Chapter Two: Total Eclipse Of The Heart

By midday, Jeremy had learned three important things about Evercrest Castle.

First, the castle was even larger on the inside. Second, servants apparently travelled faster than horses. And third, gossip moved faster than both.

"The king coughed blood again last night."

Jeremy nearly dropped the basket of linens he was carrying.

The words came from a maid named Lara, who had spent the last hour guiding him through the servants' wing while simultaneously sharing every rumour she'd collected over the past week.

"Lara," another servant sighed. "You can't possibly know that."

"I absolutely know that."

"You heard it from someone who heard it from someone who heard it from someone."

"Which still counts."

Jeremy hid a smile.

The servants' hall buzzed with life around them. Footmen rushed in and out carrying polished silver trays while cooks shouted instructions from nearby kitchens. Somewhere deeper within the castle, bells rang softly.

Everything felt like organized chaos. And somehow, everyone seemed to know exactly what they were doing. Except Jeremy.

"You'll get used to it," Lara said, noticing his expression.

"I hope so."

"You will."

Jeremy wasn't convinced. He had spent most of the morning getting lost. Twice. Possibly three times.

The castle seemed determined to rearrange itself whenever he wasn't paying attention. Corridors branched endlessly into other corridors. Staircases appeared where he least expected them. Entire wings seemed large enough to qualify as villages.

Back home, he'd known every road within miles. Here, he could barely find his own room. The thought made him unexpectedly homesick.

For a moment, images of his father surfaced in his mind.

Thomas Mercer sitting beside the fire.

Thomas Mercer teaching him how to polish silver.

Thomas Mercer laughing after long days of work.

He lowered his gaze as a familiar ache returned. Even surrounded by hundreds of people, grief still had a way of making a person feel alone.

"Hey." Lara nudged his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

Jeremy offered a small smile. "Yeah."

She didn't look entirely convinced but thankfully let the matter drop.

A moment later, another bell echoed through the castle.

The reaction was immediate. Every servant in the corridor seemed to straighten. Conversations died. Footsteps quickened.

Jeremy blinked. "What happened?"

Lara's eyes widened. "You don't know?"

"Know what?"

"The future queen is arriving."

Jeremy frowned. "The future queen?"

"The prince's betrothed."

Excitement instantly spread through the hallway. Several maids abandoned all attempts to appear professional. Others rushed towards nearby windows. Even the older servants looked curious.

Jeremy found himself swept along with the crowd before he could protest.

The corridor opened onto a wide balcony overlooking the main courtyard. Below, dozens of royal guards stood in formation. Sunlight glimmered across polished armour. Noble banners danced in the breeze. And at the centre of it all waited a magnificent carriage trimmed with gold.

The doors opened. A woman stepped out.

For a brief moment, the entire courtyard seemed to hold its breath. Jeremy finally understood why.

Lady Elaine Rosamund Valcourt moved with effortless grace, as though she'd been born knowing the world was watching her. Her gown shimmered like liquid pearl under the afternoon sun. Dark hair cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves while delicate jewels sparkled among the strands.

Beautiful felt insufficient.

She looked like she belonged in one of the paintings decorating the castle walls. But it wasn't merely her appearance that drew attention. It was the confidence. The certainty. The way people instinctively stepped aside when she approached.

Jeremy had never witnessed anything quite like it.

"That's Lady Elaine?"

Lara nodded enthusiastically. "They've been promised to each other since childhood."

Jeremy looked down into the courtyard.

Elaine smiled at the nobles greeting her. The expression was warm. Perfect. Practiced. For some reason, it reminded him of polished glass. Beautiful, yet impossible to see through.

Trumpets sounded. Heads turned. And a second figure emerged from the palace entrance.

Prince Kelvin.

Even from a distance, the effect was immediate. The crowd straightened. Nobles bowed. Servants whispered excitedly. Meanwhile, Jeremy found himself watching as Kelvin descended the marble staircase.

The prince looked every bit the future king. His dark green coat was embroidered with gold thread while sunlight caught against the Evercrest crest upon his chest. Nothing about him resembled the man who had laughed with Jeremy in the corridor that morning. That version seemed hidden away, reserved for private moments.

The realization surprised him.

Below, Elaine reached the bottom of the staircase.

Kelvin offered his hand.

She accepted it.

The courtyard erupted into applause.

The future king and future queen. Together, they looked exactly as they should. Like a painting come to life. Like a story already written.

Yet Jeremy noticed something strange. Kelvin smiled. But the smile never quite reached his eyes. The observation lingered long after the couple disappeared into the palace.

"Imagine becoming queen." Lara sighed dreamily.

Jeremy chuckled. "I'm having enough trouble becoming a servant."

That earned a laugh from several nearby maids.

Then the crowd slowly dispersed. Work resumed. Life continued. Still, something about the scene remained lodged in Jeremy's thoughts. Not Elaine. Not the applause. Not even the grandeur of it all.

It was Kelvin's expression. A brief glimpse of something eclipsed behind his smile. A flicker of weariness perhaps. Or loneliness.

Jeremy wasn't sure. And it wasn't his business anyway. He was a servant. The prince was heir to the throne. Their worlds couldn't have been further apart.

By evening, Jeremy had almost convinced himself to stop thinking about it.

Almost.

*

Far above the servants' wing, another young man sat alone in a private study overlooking the western gardens. Golden light streamed through the windows as sunset painted the kingdom in shades of amber and rose. The view was magnificent, but he barely noticed.

Several council documents lay open before him, but Kelvin ignored every one of them.

His mother's voice still echoed from earlier. The wedding. The succession. The king's worsening condition. Responsibility. Duty. Expectations.

Those words followed him everywhere these days.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Enter."

A servant stepped inside and bowed. "Your Highness, the council meeting will begin in fifteen minutes."

Kelvin nodded.

The servant bowed again and departed.

Silence returned.

He rubbed a hand across his face. Then, unexpectedly, another memory surfaced. A young servant surrounded by fallen books. A nervous apology. An honest smile. The image caught him off guard.

Most conversations in the palace felt calculated. Measured. Carefully rehearsed. But the new servant hadn't treated him like a prince. He'd treated him like a person.

The thought lingered longer than it should have. Eventually, Kelvin pushed himself to his feet. There were more important matters demanding his attention. A kingdom to inherit. A father who was dying. A wedding rapidly approaching. The servant would likely fade into memory soon enough.

Outside, dusk settled over Evercrest Castle. Lanterns flickered to life along winding paths and marble courtyards.

Far below the royal chambers, Jeremy Mercer gazed through his window at a kingdom glowing beneath the stars. Far above him, Prince Kelvin Evercrest prepared for another evening of duty.

Neither realized they were already thinking about each other. And neither understood how dangerous that would eventually become.