"Justin!"
I mumbled in surprise, my gaze moved swiftly to the tall figure standing just a few steps away. He had already handed me a glass of red wine, a warm smile playing on his lips.
"Did I scare you, Princess?"
Returning to his smile, I shook my head. "A princess shouldn't be scared of such little things, Mr. Gray."
He chuckled softly, taking a sip from his glass before teasing, "You sound more confident these days. It seems you're no longer uneasy around Prince Dior."
"Huh? Why would I be scared of him?" I asked, puzzled. "We hold the same position in the royal family."
'Was Princess Aralia ever afraid of Dior? But why? He was undoubtedly creepy and unpredictable, but that didn't make him truly dangerous… did it?'
'Am I missing something?'
Justin's gray eyes lingered on my face for a few seconds, studying my expression.
"You are right, Your Highness. You are the rightful heir to the throne. You have no reason to fear anyone," he said. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "But be careful. One wrong step, and you will be in grave danger."
A small smile curled my lips as I took a sip of the exquisite wine. "Am I not already in danger? Even this wine, offered by you, could be poisoned."
Justin's response was immediate. "I would never dare to harm you, Your Highness."
I took another sip, meeting his gaze. "Danger constantly lurks around me, waiting to embrace me. I'm not afraid of it anymore."
The moonlight reflected in his gray eyes as he studied me with a polite yet enigmatic smile. "You've changed," he murmured. "It feels as if I'm speaking to an entirely different person."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly looked away, hoping to hide my unease.
Justin stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I don't know why, but you're exuding a different aura… And I must admit, I like this version of you—fearless and confident."
I sighed, tilting my face slightly in his direction. "I doubt you came here just to praise me and drink wine with me."
The sweet taste of the wine was tempting, and I was thirsty. Finishing the last drop in a single breath, I leaned in slightly and whispered, "What do you really want to tell me, Justin?"
Justin's melodious chuckle filled the air around us. Playing with the wine glass between his fingers, he remarked, "Your Highness, I would love to spend the evening singing your praises, but you are right. There is something I need to bring to your attention."
His smile faded slightly. Closing the last step between us, he leaned in and whispered, "Have you heard of the Red Sparrow tribe?"
The name stirred a memory. I had read about them before—an infamous, ruthless tribe of assassins who thrived in the deep forests of Zahava. They would kill anyone for the right price and used to deliver the victim's head as proof of the deed.
"Yes, I have read about them," I replied, my voice tinged with curiosity. "Why do you ask?"
Justin's tone remained low and composed. "Their village was turned to ashes last night. Every single member—men, women, even the children—was slaughtered without mercy."
My brows furrowed. "Who could have done that? The Red Sparrow tribe is formidable. Wiping them out overnight would take extraordinary power."
Justin shrugged. "Your Highness, some of our guards spotted a few Red Sparrow members near the palace the night before the attack on you. And the very next day, their entire tribe was erased from existence. Doesn't that seem… too coincidental?"
A realization struck me, and my eyes widened. "Are you implying that someone hired them to— Are you certain this is connected to the attack on me?"
Justin met my gaze, that polite yet enigmatic smile never leaving his lips. He took a step back and answered, "I only share what I have learned, Your Highness. The rest is for you to find out."
I exhaled sharply and fixed my gaze on him. "Who? Who do you suspect?"
He raised his hands in mock surrender, his smirk laced with amusement. "I have said all I can, Your Highness. The closer you come to the throne, the harder it will be to stay alive. Are you still willing to fight for your rights?"
His words felt like a riddle. It was difficult to understand his true intent. I turned toward him and asked, "Are you suggesting that I step back, Justin?"
He swirled the wine in his glass thoughtfully before replying, "Your Highness, have you ever watched a lion hunt?"
"A lion's hunt?" I asked in utter confusion.
His piercing grey eyes met mine as he nodded. "A lion steps back—not in retreat, but to gather the force of a storm before it strikes."
He chuckled softly, dipped into a bow, and turned toward the door, leaving me with a storm of unsettling thoughts.
'But history will change its course if I step back… Should I—'
Before I could complete the thought, a trumpet's sharp blast pierced through the Gala Hall's lively chatter. A royal guard's commanding voice echoed through the grand chamber:
"Your Majesty—the sun of Zahava is arriving. Pay your respects!"