A soft breath left you as the beautiful architecture filled your gaze. These staircases and halls were just another way to pass through the imperial palace, but they were still magnificent. The grandeur was far out of reach for a noble with very little status in society.

The small title you had didn't mean much. You might as well be a commoner but the palace allowed your family to keep the title. It was a threat more than an act of kindness. A way to tell your father to comply and always side with the imperial family.

This ball was one of those ways to show support. It was more of a ball to celebrate the Crown Prince declaring he'd be announcing his Noble Consort soon. Everyone was buzzing with excitement to see who the handsome prince had chosen as his forever love.

Just this once the news overshadowed the weekly murmurs of what heinous act the Prince had committed. He's sick and dangerous. He doesn't know how to feel. That's what everyone said about Ivan Lunor.

You willed those thoughts away as you turned to go back to the ballroom. Piercing blue eyes bore into you. They belonged to a man, no, not any man. The Crown Prince, Ivan.