All Chapters of The Secret Of My Royal Prince: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Rain lingered over Evercrest Castle for three straight days.Not violent storms, but the sort of cold silver drizzle that wrapped itself around the kingdom from dawn until nightfall, turning the gardens dark with water and cloaking the mountains in mist. The castle corridors smelled faintly of damp stone and candle smoke, while servants hurried through the halls carrying fresh firewood and dry linens as though trying to outrun winter itself.Jeremy welcomed the weather. It gave him excuses. Excuses to stay busy. Excuses to disappear into quieter parts of the castle. Excuses not to think too hard about the prince.Unfortunately, none of it worked. Because no matter how carefully Jeremy rearranged his schedule, no matter how many extra duties he volunteered for, his thoughts continued circling back to Kelvin like a compass needle refusing to point anywhere else, which was precisely the problem.The balcony conversation had changed everything. There was no hiding behind friendship anymor

Thirty-eight years earlier, the Kingdom of Aragon had worn a younger face.The banners hanging from Evercrest Castle were brighter, the gardens louder with laughter, and the burdens of the crown still rested upon the shoulders of King Edmund Evercrest. Prince Alistair, then barely twenty-four, walked through the palace without the measured caution that would later define him.He was a man who laughed easily, who greeted stable boys by name, who often escaped council meetings by claiming he needed "fresh air," only to be found fencing with the castle guards an hour later."The prince is avoiding paperwork again."The voice carried across the training grounds before its owner appeared.Alistair grinned. "I was wondering how long it would take you."Lord Magnus Ravaryn strode into the courtyard, removing his leather riding gloves with the confidence of a man who belonged wherever he stood. Broad-shouldered and commanding, Magnus possessed the sort of presence that drew soldiers upright w

The bells of Evercrest rang from sunrise until midday. For the first time in months, the capital celebrated something other than survival.Shopkeepers lined their windows with royal banners. Children ran through the streets carrying wooden swords, pretending to be Prince Alistair or Lord Magnus Ravaryn. Bakers gave away sweet rolls to returning soldiers, while musicians filled the city squares with songs that had already begun to exaggerate the victories at Blackridge.War had ended. Aragon had endured. And now the kingdom wished to honour the men who had secured its peace.Inside Evercrest Castle, preparations unfolded with equal splendour. The Great Hall had been transformed into a sea of crimson and gold. Velvet banners cascaded from the rafters, chandeliers glittered overhead, and polished armour belonging to heroes of past generations stood along the walls like silent witnesses. Servants moved with practised precision, adjusting chairs and polishing goblets until every surface re

Winter arrived early that year.A pale frost settled over the hills surrounding Evercrest Castle, coating the rooftops and gardens in white. Smoke curled from hundreds of chimneys across the capital, carrying with it the comforting scent of oak and cedar. The kingdom had begun preparing for the Midwinter Convocation, a celebration that traditionally gathered the Crown and the great noble houses under one roof after the first snowfall deepened.For generations, the occasion had been more than a festival.It was where civil wars ended. Where alliances were renewed. Where a shared cup of wine often accomplished what months of negotiations could not.King Edmund intended to preserve that tradition."I want him here."The king stood beside the council table, one hand resting against the polished oak as another coughing fit stole his breath. When it finally passed, he straightened his robes and looked towards Prince Alistair."Send an invitation to Lord Magnus."Alistair hesitated. "You bel

The promise lingered far longer than Jeremy expected. It followed him through the castle corridors, echoed in the clang of copper pots from the kitchens, and settled quietly in the corners of his mind no matter how hard he tried to bury it with work.Stay close to Kelvin.King Alistair had spoken the words gently. Jeremy carried them like a burden.Morning sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of the servants' hall, painting patches of sapphire and crimson across the stone floor. Martha directed the breakfast preparations with her usual commanding voice while Edwin hurried between the pantry and the dining hall, balancing enough trays to make Oliver whistle in admiration."I've finally decided," Oliver announced, polishing an apple against his sleeve."No one asked," Martha replied without looking up."I'm going to become a noble."Edwin snorted. "That's ambitious."Oliver grinned. "I've heard they eat pa