The sun was still rising when Lady Helena stepped into the royal garden, her satin gown brushing over dew-kissed grass. She moved with the poise of a woman raised in quiet observation, not eager to impress but always aware. Damien spotted her by the fountain, her hands clasped behind her back, gazing at the koi fish gliding beneath the water's surface.
He approached with cautious steps.
"My lady," he greeted, offering a slight bow.
She turned, smiling. "Your Highness. You're early."
"I could say the same of you."
"I've always preferred the morning," she replied. "Before the palace wakes… the air is more honest."
Damien chuckled faintly. "Honest air? That's rare in these walls."
They strolled side by side, the garden paths shaded by flowering trees. The silence between them was not awkward. It had weight curious, unspoken truths resting in the air. Helena, ever gentle, finally spoke.
"Do you ever wish to live a simpler life? No titles, no pressures. Just freedom?"
Damien's jaw tightened. "Every day."
"I imagine the weight on your shoulders is unbearable," she said softly. "Especially now, with your future decided by others."
His eyes flickered toward her, watching her measured tone, her posture everything about her felt calculated, yet calm.
"You speak as if you're not part of it," he said.
"I suppose I am," she admitted. "But not by choice. I didn't come here to compete. I came because my father insisted. He sees a crown and believes it will fix everything."
"Doesn't every noble father?" Damien muttered bitterly.
Helena's voice dropped, quieter now. "I have no interest in the throne. Or in being anyone's queen. What I want is… peace. A life where I can just be Helena. A woman who reads, who walks barefoot in the morning, who sees the sea more than ceilings."
Damien stopped walking.
"No one's ever said that to me," he murmured.
She glanced at him. "What? That they don't want you?"
"That they don't want this." He gestured around him to the palace, the crown, the expectations.
She smiled. "Then perhaps you and I have more in common than they think."
They reached a marble bench beneath the wisteria. Damien hesitated, then sat. Helena joined him. He studied her again, searching for deceit but finding none. Her beauty was striking, but it was her stillness that fascinated him. She was unlike any lady he'd met. No flirtation. No desperation. Just honesty.
"I'd like to show you something," Damien said suddenly. "If you're free tonight."
Helena tilted her head. "Curiosity piqued. Where to?"
"The royal library. It's quieter after hours. Less... watched."
She nodded. "Then I'll be there."
---
Later That Night
The library was dimly lit, its chandeliers casting golden shadows across the shelves. Helena walked in, dressed simply in a plum-colored gown, no jewels, no ornaments just her. Damien already waited near a tall window overlooking the moonlit courtyard.
"Welcome to my favorite room," he said.
"I was beginning to think you only liked gardens," she replied with a soft smile.
They settled near the fireplace, ancient scrolls and books piled neatly on a side table. A bottle of plum wine sat between them, untouched.
Helena's gaze moved to the flames. "I don't usually trust people easily. But I think I trust you, Damien."
He blinked. "Why?"
"Because you don't hide your discomfort," she said. "Most people do. You let it show. That makes you real."
A long silence followed. Damien lowered his eyes, then said carefully, "I'm not sure you'd say that if you knew the full truth."
"I think I already do," she said gently.
He looked at her sharply.
"I saw you… two nights ago. In the corridor near the west hall. You thought you were alone with Alec." Her voice was low, but not accusatory. "I saw you kiss him."
Damien's heart thudded, and he tensed. "You.."
"I haven't told anyone," Helena cut in. "And I won't."
"Why?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Because I understand. More than you think." She leaned in, her voice nearly breaking. "I've loved someone too. A woman. Her name is Lys. She serves in our estate. No one knows. My father would banish her—maybe worse. I've kept that secret for years."
Damien stared at her, his breath unsteady. Helena's calm was no longer distant—it was deeply personal now.
"We're both playing a role," she continued. "Let's not pretend. Let them think what they want. We can make this work for us."
"You mean an alliance."
"A friendship," she corrected. "A pact. I'll tell the council that you were kind, respectable, but we aren't a match. I'll leave with grace, and no one will question your honor."
Damien exhaled, almost relieved. "And in return?"
"You help me someday when I decide to leave my world behind. When I need a ship, or protection, or a name strong enough to shield me from my father's wrath."
He extended his hand. "You have it."
Helena took it, firm and sure.
"And Damien…" she added, "don't be ashamed of who you are. It takes courage to love in silence."
Helena's fingers tapped gently against her wine cup as Damien leaned forward, a mischievous smile forming at the corner of his lips. "What if we didn't just part ways quietly?"
Helena raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on…"
"I mean, what if we gave them exactly what they wanted but on our terms?"
