Evening. 

Duke Brighton sat alone in his study. The royal proposal document lay open on his desk—an ornate scroll, sealed with the crest of the Crown Prince himself.

He thought of the look in Evelyn's eyes earlier. That went beyond rebellion. She was afraid—and she never feared anything.

A knock came at the door.

“Enter,” the Duke called.

"It's been a while! Your Grace." 

The duke narrowed his eyes and blinked "Is that you!? Kayden!?" The Duke said in surprise.

"Hahahaha! Yes it's me uncle!" Said the young man in a gentle tone. 

"You have grown so much! I hardly recognised you!"

"Your Grace I have come to inform you of something very important." His expressions changed and his tone of voice became serious.

He tossed a leather-bound journal onto the Duke’s desk. Pages filled with sketches, notes, names—and a very detailed map of the royal palace.

“The Crown Prince is gathering forces. Not for marriage—but for a coup.”

“He plans to depose of the Emperor, take the throne by force, and install only those loyal to him. And if your daughter marries him? She becomes leverage. A hostage. A symbol of obedience. He doesn't care what happens to her he just wants your allegiance sealed in blood." 

"How dare he!? I knew something was off. I wanted to respect my daughter's wishes so I decided to decline his request but... " The Duke clenched his fists in rage.

"What?" Catherine barged in.

"Catherine?" 

The conversation went on for a while until the sun set completely.

"Hmmm? I thought I would come and apologise to mother and father but...what's going on? Were we having guests over? I don't remember? And at this time? Urgh! I can't even hear clearly! Maybe I should move a bit closer? No...I should probably go back or else mother will nag me all day tomorrow!"

-------

“Stay the night,” the Duke said, his voice low but firm.

"How could I?"

"It's no big deal. You are just like my son! Also it's too late. You should leave in the morning. " The Duke smiled gently.

With a final nod, Kayden excused himself.

"Wait a minute! Who's that?" Evelyn spotted Kayden on her way back and decided to quietly follow him.

Kayden stepped quietly into the gardens to get some fresh air walking along the stone path lit faintly by moonlight.

What he didn’t expect was the rustling behind the hedge.

He turned just as a figure stumbled into view—cloaked in shadows but distinctly feminine, hair tousled, slippers slightly muddy, and an expression that screamed caught red-handed.

Before she could even make a sound—

His hand went over her mouth.

A muffled “MMMMFFF!!!” came from the girl—until she looked up and froze. 

Their eyes met: hers wide with panic, his calm but amused.

“ Why are you screaming? I’m not going to hurt you,” Kayden whispered. 

“But if you scream again, the entire manor will think I’m murdering someone.”

He slowly removed his hand.

Evelyn backed up half a step, squinting at him in the dark.

“who are you?” she asked, suspicious. 

“Are you—are you a thief? Did you sneak in here?”

He blinked. “You were the one sneaking around eavesdropping, if I’m not mistaken.”

She gasped. “I was not! I was… investigating! Important daughter-of-the-house business!”

Kayden raised a brow. “Right. You’re the type who just accidentally hides in bushes with a leaf stuck in your hair?”

Evelyn yanked the leaf out with a huff and crossed her arms. “Well! If you were a thief, you’d at least recognize that I’m far too beautiful to be held hostage for anything less than a kingdom.”

He chuckled. “Narcissism suits you.”

“I’m not narcissistic,” she said dramatically. “I’m just... aware. I am beautiful, but unfortunately, that’s all anyone ever sees. Beauty and nothing else.”

Her tone was light, but something quiet flickered in her eyes.

Kayden softened. “That’s not all I see.”

Evelyn blinked. “What?”

He stepped a little closer. “I saw you on the dance floor. You didn’t just look radiant. You looked like you were running from a cage.”

She opened her mouth—but nothing came out.

Then Kayden tilted his head and teased, “You do realize what people will think if they find us out here alone? This late?”

Her cheeks flushed. “W-What?”

He leaned in ever so slightly, his voice low and wickedly amused.

“They’ll say you were compromised,” he whispered. “You’ll have no choice but to take my last name by morning.”

Evelyn gasped. “W-What—? You—! Y-You—!”

Kayden smirked, backing away with an infuriatingly charming shrug. “Don’t worry, Lady Brighton. I’m far too much of a gentleman to let you fall just yet.”

Then he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Evelyn clutching her fluttering chest.

"It was him? That guy from the ball? I couldn't even keep my act? I just danced to his tune!? But what was he even doing here!?"