At sixteen, Princess Alara Celeste was the embodiment of her parents’ beauty and charisma. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled with the same mischievous light her father was infamous for in his youth, and her radiant smile could light up any room—or, as her professors often lamented, distract an entire lecture hall.

University life at the prestigious Academy of the Four Realms was meant to shape the brightest minds of the future. For Princess Alara, it was also a playground for her boundless curiosity and penchant for bending the rules. Whether it was sneaking into restricted sections of the library, orchestrating elaborate pranks on rival houses, or devising clever schemes to outwit her tutors, the princess had earned herself a reputation that left her professors exasperated and her peers in awe.

Fortunately, Alara never faced the fallout alone. Dominique and Carlysle, her childhood friends and the Duke’s twin sons were always at her side. Though opposites in temperament—Dominique, the calm and analytical twin, and Carlysle, the more outgoing and daring one—they shared a singular, unwavering dedication to keeping Alara out of harm’s way.

"Alara, you can't keep doing this," Dominique chided one afternoon, his heterochromatic eyes—one ocean blue, the other golden brown—focused sternly on her. He adjusted his glasses as if to emphasize the seriousness of the situation.

Carlysle, leaning casually against a nearby wall, smirked. "To be fair, Dom, this time it was kind of brilliant. I mean, painting the dean’s statue with glow-in-the-dark ink? That’s going down in Academy history."

The princess grinned, unrepentant. "See? Carlysle gets it. It’s all about leaving a legacy."

"A legacy of detention, maybe," Dominique retorted, though the corners of his mouth twitched with a reluctant smile.

Despite their protests, the twins couldn't help but admire Alara’s indomitable spirit. It was part of what made her so endearing, even when she dragged them into one mess after another.

As the sun set over the sprawling university grounds, the trio strolled back to their dormitories. The golden light framed them in a tableau of youthful camaraderie—three inseparable friends bound by loyalty, laughter, and the certainty that no adventure was too great, no trouble too daunting, as long as they faced it together.

For Alara, the twins weren’t just her protectors; they were her partners in crime, her confidants, and the steadying force in her whirlwind life. And though neither she nor the twins could foresee it, the bonds they shared would soon be tested in ways they could never imagine, setting the stage for a new chapter in their intertwined destinies.

Princess Alara Celeste was no stranger to breaking the rules, but what happened that day in the university courtyard was a different kind of rebellion. The air was tense as she stood between Ellias Coeverden and his tormentors, her emerald eyes blazing with fury. The group of aristocrats who had cornered him in the open square sneered at her intervention, but their expressions quickly faltered when Alara grabbed a practice sword from a nearby rack.

“Touch him again, and you’ll deal with me,” she warned, her voice carrying a sharp edge that silenced the bullies.

“Stay out of this, Princess! Y-you wouldn’t dare,” one of them stammered, though his resolve wavered as Alara took a step forward, the wooden blade balanced in her hands with the confidence of someone who had trained under her father’s watchful eye.

The bullies retreated soon after, their pride and arrogance no match for the fierce princess. Alara turned to Ellias, expecting a flood of gratitude, but instead, she was met with a quiet, composed, “Thank you.”

For the first time in a while, Alara found herself at a loss for words. She studied him—a young man with unruly dark hair, sharp features, and piercing gray eyes that seemed to hold a storm of emotions beneath their calm surface. His clothes were plain but well-kept, though the faint bruises on his cheek and knuckles betrayed the hardships he endured.

“You’re not scared of them?” Alara asked, curiosity lacing her tone.

Ellias shrugged. “Fear gives them power. I won’t give them that satisfaction.”

The simplicity of his response caught her off guard. Here was someone so different from the privileged nobles she had known her entire life, someone who faced adversity with quiet dignity rather than bravado. And though she didn’t realize it at the time, this encounter marked the beginning of a fascination that would only deepen in the weeks to come.

Unfortunately, Alara’s impulsive defense didn’t go unnoticed. The aristocrats reported her to the faculty, embellishing the story to paint her as the instigator. When Dominique and Carlysle heard about it, they immediately took charge, using their influence and wit to ensure Alara’s punishment was minimal—a one-week detention instead of suspension.

“You’re lucky we were there,” Dominique remarked later that evening as the three of them lounged in their shared study hall.

“Lucky? I handled those cowards just fine,” Alara retorted, tossing her hair with exaggerated flair.

Carlysle chuckled. “Handled them so well you almost got expelled. You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Fine, fine. Thanks,” Alara conceded, though her thoughts were elsewhere.

The following week, as Alara sat under a shady tree during her break, she spotted Ellias nearby, engrossed in a book. Something about his calm demeanor intrigued her—how could someone face constant ridicule and remain so composed? She approached him without hesitation, sitting down beside him.

“Do you always sit alone?” she asked bluntly.

Ellias looked up, startled by her sudden appearance. “Sometimes solitude is better company,” he replied, closing his book carefully.

“Not when you have me around,” Alara quipped with a mischievous grin. “By the way, you didn’t properly thank me for saving you.”

He tilted his head, his lips curling into a faint smile. “Thank you, Your Highness. I owe you one.”

Alara flushed slightly at the way he said it—simple, genuine, and devoid of the usual flattery she received. “You’re not like anyone else here,” she admitted. “Who are you?”

Ellias hesitated before answering. “Ellias Coeverden. The illegitimate son of a noble. That’s why they target me.”

“Illegitimate?” Alara’s curiosity deepened, but she sensed it wasn’t the time to pry. Instead, she leaned closer, her green eyes narrowing playfully. “You’re a mystery, Ellias. And I love mysteries.”

Ellias felt pressure from her and it made him think that she wasn't an ordinary Princess that he usually thought of. Something about her smelled trouble and mischievous if you get entangled with her. And he wanted to avoid that kind of trouble for he was planning to live his life as peacefully as possible.

The moment Alara leaned in closer to him, he took a step back and fled from her. However, Alara let out a smile and then laughed at Ellias's reaction toward her which she finds amusing to see a human being avoiding her like a plague.

Later that night, the twins confronted her, their expressions a mix of amusement and concern. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with that guy,” Carlysle teased. “What’s so special about him? He's just a commoner.”

“He’s different,” Alara replied simply, reclining on the couch with a dreamy smile. “He’s smart, brave, and cute.”

Dominique groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Cute? Alara, please. We’re standing right here.”

“Yeah!” Carlysle chimed in. “Have you seen us? We’re objectively more handsome.”

Alara burst out laughing. “Oh, stop it, you two. You’re handsome, but Ellias… he’s intriguing. There’s more to him than meets the eye. And he's the first person who fled from me like a plague.”

The twins exchanged a look. They couldn’t deny that their friend had a point, but one thing was certain—they’d keep a close watch on Ellias Coeverden. After all, protecting Alara wasn’t just their duty; it was their lifelong promise.