Ashes of the crown

POV: Prince Ruvan (with a Dramatic Entrance from His Sister) ❄️👑💬

Ruvan sat alone in the crystal observatory, the frost swirling at his feet like silent hounds.

He hadn't spoken to anyone in hours.

He preferred it that way.

Every report from the field was worse than the last: Ariya was growing stronger. Closer to her team. Harder to reach.

And Kael…

Kael was always beside her.

"She laughed in that last report," he muttered. "She's supposed to be breaking."

"Sounds like she's breaking free instead," said a familiar voice from behind.

He didn't flinch.

"Lira," he said flatly. "You're not supposed to be here until next month."

"You say that like I follow schedules," said Princess Lira of the Northern Shard, sweeping into the room like she owned it — which, technically, she almost did.

Her silver hair shimmered. Her smile sparkled like daggers. And her boots clicked far too confidently across the icy floor.

"You've been brooding again," she noted. "You're practically growing icicles from your mood."

"I'm managing a rebellion."

"You're obsessing over a girl."

Ruvan's jaw tensed. "She's a threat."

"She's a girl," Lira repeated. "With fire in her blood and a better aim than most of your generals."

She twirled one of his frost-summoned knives between her fingers.

"So what's the real issue, brother mine? That she's defying you? Or that you can't stop thinking about her?"

He didn't answer.

Didn't need to.

His silence said everything.

Lira flopped onto a frost-forged couch, swinging her legs.

"I've read the reports. She's clever. Bold. Stubborn. Sounds familiar."

Ruvan shot her a glare.

"I like her," Lira continued cheerfully. "She reminds me of… well, me. If I were constantly on fire and emotionally unavailable."

"You're not helping."

"I'm not trying to. I'm here to watch."

"Watch what?"

"You fall apart."

Ruvan stood sharply. "I will not fall for her."

"Did I say 'for her'? I meant 'apart.' But thanks for the confession."

She rose and brushed imaginary dust off her sleeves.

"Look, Ruvan. You can scare armies. You can freeze lakes with a thought. But when it comes to her?""You're terrified. And that's adorable."

"I'm not—"

"Terrified," she interrupted. "Of being seen. Of being felt. Of letting someone in."

She turned toward the mirror in the observatory — the one linked to Ariya.

"She burns bright," Lira said quietly. "And you've spent your whole life in the cold. No wonder you're drawn to her."

Ruvan said nothing. He couldn't.

As she walked toward the door, she paused and grinned over her shoulder.

"I'll be around. Just in case you actually want to talk about your feelings."

"I don't have any."

"Oh, darling. You're drowning in them."

And with that, Princess Lira swept out of the chamber, leaving a trail of glittering frost and chaos behind her.