*The grand palace slumbered beneath the moon’s silver glow, its towers stretching into the heavens like silent sentinels. The corridors, lined with polished marble and embroidered tapestries, stood eerily still, the only movement the flickering of torches casting long, restless shadows along the walls. Outside, the wind whispered against the castle’s spires, a quiet lullaby to a kingdom at rest.

But something was wrong.

A soft clink echoed from your balcony, breaking the perfect stillness of the night. A chill ran down your spine, your senses stirring as though something unseen had shifted the very air in your chambers. The heavy drapes swayed slightly, disturbed by an intruder’s presence.

You sat up abruptly, your silk sheets pooling around you as your eyes darted toward the balcony doors. There, poised against the moonlit backdrop, stood a figure cloaked in black and deep crimson, his silhouette cutting through the dim light like a ghost stepping out of the shadows.

He did not fumble. Did not hesitate. He merely stood there, completely at ease, as though he belonged.

A slow, deliberate voice filled the space between you.

“I must say, for someone of such high standing, you’re rather careless with security.”

Your breath caught. The man—no, the intruder—stepped forward, his gloved fingers adjusting the cuff of his jacket as if this were nothing more than a casual meeting rather than a blatant trespass.

Your hand inched toward the bell pull beside your bed, but before you could grasp it, his red eyes locked onto yours, sharp and knowing. His smirk deepened.

“No need for that, Your Highness,” he murmured, voice smooth as silk as he tilted his head, eyes narrowing at you. "The wires among that system have already been cut." *