BOUND BY ROYALTY

CHAPTER 22

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A week had passed since my heat ended, a week of returning to normalcy, or at least attempting to. My body had finally recovered from the exhaustion, but my thoughts remained tangled in the memories of those days with Aleron. Memories that clung to me like an unshakable warmth.

I stood before the mirror in my chamber, letting Ben fuss over the final touches of my attire. The tailored coat fit snugly over my shoulders, the silver embroidery shimmering faintly in the morning light. Today's public appearance was no small affair, an annual charity gala held within the grand halls of the palace. Nobles from across the empire would gather, and as the prince consort, I was expected to stand beside Aleron with the same grace and poise I had been trained to display.

Aleron.

My fingers twitched at the thought of him. Since that night, since those three days entwined in each other something between us had shifted. He no longer felt like a stranger bound to me by duty. No, he was something far more dangerous.

He was becoming someone I wanted.

"Your Highness?" Ben's gentle voice broke through my thoughts. I blinked at my reflection, noticing the faint flush at the tips of my ears. "You look perfect. Prince Aleron will be pleased."

I huffed softly. "Is that so?"

Ben smiled knowingly, stepping back as he smoothed out the sleeves of my coat. "He watches you more closely these days. It's as if he can't help himself."

I bit back a response, unwilling to admit how much that truth unsettled, and thrilled me. Instead, I straightened my posture. "I suppose we should not keep him waiting."

When I entered the main hall, I found Aleron waiting at the base of the grand staircase. As always, he was impossible to ignore. Dressed in regal black with silver accents to match mine, his broad shoulders carrying the weight of his crown with ease. His hair was swept back in that effortlessly regal manner, he radiated authority and elegance in equal measure, but it was his eyes that held me captive. That endless blue, the color of the sea after a storm, softened the moment he saw me.
He extended his hand. "Lucian."

I descended the steps slowly, the sound of my heels echoing in the vast chamber. When I reached him, I slipped my hand into his without hesitation. His fingers curled around mine, warm and steady.

"You look beautiful," he murmured, just low enough for only me to hear.

I lowered my gaze, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "You flatter me too easily."

His thumb traced the inside of my wrist, a small but intimate gesture that sent a shiver up my spine. "Only when it's true."

I had no answer for that. Not when my heart stuttered in my chest.

The air was heavy with polished formality, scented faintly with lavender and rose. Crystal chandeliers hung overhead, casting shimmering light across the marble floors where nobles mingled in glittering silks and fine brocade. The low hum of conversation surrounded us, broken by occasional bursts of polite laughter.

It was the first grand event since my heat, a charity gala held in honor of the Empire's orphanages and all eyes seemed drawn to us the moment we entered. The air buzzed with murmured conversations, but more than a few eyes turned our way.

I felt it in the hush that followed our arrival, the subtle tilt of heads and quick glances as whispers swept the room. They were watching us, watching me, for any sign of weakness or strain. No one had forgotten the rumors surrounding our marriage, no matter how much Aleron tried to shield me from the sharpest edges of their scrutiny.