"Lillith, you're a very special woman," Rowan said to the princess who began blushing from the compliment. "And maybe in another lifetime, I would be a lucky man to have you as my partner for life." 

The lips that were arcing into a smile froze on Lillith's face. 

"But in this lifetime, I cannot reciprocate the affection you have for me. I'm sorry, Lillith, I cannot love anyone else but Syryn."

Lillith tangled her fingers against the cloth of her dress. The sweetness in her heart was being replaced by a pain that felt like a fist was squeezing it. 

"Rowan, you are making a mistake," she replied, voice shaky. "Have you forgotten your duty to Eos?" 

"I haven't."

"Then why?" Lillith couldn't believe that Rowan was going to throw away everything for Syryn. 

"I wish you the very best, Lillith," he replied. Rowan knew that she wouldn't understand even if he explained it. 

"Rowan stop! You can't turn your back on Eos!" She shouted. Tears clung to Lillith's lashes as she ran after Rowan like a lost child. 

The anti mage stopped in his steps when he felt her arms go around him, hugging him from the back. 

"Please," she said in a wobbly voice. "Rowan, it's okay if you can't love me. Ours will be a marriage of convenience. I will be devoted to you even if you say that your heart belongs to someone else."

Her slender fingers were entwined below his chest and she was pressed flush against his back. If someone saw them like this, there would be rumours. 

"Please let go of me, princess," he gently told her. "I will not change my mind." 

"I love you, Rowan." 

The anti mage stiffened. He knew Lillith would make a fuss but this was beyond his wildest expectations.

"Princess, let go. People are coming and if they see us like this, they will talk." 

"I don't care," her voice was soft. "Why won't you give me a chance, Rowan?" 

"I love Syryn. That is all, princess." 

Rowan gently but firmly pried her fingers apart and put an arm's length of distance between them. He could see her eyes wet with unshed tears. 

"Lillith, I believe that there's someone out there for everyone. I hope you meet a man who will bring you happiness." 

When Rowan turned to leave this time, Lillith stood rooted to her spot, a lonely silhouette outlined against the setting sun.

______

Before Rowan had reached home, gossip had already begun to spread. He was seen hugging princess Lillith in the Royal garden. They looked cosy and in love with each other. 

The news inevitably made its way to the ladies parlour where a few women were exchanging information about the latest in Elysium.

"Autumn, didn't you tell us that Rowan and Syryn were in love? Because he was seen cosying up with Lillith today." 

"And who witnessed this?" Someone else asked. 

"A palace maid who was picking flowers for the queen's vanity table." 

"Cozying you say?" 

"They were pressed up against each other." 

A lady sighed in envy. 

"Lillith sure has it good, doesn't she? Born a princess blessed by Eos. Now she gets Rowan. Oh to be Lillith." 

"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Rose interjected sharply. "Rowan has never paid her any attention so why now? If he's waited this long then he can wait till after the ceremony when Lillith gets chosen. It sounds like a story made up by a maid with a fanciful imagination. I wouldn't give much stock to it till Rowan himself confirms it." 

A few of them nodded their heads. 

"Nevertheless, the choosing ceremony will be absolutely dramatic won't it?" Autumn replied. "I don't know if Syryn will just sit back and watch his lover get stolen away." 

A lady in a black veil scornfully replied to her. "What can Syryn do? He's a nobody up against the royal family. Sure he has money but money can't buy class and nobility. He will remain a commoner with filthy common blood. He doesn't deserve Rowan Windwalker." 

The woman who had just spoken was, Naina, the daughter of Sigil's finance minister. Haughty and full of arrogance, she was a purist who believed that nobility should stick with nobility while the commoners and the rabble bred with each other like pigs in the mud. Her mother was a kind and soft-spoken woman so nobody could understand how the daughter turned out so thorny. 

"Naina, are you still hung up about the rejection you received?" The lady with long wavy hair prodded. "You sound bitter." 

She had invited Rowan to her coming of age ball only to receive a bouquet and a polite note declining the invitation because of his 'busy' schedule. Nobody had ever rejected Naina's invitations, that is, until Rowan did. 

"Bitter?" Naina scoffed. "Have you seen the number of men lining up to ask for my hand in marriage? Rowan isn't special enough for me to be hung up about." 

Everyone could tell it was a case of sour grapes. Naina scorned what she couldn't have. 

The ensuing silence was broken by Autumn's calmly spoken declaration. "I will be visiting Rowan now with my older brother. I'll take this opportunity to gauge Syryn's merits and regale you gossiping birdies with news tomorrow." 

"This late at night?" Someone interested with surprise. "It's past dinner time." 

"Good night darlings," Autumn told the girls as she stood up gracefully. 

Her older brother was a Sanguine and had worked with Rowan on an important case. So it wasn't very strange for co-workers turned friends to be visiting each other past dinner time. 

Autumn's family wasn't as powerful as Naina's or even Rose's, but her intelligence and calm demeanour made her a good companion to the other girls who had initially begrudgingly accepted her into their fold. As she headed out to board the dark wood carriage waiting for her, she made a mental note to buy a gift for Syryn on their way to the manor.