The hallways of the palace were silent, the kind of silence that hums beneath the skin. Torches glowed softly on the walls, casting long shadows as the evening sun melted into dusk. Servants moved quietly, preparing the final touches for the royal dinner in the grand dining hall.
Sarah was walking gently through the upper hall, her steps light and calm. Her steps was a representation of her worry. She was heading toward the staff wing when she heard a calm, commanding voice behind her.
Levi's guards had informed him of Sarah's presence, thus, sighting her afar; "Sarah." He called out.
She froze, her heart skipped at the call. Turning around, she saw Prince Levi standing at the top of the staircase. His robe flowed softly with the breeze from the open window nearby. His face, though calm, held a quiet intensity.
She bowed respectfully and hurried back to him. "Yes, Your Majesty."
He didn't speak at first, just gave a slight nod and began walking down the stairs. Sarah followed beside him, matching his pace. She kept glancing at his face, unsure if this was the right moment—but it couldn't wait much longer.
He paused in his tracks, his eyes narrowed slightly at her.
"You have something important to say, I was told?"
"Your Majesty," she began carefully, "About the girl—"
But before she could finish her sentence, Levi paused on the next step.
His eyes had caught something ahead. Down the corridor, bathed in the soft light of the torches, the princess was approaching.
But before she could say another word, a soft rustle of fabric echoed from behind her. Both turned at once. The princess had just stepped into the corridor.
She walked slowly, her two handmaidens flanking her gently, like guards escorting a sacred treasure. Her white gown shimmered softly with each step. Her long hair framed her pale face, and her eyes—so innocent, seemed to glimmer before they met Levi's.
Their eyes locked. , and the moment hung in the air like a breath held too long. The prince forgot what Sarah was trying to saying, forgot where he was going.
The hallway seemed to blur around him. He had never gotten the chance to see her, not to talk of - up this close. Though, the princess didn't flinch, nor did she look away. Her gaze was calm, but heavy with something unspoken. Not fear, not hate—something else. Something buried.
Levi's lips parted slightly, confused. He felt strange. Her presence unsettled him in a way he couldn't explain. Sarah, sensing the weight in the air, bowed in respect, before halting in her tracks. The handmaidens gently nudged the princess forward, because her stillness was getting awkward. She broke eye contact and continued walking, her steps light, but her silence heavy.
As she passed the prince, he turned, watching her without a word. He didn't realize he was staring. One of the guards behind him cleared his throat gently. Only then did Levi blink, as if waking from a trance.
Realizing he drifted off, he composed himself before he looked back at Sarah. "You were saying?"
But Sarah hesitated. Her words had faded with the moment.
She tried to find the courage, but she decided to give him the note she had received from the princess earlier on.
He frowned in disbelief as he examined its content. The prince turned once more in her direction, his thoughts lost. Sarah, excused herself, while he stood there thinking. The guards, wondered what it was that he might have read. Conflicted, he attempted to move, but he suddenly couldn't remember where he had been headed. Was it the study? Or the dining hall?
He stood there a while, watching the girl in white disappear around the corner, like a whisper he couldn't catch. And for the first time in a long while… Prince Levi was not sure of his next step.