Page 34 of A Heart Disguised 1

Tales of the grand duke’s exploits ranged from the awe-inspiring to the utterly absurd. They said he once set an entire forest ablaze with nothing but his booming laughter, the trees dancing in sync with his mirth. Rumors claimed he rode a chariot pulled by phoenixes, their fiery plumage a pale imitation of his own incandescent hair. Children whispered that he bathed in lava to soothe his battle-worn muscles and feasted on the hearts of dragons to maintain his fearsome strength.

Some swore his eyes held a fire more intense than the sun’s core, capable of turning water to steam with a mere glance. The more outlandish stories insisted he could summon infernos with a flick of his wrist, scorch the very air with his words, andturn his enemies to ash with nothing but a thought. Whether fact or fiction, these tales painted His Grace as a force of nature, a whirlwind of destruction and might. His temperament was said to be as volatile and unpredictable as the infernos he commanded, shifting from playful mischief to terrifying rage in the blink of an eye. The stories agreed on one thing: crossing the Grand Duke of Solarys was akin to leaping into the heart of a volcano—a foolish act with inevitably devastating consequences.

Setting the little black pup down on the plush carpet, I knelt beside him, my fingers sinking into his velvety fur. “And just who might you be, little one?” I murmured, searching for any sign of ownership—a ribbon or an ornate collar befitting a noble’s pet. But there was nothing. “Where did you come from? Are you a stray?” The thought of keeping him flitted through my mind, a tempting possibility.

As I fussed over the pup, my troublesome gown decided to join in the mischief. The collar slipped off one shoulder, then the other, eliciting an exasperated sigh from me. “Of all the times to misbehave,” I muttered, tugging at the fabric. It was just my luck that the dress would choose to act up right when Duke Darius was around. I glanced nervously at the door, half expecting the duke and Grand Duke Ignatius to burst through at any moment, drawn by my sartorial misfortune.

The door creaked open, causing me to jump, but it was only Meredith. Her eyes widened at the sight of the puppy, a mixture of surprise and amusement playing across her features. “Master Robin,” she exclaimed, her tone caught between shock and laughter, “did you pilfer that pup from the duke’s kennels?”

I bristled at the accusation, my cheeks flushing. “I did no such thing!” I protested, though I couldn’t deny that I had once againattractedanother lost soul. “He simply… found me. I was exploring the castle, and there he was, as if he’d been waiting for me.”

Meredith’s laughter filled the room as she shook her head fondly. “Oh, my dear Master Robin,” she said, her eyes twinkling with mirth, “you do have the most peculiar habit of attracting strays. It’s as if you’re a beacon for lost and lonely creatures. Animals aren’t safe from your charms—be they common or noble.”

She stepped closer, eyeing my disheveled appearance with a mixture of exasperation and affection. “You’re like an animal whisperer, drawing in every stray within leagues. Russet, Starling, and now this little shadow.” She gestured to the black pup, who had curled up contentedly on the rug.

Before I could formulate a response, Meredith was already steering me toward my wardrobe. “Come now, we must get you ready for dinner. The duke may be a demon lord, but I imagine even he expects punctuality.”

As I was hauled away to change, I cast a longing look back at the little black pup. His dark eyes twinkled with mischief, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this castle, with all its splendor and shadows, was gradually wrapping itself around my heart—one stray animal at a time. The dress may have been bothersome, but these creatures… they felt like home.

Not long after, I was following a young male servant down the corridor toward the dining room. Meredith’s absence was keenly felt; her comforting presence and softly spoken words of encouragement had been my lifeline during these social forays. But I suppose Meredith now deemed me capable of navigating these treacherous waters without her support.

My latest sartorial ensemble was a gown of soft green that complemented my eyes. The color reminded me of the lush forests of Lunaria, a small comfort in this stone labyrinth. My hair, usually a wild cascade of pale silk, had been tamed into a loose braid that rested over one shoulder. However, the gown’s off-the-shoulder style left me feeling exposed, its long puffy bell-shaped sleeves accentuating every nervous movement of my arms.

