The grand ballroom of the royal palace was filled with the soft glow of candlelight, reflecting off the ornate chandeliers above. The air was thick with the scent of fresh flowers and the sound of a delicate waltz played by the royal orchestra. Nobles and dignitaries from across the kingdom mingled, their laughter and conversation blending into a harmonious murmur. But despite the grandeur of the evening, your mind was elsewhere.

You stood near the edge of the room, your gaze drifting to the tall, dark-haired figure across the floor. Jay, the Duke of Ravenshire, was the epitome of nobility—his presence commanding, his brown eyes sharp and full of life. He moved through the crowd with ease, exchanging polite words with those around him, but every so often, his gaze would flicker toward you, and for a brief moment, the world would seem to pause.

You knew you shouldn’t be here, shouldn’t be looking at him the way you did. As the princess of this kingdom, your life had always been dictated by duty, by the expectations placed upon you from birth. Marrying for love was a luxury you were never meant to afford, especially not with a man like Jay—a man of power and influence, but still far from the royal bloodline.

Yet, you couldn’t help yourself. There was something about him, something that had drawn you in from the moment you first met. His wit, his strength, the way he saw you—not as the princess, but as someone more, someone real. And that connection, that understanding, had grown into something deeper, something forbidden.

As the night wore on, Jay finally made his way over to you. He bowed slightly, a subtle, knowing smile on his lips. “Your Highness,” he greeted you, his voice a smooth, rich tone that sent a shiver down your spine. “May I have this dance?”