That night, two days after the party, Shenina lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling as the ticking clock seemed to mock her boredom. The conversation she had accidentally overheard outside her father's study—about boarding school, about even stricter supervision—still echoed in her mind. It was enough to make up her mind.She waited until the guards' footsteps in the hallway became less frequent, until the nightly shift change when security was always slightly disorganized because many staff members were still cleaning up after the birthday celebration. She knew that window of opportunity well. Since childhood, she had memorized every blind spot in the palace where the security cameras couldn't see, every back door to the kitchen that was rarely locked properly.Dressed in a hooded jacket that made her look nothing like a princess, Shenina slipped through the servants' corridor, past the old underground wine cellar that connected the palace wing to the vineyard fence at the back of t

The car drove in silence the entire way to the outskirts of the city. Thom sat in the back seat with his hands tightly folded in his lap, staring straight ahead without truly seeing anything. Red Dragon drove without daring to speak, occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror, trying to read the expression of his king, who looked as closed off as a steel door."I should have assigned extra guards to her hallway," Red Dragon finally said, his voice heavy with the guilt that had been eating at him since he received the news. "This is my fault, King."Thom didn't respond for several moments. When he finally spoke, his voice was flat, almost emotionless."This isn't your fault, Red. It's mine for choosing not to see it all this time."The words hung in the air, more painful than any reprimand Red Dragon could have given himself.They arrived in front of the old abandoned harbor warehouse without sirens or an obvious escort—just two plain black cars stopping across the street. Thom stepp

Thom didn't answer right away.He simply said to Jasmine, "We'll see tomorrow."******The next morning, Thom summoned Dr. Alessa Novryan, the head of the royal medical team, to his office earlier than usual. The middle-aged woman arrived carrying a thick folder, visibly puzzled by the sudden summons, as the royal secretary had given her no explanation."You asked to see me, Your Majesty?" she asked, bowing respectfully."Yes. Please, have a seat, Dr. Alessa." Thom gestured toward the chair across from his desk. "I want to ask you something, and I want an honest answer—not a diplomatic one."The doctor sat down, her posture slightly tense. "Of course, Your Majesty.""How many teenagers in Valemoor," Thom began, "truly understand reproductive health risks, the consequences of early sexual activity, or even the basics of protecting themselves emotionally and physically?"Dr. Alessa fell silent for a moment, clearly caught off guard by the question."Honestly, Your Majesty... very few. O

Three weeks had passed since Shenina arrived at Ravenswood Academy, a prestigious boarding school nestled in a small town far from Valemoor, surrounded by rolling green hills and morning mist that blanketed its old stone buildings in timeless elegance.At first, everything felt unfamiliar.She had to learn how to do her own laundry, wait in line at the cafeteria alongside everyone else without anyone bowing respectfully to her, and strangest of all—no one knew she was a princess.Thom had chosen the school specifically because of its strict privacy policy. Shenina's true identity was known only to the headmaster and her two faculty advisors.For the first time in her life, she met someone like Naya—a girl from a neighboring country who was outspoken and completely unimpressed by anyone's background."You always look like you're holding your breath," Naya remarked one afternoon as they sat together in the library, watching Shenina maintain her habit of sitting too straight, too proper.

Jasmine's hands were still trembling as she read the letter line by line.Even after all these years, she recognized the handwriting instantly.Jasmine, I know this must come as a shock.I'm not writing to disturb the peaceful life you've built with Thom. I'm writing because I have information you need, about who recorded Shenina at that nightclub, and who orchestrated the entire incident. I also know the names of the people who should be held responsible for the leak.I want to meet with Thom. Not to threaten him, but to talk about the threat facing your family... and Valemoor.Set the time.—RachelJasmine read the letter three times before finally standing.She still held the paper as though it were a burning coal.Without acknowledging the palace staff who greeted her along the way, she hurried through the corridors toward Thom's office.Thom looked up from the stack of documents on his desk as the door swung open without a knock."Honey? What's wrong?"Without saying a word, Jasm