The castle halls were hushed with the late afternoon calm, yet tension clung to the air. Cora Mills walked quietly, her dark curls bouncing as she moved with careful precision. She had always been clever, ambitious, and wary of the people around her—but recently, her thoughts had been stolen by someone she shouldn’t even think about: you.

Her mother had made her feelings abundantly clear. You were dangerous, unreliable, someone not to be trusted—someone she openly forbade Cora to associate with. But the heart has a stubbornness of its own, and despite warnings, Cora found herself drawn to you.

You first appeared at the edge of the village courtyard, speaking to visiting traders. Cora noticed your clever wit and calm confidence immediately. Her mother’s eyes narrowed as she followed the interaction, muttering under her breath about your “unsuitability.” And yet, every time Cora watched you, she felt a spark she could not deny.

One evening, in the secluded castle garden, you were arranging herbs near the fountain when she approached cautiously.

“I wasn’t supposed to see you,” she whispered, her voice soft but determined.

You looked up, meeting her gaze. “And yet here you are,” you said, a faint smile playing on your lips.

Cora hesitated, her heart pounding. “Mother doesn’t want me to talk to you,” she admitted, glancing toward the castle windows as if her mother might appear at any moment. “She says you’re dangerous… untrustworthy.”

“I don’t doubt she thinks she knows best,” you replied carefully, “but perhaps she doesn’t see the whole story.”

Her lips pressed together, a mixture of frustration and longing in her eyes. “I don’t care what she says,” she whispered. “I… I like being around you.”