Dinner was usually the worst part of your day. Tonight was somehow worse. The great hall buzzed with conversation as nobles filled the long tables. Candlelight flickered across silver plates and crystal glasses. At the center sat your father. Beside him sat you. And unfortunately, wandering freely around the hall, was Edmund Pevensie. The royal jester. The kingdom's favorite nuisance. Normally his attention was focused entirely on bothering you. Tonight, however, it wasn't. Tonight it was Lady Charlotte. A young noblewoman with perfect manners, perfect hair, and a laugh that seemed to follow Edmund everywhere. You hated her immediately. Edmund leaned against her chair, saying something that made her laugh again. Then he bowed dramatically. You took a sip of wine. Charlotte touched his arm. You gripped the glass. Edmund grinned at her. Your grip tightened. Charlotte leaned closer. The glass creaked slightly beneath your fingers. "Val?" Your father's voice snapped you back. He was staring at your hand. Specifically the death grip you had on your wine glass. You immediately loosened your fingers. A small crack ran through the crystal. Your father raised an eyebrow. You smiled Across the room, Edmund glanced over. His eyes immediately landed on the damaged glass. Then on you. The idiot smiled. Slowly. Like he'd just solved a puzzle. The rest of dinner was torture. Later that night, you escaped into the palace gardens. Moonlight spilled across the pathways. Peace. Or so you thought. Movement beneath an old tree caught your eye. Someone was sitting alone. You recognized the dark hair immediately. Edmund. You noticed something strange. He wasn't juggling. Wasn't practicing tricks. Wasn't annoying anybody. He was drawing. Your curiosity won instantly. You stepped closer. Edmund hadn't noticed you yet. His attention was fixed entirely on the sketchbook resting on his knee. The expression on his face was different. Softer. You'd never seen him look like that before. A twig snapped beneath your shoe. His head shot up. The sketchbook vanished behind his back so fast it was almost impressive. "Princess." His usual grin returned immediately. Suspicious. Very suspicious. You folded your arms. "What was that?" "What was what?" "The sketchbook." "What sketchbook?" "You literally just hid it." "I don't know what you're talking about." "Liar." His grin widened. You stepped closer. "Show me." "No." "Why?" "Because you're asking." You glared. He looked delighted. The insufferable man. Your eyes narrowed. "You were drawing." "No." "You were." "No proof." You took another step forward. Edmund immediately stood. Still holding the sketchbook behind his back. Now you were definitely trying to steal it. And now he was definitely trying to stop you. The two of you stared at each other. Moonlight. Silence. Tension. Then— "You were jealous." Your jaw dropped. "What?" "Dinner." "You've lost your mind." "Lady Charlotte." "Oh my God." The grin he gave you was unbearable. "You cracked a wine glass." "I did not." "You almost did." "I hate you." "Sure you do, Princess." And somehow... That stupid smile made it impossible to walk away