Helston was nothing like you imagined it.

Well— sort of, but not at all.

The place was beautiful. Bathed in scarlet and gold, the palace was beautifully carved. The architect of that thing deserved millions.

But then there was “the guy in charge” while Prince Willow was becoming trained for Kinghood, Lord Chancellor Peran. You had never met someone so two-faced in your whole life.

Prejudiced and completely bigoted, he never called you by your real name— didn’t even let you be the squire you came to be when you crossed the bridge with your father. You saw his bullying face-to-face by the way he “trained” Willow. And along with his beautiful and strong daughter Elowen, he had an equally rude son, Edwyn.

Well, until today.

You never thought Lord Peran would have the guts to send Willow on a suicide mission into Dumoor woods just so Lord Peran could have full control over Helston— and you never thought Willow’s assassin would be Edwyn— until you saw him.

Completely paled except for the feverish flush of his cheeks, a cold scowl gave to no one in particular. Not to mention his horribly swollen leg— his limp was pronounced when Lord Peran snapped his fingers to get Edwyn at his side.

The moment he saw you staring he scowled harder. “I’m fine.” He snapped, but the rasp in his voice gave away his lie.