In the heart of an ever-shifting realm where moonlight dances with shadows, the tale continues with even greater fervor. Amidst the sprawling chaos of intergalactic drama, Reina's journey becomes entangled in a love square that defies her every expe...
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Reina froze, her hand instinctively tightening around the folds of her gown as she turned to face the source of the voice. Standing just a few paces away was the stranger from the feast—the same man who had shadowed her during the hunt. Up close, his presence was even more imposing. He seemed to blend into the darkness of the night, yet his eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence.
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"I didn't mean to startle you," he said, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of something deeper—curiosity, perhaps, or something more unsettling.
"You didn’t," Reina replied evenly, though her heart raced. "But you seem to have a habit of watching from the shadows."
The man smiled faintly, a barely-there expression that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Observing," he corrected, taking a step closer. "There’s a difference."
Reina stood her ground, refusing to be intimidated. "Who are you?"
He paused for a moment, as if weighing his response. "A guest," he said simply, though the evasiveness of his answer only fueled Reina’s suspicion.
"You followed me during the hunt," she said, her voice low but firm. "Why?"
The man’s gaze sharpened. "I was curious about the princess who dared to challenge tradition. You’re not like the others, Reina."
Her name on his lips startled her, though she didn’t let it show. "And who are you to make such judgments?"
He stepped even closer, the moonlight casting his features in a stark, almost haunting relief. "Someone who knows how dangerous it is to stand out in a world that thrives on conformity."
For a moment, silence hung between them, thick with unspoken words. Reina felt a strange pull toward this man, an intrigue she couldn’t quite explain. But she also knew better than to trust someone who kept their motives hidden.
"Your advice is noted," Reina said, her voice cool. "But I’ve never been one to shy away from danger." And walk past him.
The man’s eyes gleamed with something like approval. "No, I imagine you haven’t." He took a step back, giving her space. "But be careful, Princess. The game you’re playing has higher stakes than you realize."
