Elys may have taken after most of the manners of his three older brother, she might have said aloud that she did not want to be a lady, but underneath the influence of the four older boys was a little girl with a soft spot for everything pretty and shiny. Dawn watched the pale eyes of the child light up in anticipation and wonder as Elys opened the box from her cousin. 

“This is for me?” she asked almost voiceless, which was testament of how surprised she was of the gift. Dawn doubted that the prince heard the little girl as he was just in the act of tossing a stool at the servant girl who tackled him earlier. Just like the black-haired girl, Dawn was quietly observing. She was considered a friend of the Duke and his family, but she will always be a servant to them – an object for their entertainment. She did not belong in the palace, or in the presence of these royal children. Therefore, just like Risey, she stood at the background to observe, though unlike her, she had a mission to carry out. 

The Galorian was still watching the young girl as she slowly held up the necklace in her tiny fingers when the door to Prince Jan’s apartment opened. Out of curiosity, Dawn, a small smile still on her face, looked up to the opposite side of the room where a man stood at the threshold carrying a rectangular box. Even from the distance, she could see that his eyes were of the palest blue, like icicles. And though he was smiling, she felt chills down her spine as those eyes found her gaze.
 
“Have I missed anything?” he asked, still not letting go, as if the question was meant for her. This man was her target. Dawn tore her gaze away, forced her thoughts aside before her real intent was detected. Mind mages did have the ability to not be detected by the wards of the castle, but she had to be careful not to let strong emotion take her over or she might just trigger a ward.

His voice seemed to have woken Elys from a trance, though, for the girl came back to life and ran to him with the necklace clutched to her chest. Sighart dropped to one knee and set his box on the floor as he welcomed the girl in an embrace. 

“Siggy!” the girl squealed, wrapping her arms around the crown prince, while he laughed and hugged her back. She kissed his cheek once then pulled away so she can show him the present that his brother gave her. “Isn’t it lovely? Jan made this just for me.” Then having realized that she had not yet thanked him, she ran back to Jan Leon and hugged him too. “Thank you, Jan. This is very lovely. Will you put it on me?”

“Well, I also have something for you, Elys,” Sig said, closing the door behind him. He paused and acknowledged Risey’s presence with a nod at her direction, then walked up to Elys and Jan to hand over his present to the girl. “Happy birthday, princess.”

It might be because they never had a sister and that Uncle Cassius had only boys until Elys that the two princes were very fond of the girl. She would grow up a spoiled princess, Sig thought, but he didn’t care. He liked seeing the smile on her face and he liked the sound of her high-pitched little laugh. 

“It’s a dress!” the girl declared.

Sig nodded. “I thought that my brother will give you a stunning jewelry piece, so I had a dress made for you. Beautiful piece, Jan. You should seriously reconsider your career path.”

“I have a present for you too, Siggy,” said Elys. “I brought Dawn with me.”

“Dawn?”

The woman in question curtseyed when Sig looked her way. “Your highness, I am Dawn Layton,” she kept her eyes on the ground and let Elys continued the introduction. 

“Yes, Dawn. She is my friend from Galorien. Mother says she will sing for your ball. And I will wear this dress and this necklace when I go to your ball.”

“And you will be the prettiest girl in the party,“ reassured Sighart, but his attention was elsewhere. He was curious to meet the woman the court had been whispering about since news of her voice reached the capital. They said she had a voice that could make the gods weep. He walked up to her, but she seemed to have fixed her attention to her feet. 

Dawn could not really tell why her heart was hammering in her chest at that moment. Perhaps she was struck by the presence of the very men that she had despised these past ten years, or perhaps she was excited at the prospect of finally being a step closer to revenge and freedom. She could end it. She could end it then and there if not for Elys. 

A gloved hand touched her chin and gently guided her face up to again meet those cold blue eyes. She pushed back her thoughts of murder and softened her features, but her hands balled to fists at her side. “Don’t be shy now, Lady Layton,” the crown prince smiled at her. “Will you sing for us?”

“But… I have nothing prepared, my lord.”

“Just a tiny bit of sample will do, my lady. I have been wanting to hear you sing ever since I heard rumors about you.”

Dawn took a deep breath. “Very well then.”

The crown prince stepped back and sat on one of the stools near his brother, then gestured for him to do the same, while Elys cheered and sat on the floor. “You better speak with mother and father. Not in that particular order, but I strongly advise that you do speak with them soon,” he whispered to Jan before Dawn opened her mouth and let out a string of words and notes that carried them with her on a journey across the sea and back to Galorien. She sang of love and loss and hope of a girl who had met her heart’s other half at the wrong place at the wrong time. Her voice was light and soft as silk, chilling as an autumn night, but it brought warmth to Sig’s heart. He wondered what it would be like to fall in love, and to be free to marry for love.

When she finished, the whole room was silent. Four pairs of eyes were on her. Dawn panicked. What if they didn’t like her singing? What if they were disappointed?

Sighart got up to his feet and clapped for her. “The rumors do not do your voice justice, Lady Layton. You sound better than they describe,” he said, then he turned to Elys. “Thank you for bringing your friend along with you.”

"I told you!" beamed Elys. Her smile was broad, saying how proud she was of Dawn. "Wait until she is well rested."