(Royal Palace – Dining Hall)
Eyan helped King Thalor Therald to his seat at the head of the table, steady and composed on the outside—though his pulse had yet to slow.
“Father,” Eyan said respectfully, “I will go and bring Princess Violet.”
King Thalor adjusted the sleeve of his robe and gave a short nod. “Very well.”
Eyan bowed slightly.
The moment he turned his back, the calm mask slipped. He strode out of the dining hall—then quickened his pace. His steps echoed sharply against the marble floors, urgency bleeding into every movement.
(Princess Violet’s Chamber)
Eyan knocked once—quick and firm. Before the sound had fully faded, the door opened from inside. Violet stood there, her eyes bright with anticipation.
“You’re back!” she said eagerly. “But Eva isn’t here yet—”
“She’s here,” Eyan cut in, lowering his voice.
Violet blinked. “She is? Then why isn’t she with you?”
Eyan ran a hand through his hair, tension evident in his face. “She’s hiding in Father’s chamber.”
Violet’s smile vanished. “What?”
“I’ll explain later,” he said quickly. “I’m going to get her out. Father is waiting for you in the dining hall—go there immediately. Keep him occupied.”
Violet straightened at once, understanding the gravity in his tone. “…Alright.”
Eyan stepped back, already turning. “Violet,” he added quietly, “don’t let him leave the table.”
She nodded firmly. “Leave it to me.”
Without another word, Eyan broke into a run down the corridor. Behind him, Violet gathered the layers of her dress in both hands and hurried in the opposite direction.
__________________________________
(King Thalor Therald’s Chamber)
The door burst open.
Eyan crossed the room in three long strides and swung the wardrobe door wide.
Inside, Eva’s wide, terrified eyes met his.
The moment she saw him, her hands dropped from her mouth and she released the breath she had been holding for what felt like an eternity. It came out shaky and uneven.
Eyan immediately cupped her face, his thumbs brushing her cold cheeks. “Are you alright?”
Her face was pale, beads of sweat clinging to her forehead. “Honey… I thought I was going to get caught.”
His jaw tightened.
He pulled out his handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from her skin. “How long have you been hiding in there?”
“Maybe… twenty minutes.”
His expression darkened. “That’s too long.”
He took her by the arms and carefully helped her out of the wardrobe. The moment her feet touched the floor, her knees wobbled. She was still breathing too fast.
“Let’s get out of here,” he said firmly.
He took her hand and began walking toward the door—
“Wait.” Eva tugged lightly. “I can’t… I can’t walk. My legs are numb. I can’t feel them.”
Eyan didn’t hesitate. Without a word, he bent down and scooped her into his arms.
Eva gasped softly. “Eyan! You’re going to walk like this? What if someone sees us?”
Eyan adjusted his hold on her as he stepped into the empty corridor.
“No one is here,” he said quietly. “Don’t worry. I’ve already taken care of the knights and servants.”
Eva glanced around instinctively, her fingers tightening slightly around his collar. “…Okay. But where are you taking me?”
“To Violet’s chamber. Stay there and wait until we return from lunch.”
“…Alright.”
For a few seconds, only the sound of his steady footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Then—
Grrrrrrr…
The sound was unmistakable.
Eyan stopped mid-step and slowly, he looked down at her.
Eva’s entire face turned crimson.
He raised a brow. “Princess… are you hungry?”
She avoided his gaze, mortified. “I didn’t eat breakfast in the morning…”
Eyan frowned immediately. “Why? You shouldn’t have come here on an empty stomach. It’s already noon.”
She hesitated before answering. “I wanted to eat with Princess Violet before she leaves. That’s why I didn’t eat anything earlier.”
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Eyan stared at her. “You wanted to eat with Violet?” His voice softened slightly, but he added, “She’s already having lunch with Father. She won’t eat again after that.”
Eva gave a small, understanding smile. “It’s okay. I’ll eat with her next time.”
