The Dragon's Kiss

Eye clarifying solution.

It was a mixture made mostly of water and salt that only very wealthy nobles could get their hands on.

When used, the mixture instantly created a shining, healthy look in the eyes.

Wet, glowing eyes. So striking they could detract from the actual color of the iris altogether.

Makeup powders used to give the illusion of a certain facial structure.

Castor oil brushed through the hair to make the golden locks shine even more brilliantly.

Layers upon layers of dresses and accessories that entirely hid the body underneath.

Daily etiquette and speech classes to instill a specific behavior.

When the combination of all these things was applied, Princess Adriell and her body double, Keliyah, were basically identical.

Aside from those closest to them who were intimately acquainted with the two girls' unique personalities and looks, nobody could distinguish between the two. Even the maids serving the girls, the only workers in the palace who knew their secret, would sometimes find themselves unsure of which person they were speaking to.

The graceful, golden daughter of Mevani's king.

Or the crude body double, picked up from the streets of Mevani.

However, as soon as the layers of clothing and makeup all came off, it became painfully clear which girl came from the streets.

And if the said crude body double were to have her golden locks tucked out of sight and be covered in grime, nobody would mistake her for a woman at all, let alone a princess.

So when a suspicious boy suddenly claimed that he had mistaken such an appearance for that of Mevani's number one beauty, Kel naturally became even more distrustful of him.

"You thought I was Princess Adriell?" Kel snorted, taking advantage of the boy's momentary pause to scramble out of his grip. "That may just be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

Quickly recovering her bow and another arrow, Kel aimed directly at the boy's neck.

She didn't want to kill. She didn't like killing.

The ghosts that haunted her nightmares were already more than she could bear.

But in that moment, her wrists still aching from the silver-haired boy's unrelenting grasp, she knew that killing was the only way she could survive.

Taegus's eyes widened as he noticed the arrow poised at him.

"I-I'm from Pandreia!" he exclaimed. "I escorted the princess. I was her friend. I mean you no harm!"

"How do you honestly expect me to believe that," Kel clicked her tongue.

Taegus let out a slow breath.

"Because you would have been dead already."

Kel stopped to consider his words.

He was right. If he wanted to hurt her, he'd already had plenty of opportunities to do so. Especially now that it was just the two of them and Gideon alone in the forest.

On the other hand, he could still very well have some sort of ulterior motive in approaching her.

She couldn't convince herself that he was guilty, but there was no way she could believe he was innocent either.

Fortunately, her inner dilemma came to an end with the sound of a gasp coming from behind her.

"Kel! What do you think you're doing right now?!" Gideon barked.

Hesitantly, Kel lowered her bow a little, still glaring at Taegus.

One of Gideon's large hands landed roughly against her shoulder. "I asked what you thi-"

"It's my fault, Sir," Taegus piped up, calmly motioning for Kel to drop her weapon. "I caught him by surprise."

"Hmm," Gideon mused as Kel finally let the bow drop back down to her side. "There are plenty of wolves around, so it's only natural to be on your guard."

Kel whirled around to face the large soldier.

"Yes, Si-"

"But," Gideon cut her off. "There's a difference between having your guard up and deliberately injuring a comrade."

Kel gulped and nodded. Of course, despite Teagus's words, there was no way to explain away this situation.

"Keep that in mind, Soldier," Gideon lowered his tone, waving for both new recruits to head back to camp.

The air was tense between the three soldiers as they prepared to sleep. Even Gideon hardly spoke, aside from the occasional commands to Kel and Taegus.

When the time came, Kel volunteered for the first watch, but Gideon shook his head.

"After what I just saw back there, I'd sooner have no watch," he scoffed.

Instead, he nodded to Taegus.

"Why don't you go first?"

The silver-haired boy agreed, and soon, Gideon was snoring happily in his blanket. Kel, even though she hadn't been selected for watch, couldn't even bring herself to lie down.

So with Taegus dutifully keeping watch and Kel unable to look away from him for fear of a knife in her back, the two eventually ended up staring at each other through the dancing flames of their campfire.

"I really am from Pandreia."

It was Taegus who finally broke the silence.

"I guess you don't know, but this hair and these eyes.. even this skin is proof," said quietly.

"Perhaps, it's because of that skin and those eyes that I can't trust you," Kel mumbled mostly to herself, picturing Soren's frightening golden glare and half-tanned skin.

The boy shook his head, obviously hearing Kel's retort.

"I met the princess several months ago," he continued explaining. "She was.. so lovely. I've never seen anyone like that before."

Kel rolled her eyes. Now Taegus sounded like another one of the lovesick young soldiers from her own squadron back in Mevani.

"I thought I'd see her again after my last assignment," Taegus went on, his eyes dropping from Kel's and focusing themselves on the fire. "But we were attacked and forced to flee."

"It's a wonder they sent you all the way to Tael if they were going to force you into the military anyway," Kel replied curtly.

His story didn't add up.

If he was truly a Pandreian soldier who'd been the victim of an attack from Serin, then he would have been a hostage or already forced into the military long before now. He and Kel would have never met in the first place.

"It wasn't Serin who attacked us," Taegus looked back up at Kel.

"They were the ones who saved us."