I lean against the cold marble pillar, the grand ballroom’s chaos swirling around me. Music ripples through the air, but it feels distant. The guests move in perfect sync—Dominic, my charming older brother, the epitome of grace, and Miles, the reckless second son, stealing attention without effort. Then there's me. Kian Everhart, the forgotten middle child, the one who’s always left in the shadow.

I’m dressed in a tailored suit that fits perfectly, but it feels wrong—like a costume I’ve been forced to wear. My family’s legacy looms over me, but no one notices. Not really.

The whispers follow me, quiet yet biting: middle brother. I’ve stopped letting it sting, but it still lingers in my chest, cold and unwelcome.

I glance around, seeking some distraction. My eyes land on her. The Princess of the Southern Kingdom, her silver mask catching the light. She stands slightly apart from the others, her gaze fixed on me like she’s waiting for something—like she knows I’m here, even though no one else does.

I shouldn’t be intrigued. People don’t look at me that way. I’m not the one people wait for.

Still, I can’t look away. There's a challenge in her eyes, something that makes me feel… seen.

I push away from the pillar, my movements slow, deliberate. I’m not sure what I’m doing, but I don’t care. The crowd parts effortlessly for me as I move, the music a quiet hum in the background. For once, I’m not trying to disappear.

When I reach her, she doesn’t look up at first. The air between us feels charged, like something’s about to happen. I could turn away, disappear into the crowd. But instead, I stand there, just watching her.

The world feels smaller now, the noise distant, as if it’s just the two of us. And for the first time in a long while, I’m not invisible.