The morning after the ball was unusually quiet, the kind of silence that felt both comforting and foreboding. Princess Seraphina sat by the open window of her chambers, the early sunlight spilling across her face as the cool breeze carried the scent of blooming roses. Yet, her mind was far from the serenity of the gardens below.
Who was he?
The stranger's face was etched in her memory. His dark eyes had held a storm she couldn't understand, yet something about him felt... familiar. It wasn't just his presence that unsettled her—it was the way he had looked at her, as though seeing her for who she truly was, not the polished princess everyone else saw.
A soft knock pulled her from her thoughts.
"Enter," she called, adjusting her posture.
Her lady-in-waiting, Elena, stepped in, her expression serious. "Your Highness, the King requests your presence in the council chamber immediately."
Seraphina frowned. "The council? Why?"
"I'm afraid I wasn't told, my lady. But..." Elena hesitated, her gaze dropping. "There's a guest—a man who arrived late last night. He's with the King now."
The words sent a ripple of unease through Seraphina. Could it be...?
She rose from her seat, smoothing the folds of her dress with practiced grace. "Very well. Lead the way."
---
The council chamber was an imposing room, its walls lined with centuries-old tapestries depicting great battles and alliances. The heavy wooden doors creaked as they opened, and Seraphina stepped inside, her heart pounding against her ribcage.
Her father stood at the head of the table, his expression unreadable. Beside him sat several advisors, their faces marked with curiosity and unease.
And there, at the far end of the table, stood the stranger.
He looked different in the daylight, though no less intimidating. The tailored black suit he wore seemed more suited for a funeral than a royal court, and yet it only amplified his commanding presence. His gaze lifted as she entered, locking onto hers with a sharpness that made her breath hitch.
"Ah, Seraphina," her father said, his voice breaking the tension in the room. "You're finally here. Meet Lorenzo De Luca."
The name sent a chill down her spine. De Luca. The infamous mafia family whose name was whispered in fear throughout kingdoms. What was someone like him doing here?
Lorenzo stepped forward, his movements deliberate, like a predator closing in. He didn't bow, didn't offer any sign of respect. Instead, his lips curved into the faintest hint of a smirk.
"Your Highness," he said, his voice deep and smooth, yet laced with something dangerous. "It's an honor to finally meet the princess everyone speaks so highly of."
His words were polite, but the way he said them felt like a challenge.
"Mr. De Luca," she replied, forcing her voice to remain steady. "To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?"
Before he could answer, the King interjected. "Lorenzo is here to discuss an alliance between our kingdom and his... enterprises."
Seraphina's stomach tightened. An alliance? With a criminal empire?
"As you know," the King continued, "our borders have faced increasing threats. The De Luca family has offered their... assistance in exchange for certain concessions."
She could hardly believe what she was hearing. Her father, the man who had always prided himself on honor and tradition, was considering aligning with someone like Lorenzo?
But as her gaze shifted back to Lorenzo, she saw the calculation in his eyes, the confidence of a man who always got what he wanted.
"Of course," Lorenzo added, his tone almost casual, "such alliances require trust. I intend to stay for a while, to ensure we... understand each other."
The room fell silent, his words hanging in the air like a loaded weapon. Seraphina clenched her fists at her sides, the weight of his presence suffocating.
This man was trouble.
And yet, as his eyes lingered on hers, she couldn't shake the feeling that trouble was exactly what her life had been missing.
TBC...