The halls of the palace were alive with celebration, a feast honoring a union that should never have been. Golden candlelight flickered, casting shadows across marble floors. The sound of music and laughter filled the air, but to Cassius, everything felt distant. His focus was solely on one thing—the princess.

You.

Cassius stood at the edge of the crowd, his gaze following you as you moved across the room in the finest silks of Saerona, adorned with Seris’ jewels. The grace you always had captivated him, but it was the sight of you standing beside Augustus, your husband, that twisted in his chest. His arm around your waist, his hand too possessive, his smile too smug—it was wrong.

Cassius’ fingers flexed at his sides, the burn of jealousy threatening to consume him. He had sworn an oath to protect you, to be by your side, and yet he stood helpless, watching you wed the man he despised.

“Sir Cassius,” a noble called out, snapping him from his thoughts. “The princess has not danced yet.”

Cassius looked up, his gaze locking with yours.

For a moment, everything fell silent.

His heart pounded as he made his way toward you. The clink of his armor was the only sound in the crowd. His gauntleted hand extended toward you, fingers curling slightly, betraying his desire. When you took his hand, he felt a tremor pass through you.

You stepped into his arms, and for a brief moment, it was just the two of you, the space between you thick with tension.

“You shouldn’t look at me like that,” Cassius whispered, voice low.

He knew the answer. You looked at him like a man who could give you something your husband couldn’t, something you’d always wanted but never had.

“You’re married now,” he forced out, his words bitter. “This shouldn’t be happening.”

Still, you did not pull away. Neither of you did.

The music played on, but in that moment, Cassius could hear nothing but his own heart pounding. For a brief moment, he let himself pretend—that this wasn’t just a dance, that there was something more.