Her eyes shifted ahead. “Is that Princess Violet’s room?”
“Yes.”
“Put me down. I think I can stand now.”
He hesitated for a brief second—then gently lowered her to the floor. She tested her legs carefully. This time, they held.
“I’m fine now,” she said. “I’ll go by myself. You should return to the dining hall—they must be waiting for you.”
She turned and walked toward the chamber, reaching for the door.
Just as her fingers wrapped around the handle—
Eyan grabbed her hand. “Come with me,” he said quietly. “Let’s eat lunch together.”
She looked at him, startled. “What… I can’t. Father is there. You go and eat—”
“How can I eat,” he interrupted, emotion slipping into his voice, “when my wife hasn’t eaten anything?”
The sincerity in his tone made her smile. She reached up and gently cupped his face. “Honey… don’t worry. I’ll eat something later—”
“No.” His voice was firm now, but not harsh. “Come with me. We’ll eat together.”
“But—”
Before she could argue again, Eyan unbuttoned the top of his collar. From beneath his shirt, he pulled out a thin silver chain. A ring hung from it.
He carefully slipped the chain over her head, letting the ring rest against her chest.
Eva blinked up at him in confusion. “What are you doing?”
“Eva,” he said softly, “activate the disguise spell.”
She frowned slightly. “How?”
“Just snap your fingers.”
She hesitated only a moment.
Then she lifted her hand—
And snapped.
The snap echoed lightly through the corridor.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened.
Then the ring against her collarbone began to glow, a thin silver light spreading across her skin like mist wrapping around her body.
Eva gasped softly.
Her long black hair shimmered—dark strands lightening, shifting shade by shade until they settled into a rich, warm brown. The transformation flowed smoothly, like ink dissolving into water.
Her green eyes flickered.
The emerald color dimmed… deepened…
Until they turned completely black.
A faint ripple passed over her face. Her features subtly rearranged—cheekbones shifting, jawline refining, lips altering just enough to make her unrecognizable. Even the curve of her brows changed.
When the light finally faded, a different woman stood in front of him.
Eva blinked.
“…Eyan?” she said.
Even her voice had changed—slightly lower, softer, unfamiliar.
Eyan stared at her.
And then—
He stepped back.
Another step.
His expression turned serious.
“…Excuse me,” he said coolly. “Who are you?”
Eva frowned. “I'm your wife.”
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “My wife has black hair and green eyes. You are clearly not her.”
She gaped at him.
He even shifted a full step away, putting deliberate distance between them.
“Maintain space, miss,” he added calmly.
“Eyan!” she hissed.
To prove her point, she reached forward and grabbed his hand.
He immediately pulled it away.
“I am a married man,” he said solemnly. “Please do not touch me, lady.”
“Are you playing with me right now?” she demanded.
He studied her face carefully, pretending to assess a stranger. “…Now I understand.”
“Understand what?” she snapped.
“Why you dislike seeing me as Kyel,” he said thoughtfully. “It feels… different.”
He placed a hand over his chest. “My heart isn’t reacting.”
He looked at her again, expression unreadable.
“It’s calm,” he continued softly. “Too calm.” His eyes searched her face. “Are you truly my wife?”
For a brief second, even she felt uncertain.
Then suddenly— He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. Eva gasped softly as he wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her close, her body fitting naturally against his.
For a second—
Nothing.
Then—
His heartbeat slammed violently against his ribs.
Fast.
Hard.
Uncontrolled.
He felt it clearly now, pounding where she rested against him. His fingers tightened at her back.
There it is.
He lowered his face near her ear, his voice dropping to a warm murmur. “…No. You are her.”
His heart beat even faster the longer he held her. “My heart recognizes you,” he whispered. “Even if my eyes don’t.”
Eva’s cheeks flushed beneath her new face.
“You’re unbelievable,” she muttered, though she didn’t pull away.
