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Sitting up, he takes my hand. “With your blessing, I will do this officially tomorrow morning. I have a location in mind and the kitchen is working hard to prepare us a feast of all your favourite foods. But I wanted to ask you tonight first, to make sure that this is what you want,” he murmurs. “Princess Eden…”

I grab my skirt to stop my hands shaking. “Yes?”

“Will you do me the greatest honour of⁠—”

“A letter has arrived, Your Highness!” a servant calls from the door.

I giggle in surprise, but Lux doesn’t laugh with me. Instead, the darkness in his gaze is intense enough to make my smile drop. But it’s gone within seconds, and with a smile, he turns to the servant. “Thank you. Please leave it in my bedchamber.”

I glance at the servant, only for my brows to shoot up. Meera stands in the doorway dressed in a servant’s uniform. She winks at me playfully before gesturing with her eyes to the sealed envelope in her hands.

I need two palms to muffle my squeal. “That’s my palace’s seal!” I point at the letter excitedly.

Could it be a letter from my sisters? Or perhaps it’s from Father and he’s writing to give us his blessing for our upcoming marriage.

Jumping out of my seat, I race over to her. But before I can reach for the envelope, I’m yanked back by my wrist hard enough to make me yelp.

“Do not touch that!” Lux snarls, leaning over me to snatch the letter.

My eyes grow huge. Even Meera glances between us, confused, until Lux curses. “I’m so sorry, Eden. Forgive me. I panicked, I⁠—”

“Why don’t you want me to see the letter?” I mutter, massaging my wrist. There won’t be a bruise, but it stings regardless.

“I’m so sorry,” he says again. “It’s just… private.”

“It’s my palace’s seal.”

“I know, but…” His voice hardens. “Some things are better kept between men.”

“Like what?” I huff.

“This really does not concern⁠—”

“If it’s from my father then of course it concerns me!” I shout. Memories of the letters I found on Father’s desk when Dahlia allegedly ‘ran away’ come flooding back. He spoke to the man he sold her off to as if she were cattle. It was disgusting. And if Lux is talking like that to Father about me…

“Show me the letter,” I demand.

I’m not an idiot. Cattle-like or not, I know Father would probably still demand some kind of payment for me. But there’s a difference between throwing some gold at him to stop him from sending his armies and deciding on a price before we marry like I’m some prized gem and not a living, breathing person.

“Eden. I’m asking you nicely to leave this alone,” he warns.

“Don’t talk to me like that.”

“If you are to be my bride, then I can talk to you how I like.” There’s no softness in his features anymore, and I almost don’t recognise the man in front of me.

Neither does Meera, apparently, as I see her discretely reaching for her daggers.

I shake my head at her before taking a breath. “If there is no trust between us, then there is no point in me staying here to be courted by you.”

He scoffs. “Eden, don’t be⁠—”

“I cannot marry someone that I do not trust, Prince Lux.” With clenched fists, I turn away from him. “Please have your servants prepare my carriage,” I say over my shoulder, ignoring the prince’s protests as I head towards the ballroom.

When Meera goes to follow me, I shake my head at her again. But then I notice Lux glaring at her harshly enough that if she wasn’t working for an assassins guild, I’d fear for her life.

But Meera is working for an assassins’ guild, and Prince Lux is no threat.

Just another prince that I should’ve listened to Blossom about.