The Runaway Viscount and the Enchanted Court

Cedric's hand, clasped in Lyra's, felt like a lifeline. The decision he had made settled deep within him, calming the storm of uncertainty that had raged in his chest for so long. The Fae realm was no longer just a place of escape; it was his new home, a realm where his identity could be reborn. Here, he could carve out a life defined by his own choices, unburdened by titles and expectations.

But there were still questions he had to answer. 

"What now?" Cedric asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as the fire flickered beside them. The stars overhead glittered like a thousand promises, but the weight of his former life still pressed on his shoulders. Would he ever be truly free of it? Could he truly leave it all behind?

Lyra's gaze was steady as she looked at him, the flicker of the firelight dancing in her eyes. "Now, you begin your journey." Her voice was both soft and commanding, as though she knew the path ahead would not be an easy one, but that Cedric was ready for it.

"You've tasted freedom, Cedric. But freedom here is different—it isn't without its dangers. The Fae world is wild, untamed, and full of beings who seek power. Not all of them are as welcoming as I am," she said, her tone shifting to something more serious.

"I don't care about power," Cedric replied, his voice firm. "I just want to live without chains."

Lyra smiled. "That is exactly why you've chosen wisely." She paused, looking off into the distance. "But there is one thing I must tell you. Not everything in the Fae realm is as it seems. Some will try to draw you back. Some may even try to tempt you with promises of your old life. You must not listen."

Cedric nodded, his chest tightening at the thought. Would they try to lure him back to the castle? To Ashlorn, where his father's cold gaze would be waiting, filled with disappointment and demands? 

But the thought of that life now felt distant, almost surreal.

Lyra seemed to sense his thoughts. "You are no longer the Viscount of Ashlorn. You are Cedric of the Forest. Your new name will be your strength, not your weakness."

She was right. He didn't need to carry the weight of his former life with him. His true self had been buried beneath titles and rules, but now—now he could be more. A prince, perhaps, but not of the palace. A prince of something far older, something wilder. A prince of freedom.