He leaned back just enough to look at her disguised face. He cupped her face gently in both hands. His thumb brushed over her cheek, tracing the unfamiliar features that hid the woman he loved.
“You can change your face,” he said softly. “Your hair. Your eyes.”
His gaze warmed. “But you can’t change how you make my heart lose control.”
Eva smiled and stared at him for two full seconds—
Then smacked his arm. “Stop flirting! Your majesty...”
Eyan’s composure broke instantly. A quiet laugh escaped him.
“Now no one would recognize you,” he said, satisfied.
“Come,” he said gently. “Let’s go eat before you faint from hunger.”
And with her hand in his—
He led his disguised wife toward the dining hall.
__________________________________
(Dining Hall)
The dining hall was already alive with quiet clinks of silverware against porcelain.
King Thalor Therald sat at the head of the long table, regal and immovable as a mountain. Princess Violet sat to his right, posture elegant, though her attention wandered toward the entrance more than once.
The grand doors opened. Eyan stepped inside first.
King Thalor did not look up from his plate. “What delayed you?”
“I was attending to a guest, Father.”
Violet’s fork paused mid-air.
Eyan turned slightly toward her, calm as ever. “Princess Violet, your guest has arrived.”
Violet’s eyes widened before she quickly masked it with excitement. “Oh? Truly? I shall meet her after lunch—”
“I brought her to dine with us.”
Violet almost dropped her fork.
she screamed internally.
But outwardly, she smiled sweetly. “How thoughtful of you, Your Majesty. Then please, invite her in.”
Eyan turned toward the doorway. “Lady, you may enter.”
Soft footsteps echoed across the polished marble floor.
Eva stepped into the dining hall.
Violet looked at her, confusion flashing briefly across her face. The woman standing before them had brown hair instead of black, dark eyes instead of green, her features altered just enough to be unrecognizable.
Then Violet met Eyan’s gaze.
He gave the smallest signal with his eyes.
Understanding dawned instantly.
Eva lowered her head gracefully before King Thalor. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
Her voice was different—softer, unfamiliar.
She turned slightly toward Violet. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Then finally, she faced Eyan. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
She remained bowed.
King Thalor studied her quietly. “Raise your head.”
Eva obeyed, lifting her face calmly despite the storm inside her chest.
King Thalor shifted his gaze toward Violet. “She is your guest, Princess Violet?”
Violet smiled with effortless elegance. “Yes, Your Majesty. She is a new friend I made in Velmoria.”
“Is that so.”
The king’s eyes moved between Eyan and Eva, both still standing. “Why are the two of you still standing? Sit. Join us for lunch.”
Eva bowed once more and walked toward Violet, sitting gracefully beside her. Eyan circled the table and took the seat opposite Violet, directly across from Eva.
The servants had just begun serving the dishes. Steam rose from the soup bowls. The scent of butter and herbs filled the air. For a moment, the dining hall was quiet except for the soft clink of silverware.
Then—
Grrrrrrrr…
The sound was low. But in the vast, silent hall, it might as well have been thunder.
Everything stopped.
A servant froze mid-step.
Violet blinked.
King Thalor slowly lifted his gaze.
Eva felt her soul leave her body.
Her hand instantly flew to her stomach as if she could physically silence it.
Her cheeks burned hot beneath her disguise. She lowered her head, wishing the marble floor would open and swallow her whole.
“I—”
“I apologize,” Eyan said calmly. “That was me.”
Eva’s eyes snapped up.
King Thalor looked at his son.
“I have not eaten since morning,” Eyan continued smoothly. “It seems my hunger has grown impatient.”
There wasn’t the slightest crack in his composure.
Violet almost choked.
King Thalor gave a short hum. “Then eat. An emperor should not neglect his meals.”
“Yes, Father.”
Eyan picked up his fork as if nothing unusual had occurred.
Eva picked up her fork, swallowing her humiliation along with the tight knot in her throat, and quietly began to eat.
To be continued—
