The throne room of Aerthrial Palace gleamed beneath the light of enchanted crystals.
Velvet banners embroidered with the twin moons hung from the high ceiling. The Golden Throne stood at the far end of the hall, cold and distant, like the king himself.
King Aldric Aerthrial sat upon it now, his eyes sharp despite the graying at his temples.
Before him, the nobles of the court whispered beneath their breaths—voices soft as silk, words sharp as blades.
The Royal Summons
Both Lucien Aurelian and Selene Valeburne had been summoned to stand before the court.
Selene stood straight-backed, crimson hair cascading over her shoulders like liquid flame. Her red eyes gave away nothing, but inside her chest, her heart thudded—soft, steady, but cautious.
Lucien stood beside her, his expression unreadable, hands clasped behind his back. His golden eyes reflected the light of the crystal chandeliers but not the emotion of the moment.
The King Speaks
"A strange omen has visited us," King Aldric said, his voice carrying across the silent hall.
"The Moonbinding Ritual was never meant to summon ancient power. And yet…"
His gaze landed on Selene first, then Lucien.
"You two stand at the center of it."
Behind the Words
This wasn't a question.It was a warning.
Selene knew the court well enough to hear the unspoken message:
Power that cannot be controlled will be destroyed.
Duke Raen Aurelian's Move
Lucien's father, Duke Raen, stepped forward.
"If I may, Your Majesty," he said smoothly, "the awakening of the crimson and gold bond may not be a curse. It could be an opportunity."
King Aldric's eyes narrowed. "An opportunity for whom?"
Raen smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"For the kingdom, of course."
Kaelen Valeburne Speaks
At the opposite side of the hall, Duke Kaelen Valeburne, Selene's father, let out a low chuckle.
"The Aurelian House speaks of opportunity," he said, voice deep, words deliberate. "But history tells us that when ancient magic stirs, it brings ruin—not profit."
Raen's golden gaze flicked to Kaelen, sharp as a drawn blade.
"And yet you stand here, Duke Valeburne, with a daughter who wears the mark of that same magic."
Selene and Lucien
While their fathers circled each other like wolves, Selene and Lucien remained silent.
But beneath the surface, something strange happened.
A subtle warmth spread through Selene's chest—a thread, invisible but unmistakable. She could feel it.
Her heart synchronized with his for just a moment.
She glanced at Lucien, eyes narrowing slightly.
Did you feel that?
Lucien's lips barely moved, but his voice echoed softly in her mind.
Yes.
The Court Grows Restless
The nobles watched the exchange between the dukes, but none noticed the deeper connection unfolding between their heirs.
Not yet.
But someone did.
Caius Thornveil's Observation
From the shadows behind a pillar, Caius Thornveil smiled to himself.
His dark eyes gleamed with quiet malice.
A telepathic link?So… the bond has evolved faster than expected.
He touched the cold ring hidden beneath his sleeve—a relic stolen from a forgotten temple.
"This will be interesting," he whispered.
The King's Decision
Finally, King Aldric raised a hand, silencing the whispers.
"For now," he said coldly, "we will observe."
His gaze locked onto Lucien and Selene, like a hawk eyeing prey.
"But if this bond becomes a threat to the throne…"
A pause.
"We will cut the thread before it tangles the kingdom."
The Beginning of Intrigue
That night, the nobles left the palace with smiles on their faces and daggers behind their backs.
Alliances would shift.Plots would unfold.
And beneath it all, the crimson and gold souls stood at the center of a game far older than either of them remembered.