A Journey into the Unknown"

Lysara stood beside the sleek black carriage, arms crossed as she waited, her expression unreadable despite the slight tension in her jaw. The crisp morning air carried the scent of damp stone and distant flowers, but her focus remained solely on the figure approaching from the castle steps.

Aurelia.

The golden-haired princess descended gracefully, the hem of her royal attire barely brushing the stone path as she walked. Today, she wore a rich sapphire-blue dress embroidered with silver, the fabric glimmering faintly under the sunlight. The delicate golden circlet resting upon her head made her look every bit the regal princess she was.

Lysara swallowed hard. She hated to admit it, but the sight of Aurelia in such attire was… distracting. Breathtaking, even.

Aurelia, ever perceptive, caught the momentary lapse in Lysara's guarded expression and smirked. "If you keep staring at me like that, I might start to think you're enchanted."

Lysara scoffed and turned away to hide the warmth creeping up her neck. "You wish."

Aurelia chuckled as she stopped beside her. "Truly, I don't mind. Admiration suits you."

Lysara let out a huff. "Where's Laurien? I thought he would be joining us."

Aurelia's teasing expression softened slightly. "He won't be coming this time. He's busy preparing his own plans for his turn."

Lysara arched an eyebrow. "Plans?"

Aurelia nodded, an affectionate glint in her eyes. "For Evelyne. He wants to make sure his outing with her is special."

Lysara blinked, caught between mild surprise and admiration. Laurien was many things, but his devotion to his sister was genuine. The thought warmed her, yet another part of her tightened at the realization that this left her and Aurelia alone.

Completely alone.

She wasn't sure she liked that. No—she wasn't sure she liked what it did to her.

Shaking the thought away, Lysara motioned to the carriage. "Let's go."

Aurelia tilted her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Eager, are we?"

Lysara ignored her, stepping inside first. This time, the interior was more spacious—deliberately so. Only a single security escort followed at a distance as per Lysara's arrangement.

Aurelia noticed the change but didn't question it. Instead, she grinned. "I must say, I'm quite enjoying this sense of mystery. I almost feel as if I'm being kidnapped."

Lysara rolled her eyes. "Would you be happy if you were?"

Aurelia leaned back against the plush seat, lips curving into a playful smirk. "By you? Perhaps."

Lysara clenched her jaw and turned to look out the window, pretending she hadn't heard that.

The carriage rolled forward, leaving the castle behind. As they moved beyond the grand inner kingdom filled with noble estates and lavish markets, the scenery began to shift.

The commoner's district stretched before them, a stark contrast to the luxury of the royal grounds. The buildings were more modest, the roads less pristine. People bustled about, some stopping momentarily as the luxurious carriage passed.

Lysara felt the weight of their stares, most of them neutral or merely curious, but there were others—ones with colder eyes, hardened by experience and resentment.

Aurelia, peering through the small carriage window, observed the streets with quiet fascination. "It's different," she murmured. "But… I like seeing this side of the kingdom."

Lysara studied her, surprised by the sincerity in her tone. "You don't interact with a lot of people and places in your kingdom, do you?"

Aurelia shook her head. "Not often enough. My life has been walled within the luxury of palaces, my interactions limited to nobles, politics, and war councils." She turned back to the window, watching as children dashed past, laughing as they played in the streets. "It's refreshing to see life beyond duty."

Lysara remained silent for a moment before finally saying, "It's not all pretty."

Aurelia nodded. "No, but neither is the court. At least here, people are honest in their struggles."

Lysara hummed in agreement, then turned her attention back to the road ahead.

Inside the carriage, Aurelia shifted, adjusting her seat so she was now directly across from Lysara. The distance between them was more than Lysara could have hoped for—no accidental touches, no lingering warmth to mess with her thoughts.

Aurelia, however, seemed entirely at ease.

She stretched slightly before flashing Lysara a teasing grin. "I'm impressed, you know."

Lysara arched an eyebrow. "By what?"

"That you don't snore."

Lysara groaned. "Not this again."

Aurelia laughed. "Truly, I was relieved. Sleeping beside you was surprisingly pleasant."

Lysara shot her a glare. "I did not snore, but I do remember you drooling."

Aurelia gasped, hand over her chest in feigned offense. "I do not drool."

"You do." Lysara smirked, watching as Aurelia's expression twisted into mock outrage.

"You wound me," Aurelia said, shaking her head with a dramatic sigh. "And here I thought we were growing closer."

Lysara rolled her eyes but couldn't fully suppress the small smile tugging at her lips. "You're impossible."

Aurelia simply grinned, looking entirely pleased with herself.

As the carriage continued forward, the road ahead stretched wide and open. Beyond the commoner's district lay their true destination—one only Lysara knew.

Aurelia had no idea what awaited her, and Lysara wasn't about to spoil the surprise. But one thing was certain:

This day was bound to be interesting.