sorry about that, wasn't exactly aiming for you."
She was still frozen in shock, but then, she smiled, albeit a little cautiously. The way her lips curled was guarded, but there was a softness there that caught Coal off-guard.
"You know, you're lucky I didn't knee you in the face," she said, her voice soft but steady. Her golden eyes were intense, but not in a threatening way. Rather, there was something curious about the way she looked at him, like she was assessing him in ways he wasn't used to.
Coal chuckled, sitting up and offering her a hand to help her stand. "I'm very lucky, it seems," he said, his grin never wavering. "But seriously, what's going on here? You don't seem like the type to get into fights with merchants."
Her eyes flickered, a hint of discomfort crossing her features. "I'm fine," she said softly, pulling her hair behind her ear, a small but noticeable gesture that made her seem even more distant. "It's nothing."
"Yeah, right," Coal said, looking at the merchants with a mix of amusement and disdain. "These guys are trouble, aren't they? If you ever need someone to deal with them, you've got the best guy right here."
She raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth twitching upward. "Right, because you just happen to end up on top of me while 'dealing' with them."
Coal laughed again, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Guess I owe you an apology for that too. Not exactly the most heroic entrance, huh?"
She didn't answer immediately, her gaze now focused on the merchants, who were muttering amongst themselves but seemed too intimidated to challenge Coal directly. After a moment, she sighed. "No need to apologize. They won't come after me again, at least not today."
Coal could tell she was lying, but he didn't press her on it. Instead, he let the silence hang between them, a comfortable, if strange, silence. Then, to break it, he nudged her shoulder lightly with his own.
"So, what's your name?" he asked, his voice playful again.
For a second, she hesitated. There was something in her eyes—a flicker of wariness. But then, she gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.
"Candle," she said quietly. "And you are?"
"Coal," he replied, "but you can call me whatever you want. Most people call me trouble."
That made her smile, but only a little. Her smile was guarded, like she wasn't sure whether to trust it or not. "Coal, huh? Sounds fitting."
"Maybe I'll live up to the name," Coal said with a wink. He gave her one last look, taking in her features, her posture, the way her golden eyes seemed to shine brighter as they spoke. There was something there—something about her that intrigued him. But just as quickly as the thought appeared, it faded. She was not the kind of person you could figure out in a single conversation.
The merchants had finally shuffled away, grumbling under their breath, leaving Coal and Candle alone. There was a brief, almost awkward pause before he stood up, offering her a hand to help her to her feet.
"So, um, do you come to this part of the campus often?" he asked, attempting to steer the conversation away from the earlier chaos.
Candle stood up without taking his hand, brushing herself off. She glanced around the courtyard, then back at him. "I... usually just stay out of sight," she muttered. "I prefer to keep to myself."
Coal nodded slowly, his smile fading into something more thoughtful. "I get it. The world's too full of people who want to mess with others for no reason."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as if she were trying to read him, but she didn't speak for a while. Finally, she gave a small nod.
"I'll keep that in mind," she said quietly. "Thanks, Coal."
"Anytime," he said, with a mischievous glint in his eye. "But next time, maybe I won't fall into your lap. I prefer my landings a bit more graceful."
That earned him a small chuckle from her, though it was quickly stifled. He could tell she was still holding something back, but he didn't press. With one last playful wink, Coal turned and walked away, letting the conversation end there.
But as he walked, his thoughts lingered on her golden eyes. There was something magnetic about her. Something that pulled him in deeper than he cared to admit.
And deep down, a small voice whispered, Maybe this could be more than just a strange encounter...
But that voice was quickly drowned out by his usual carefree demeanor. For now, Coal had other plans.