She tilted her head, studying him. "You're talking about a performance."
"A flawless one," Damien confirmed. "Let the court see what they crave: a prince falling in love with his bride. Lavish displays. Stolen kisses. Glances across rooms. Let them eat it up."
Helena chuckled, sitting back. "You want to use me to fool your father and council?"
"And Alec," Damien said without hesitation, his eyes hardening. "He doesn't know you yet. Watching us together would drive him mad."
Her interest deepened. "Now that... sounds entertaining."
Damien smirked. "So you're in?"
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she rose from the seat and walked to the window, her silhouette framed by moonlight. "I'm not just any pawn, Damien. I play to win."
He stood beside her. "Then let's win together."
She glanced sideways, her voice cool. "We'll set our own terms. We make the story, we control the ending. But understand this, Damien I don't play weak. I won't be the simpering lady draped over your arm. I'll be your equal."
He nodded, not with arrogance, but with respect. "I wouldn't want it any other way."
Their alliance was sealed—not with a kiss, but with a silent understanding. Two people bound by secrets, using the illusion of love as a weapon in a palace full of eyes.
-
The Next Morning....
"Your Highness, you glow," Lady Doreen exclaimed, watching Damien offer his arm to Helena as they entered the room together.
Helena wore a golden gown that sparkled subtly beneath the high chandeliers. She leaned slightly into Damien, laughing at something he whispered, her hand brushing his arm with practiced ease.
The court murmured with delight.
Even King Lucian, seated on his throne, narrowed his eyes in curious satisfaction. "Perhaps the boy's not as stubborn as I feared."
Alec stood in the far corner, his jaw clenched so tightly it trembled. He watched as Helena touched Damien's chest with a lingering smile. Confident. But it was Damien's expression that chilled him. That soft look, the way he angled his body toward her. Protective. Proud.
It wasn't the performance that hurt it was how real it looked.
Later that day, in the rose courtyard, Helena deliberately plucked a petal and tucked it behind Damien's ear. "Too much?" she whispered, her back to Alec, who stood frozen in the corridor.
Damien tilted his head, grinning. "Never."
Helena caught Alec's gaze from the corner of her eye. He turned sharply and walked away.
They both laughed.
That Night — Helena's Chamber
"I've never seen someone crumble so fast," Helena said, unpinning her hair.
Damien sprawled on her settee, his arms folded behind his head. "He wouldn't even look at me in the hall."
"You're enjoying this."
"Immensely."
She paused, walking over to the window. "But something's bothering me."
Damien sat up. "What is it?"
Helena pointed toward the shadows outside. "I've seen movement three nights in a row. It's too coordinated to be a guard."
Damien tensed.
She turned toward him, her tone shifting. "Damien… are you being watched?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked to the window beside her. Nothing stirred. Just the wind.
"Yes," he admitted softly. "I think someone's been watching me for weeks. I haven't told Alec. Or anyone."
Helena crossed her arms. "Why not?"
"I don't know who I can trust. The moment I say something, that person will vanish."
She nodded, thinking. "Then let me help. I'll act like I see nothing, but I'll keep an eye out. If there's a shadow watching you, Damien… I'll find it."
He looked at her with genuine appreciation. "You're sharper than anyone gives you credit for."
She smiled faintly. "I've learned how to survive in silence."
Later That Week — Palace Feast Night
The Great Hall brimmed with music and chatter. Helena arrived on Damien's arm, her sapphire gown shimmering as they twirled during the opening dance. Whispers flew from every direction.
"They're perfect together."
"She's so poised...such a match for him."
"Perhaps the prince has changed."
At the end of the dance, Damien leaned in and kissed Helena's hand with theatrical flair. She giggled softly, whispering, "Alec's watching again."
"Good," Damien replied.
But what neither of them saw was Alec retreating down the side corridor, rage burning in his chest. Alone in the corridor, he slammed his fist into the stone wall, breathing heavily.
That Same Night — Helena's Balcony
Helena stood watching the moon when she felt a presence behind her. She didn't turn immediately.
"You followed me," she said quietly.
Damien stepped into view. "You shouldn't be alone."
"I wanted to clear my head," she replied. "I saw something again. The shadow. It moved toward the servants' wing and vanished before I could follow."
Damien's expression darkened. "I'll tighten the guard."
"No," Helena said firmly. "That's what they'll expect. Let me track them. Quietly."
He blinked. "Are you sure?"
Helena turned to him, her eyes sharp. "I may not want to be queen, Damien. But don't mistake me for a damsel. I'm not afraid of shadows."
He watched her, almost in awe. "You're… remarkable."
She smiled. "And dangerous, Your Highness. Never forget that."