As we approached the dining room, my heart began to race. The servant pushed open the heavy doors, and I stepped inside, only to come to an abrupt halt. My internal screams could have shattered crystal—why had no one warned me of this daunting dinner party?

Inside the room were not only the duke and the grand duke but also those imposing demons I’d encountered upon my arrival at Lunaria. They stood there, a lineup of otherworldly figures that made the spacious room feel suffocatingly small. I wanted nothing more than to flee, to race back to the safety of my chambers, but it was too late. They had spotted me, and the servant had firmly shut the door behind me with athudthat echoed like a death knell.

Taking a deep breath, I willed my feet to move. Each step felt like wading through quicksand as I approached the assembly. In my head, I recited a desperate mantra:Don’t faint. Don’t trip. Don’t make a fool of yourself. Again.

I managed a curtsy that was, if not elegant, at least upright. Despite my best efforts to avoid eye contact, I found my gaze inexplicably drawn to each of the duke’s lieutenants in turn, fascinated by their unique appearances.

The duke stepped forward, taking my hand and making me jump at the sudden contact. “Lady Robin, allow me to introduce my lieutenants,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice as he observed my wide-eyed reactions. “Sir Zephyr,” he began, gesturing to a figure with midnight-blue skin adorned with gleaming patterns.

I curtsied, my heart fluttering in my chest. The movement caused a loose strand of hair to fall across my face, and I hurriedly tucked it behind my ear, acutely aware of every pair of eyes on me. But my own gaze was transfixed by the intricatedesigns adorning Sir Zephyr’s skin. The silvery lines seemed to shimmer and dance in the light, creating a mesmerizing display that I couldn’t look away from.

“Your skin, it’s like… like starlight on a twilight sky,” I blurted out, immediately blushing at my boldness.Oh, heavens above, did I really just say that?Despite my embarrassment, I couldn’t help but continue to stare in wonder. The ethereal swirls and curves seemed almost alive, as if they might rearrange themselves into new constellations at any moment.

Sir Zephyr’s eyebrow arched, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “An interesting observation, Lady Robin,” he replied.

His voice washed over me like shadows whispering in the night. Yet I couldn’t tear my eyes away from those mesmerizing patterns on his skin. My fingers itched to trace the luminous designs, curiosity burning to know if they felt as magical as they looked. It took every ounce of my willpower to keep my hands clasped demurely in front of me, resisting the urge to reach out and touch.

“Sir Vex,” the duke continued, indicating a demon with reptilian features.

My eyes widened as I took in his appearance. The candlelight flickered off his scales, creating a mesmerizing dance of green and gold. Before I could stop myself, I leaned forward slightly. “Oh! Do your scales change color like a chameleon’s?” I asked, then clapped a hand over my mouth, mortified.Robin, you fool! He’s a powerful demon, not some curiosity in a menagerie!

Sir Vex let out a low, rumbling chuckle that I could almost feel in my chest. “I’m afraid not, my lady. Though that would be quite useful for a spy, wouldn’t it?”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak again without embarrassing myself further.

“Sir Thorne,” announced the duke, and my gaze fell upon a wall of muscle with crimson skin and black tribal tattoos.

I had to crane my neck to look up at him properly, feeling suddenly very small and fragile. The intricate patterns on his skin seemed to move in the flickering light, drawing my attention. “Goodness, your tattoos are fascinating! Do they tell a story?” I inquired, leaning closer to examine them.Why can’t I just keep my mouth shut?

Sir Thorne’s booming laugh filled the room, making me jump and stumble back a step. The duke’s hand on my elbow steadied me, sending a jolt of awareness through my body.

“Indeed they do, little one. Each represents a battle won,” Sir Thorne replied, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

“Sir Orion,” the duke said, and I found myself face-to-face with a demon whose pale-blue skin was adorned with intricate frost patterns.

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