Evelyn stood at the edge, mindlessly watching the flow of the water while enjoying the fresh air.
“Princess!” a voice called out.
Leo was crossing the road toward her with another man. The handsome stranger had a sword strapped to his back. He was nearly as tall as Leo, but with sharper features and brilliant green eyes. His jet-black hair reached his shoulders, and half of it was pulled back to keep it out of his face.
Who is that? He’s more than a little gorgeous. Is he a soldier? Working outside with the army would explain why his tan skin is a shade darker than Leo’s.
“You don’t have to call me Princess,” Evelyn replied.
Leo caught up to her and smiled. “Shall I call you Arsonist instead?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Evelyn,” Leo started again, “this is my friend Damien.” He gestured at the other man. “Damien, this is Princess Evelyn of Carrowmore.”
“Nice to meet you,” Evelyn said with a curtsy.
Are all of Leo’s friends this attractive? I could get used to this kingdom.
“Same to you.” Damien bowed. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Really?” Evelyn raised a brow at Leo.
“I had to tell someone about your various crimes,” Leo claimed. “Burning royal property?—”
“Which was immediately fixed!” Evelyn argued.
“Trespassing…”
“I’m a royal guest!”
“Stealing books…”
“You told me I could borrow it.”
“Assaulting guards…”
“Because I ran into you this morning? Show me the injuries from this so-calledassault.”
“Insulting, yelling at, and arguing with royal staff…”
“You’re the one harassing princesses!”
Leo smirked. “Only you.”
“I see what you mean,” Damien interrupted, obviously trying not to laugh.
Evelyn’s cheeks went pink. She had almost forgotten he was there. “Are you a soldier?”
“I’m a captain in the Royal Army,” Damien said.
“Oh! Impressive.”
Other than the sword, Damien was dressed similarly to Leo, in an all-black aesthetic of a tunic, trousers, and boots. But,unlike Leo’s plain shirt, Damien’s tunic had lines of gold thread sewn in swirls down his sleeves. He also had a gold music note embroidered on the left side of his chest over his heart.
“What is the music note for?”
“It’s the symbol of the Auditory fae,” Damien explained. “Everyone in the Royal Army is required to display their affinity so our magic can be utilized more efficiently. It makes pranks difficult, though. If everyone in a group starts hearing voices and I’m the only one wearing the music note, they know who to punch.”
