Chapter 54 Little Crush
Zion kept reminding himself to stay patient. With one arm supporting the princess and the other free, he was at least able to open doors or defend against any sudden attacks. But time was running out—the magic of the cloak was beginning to fade, and he had no choice but to retreat for now. Holding her tightly, he retraced his steps, moving swiftly and silently through the castle.
How did he know she was truly the princess?
It went back years ago, when he was just a boy. His father had brought him to the palace, and that was when he first saw her—the little girl who had captivated everyone’s attention. She had long, wavy golden hair, and when sunlight touched it, it shimmered like strands of molten gold. She looked almost angelic. That was the moment Zion learned what it meant to have a crush.
He had watched her play in the palace gardens, chasing butterflies with such innocent joy, never trying to catch them, only following them gently. Then their eyes met. Her golden gaze sparkled like starlight, bright and warm, and for the first time in his young life, his heart had pounded so hard he thought it might burst.
Then she smiled at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners, making her chubby cheeks stand out adorably. A soft pink blush bloomed on her porcelain-white skin, smooth and flawless like polished jade. That moment etched itself into his memory, vivid and unforgettable. He never got the chance to ask for her name—just as he was about to, the Queen had called her away. That was when he realized... she must have been the princess.
But now, seeing her again, everything felt different.
"Of course you’d feel differently," Shura suddenly cut into Zion’s reminiscing. "Back then, you were just a brat, drawn in by a pretty face. But now? You should know better. You’re only meant to feel a pull toward our fated mate. Everything else was just a distraction."
Zion rolled his eyes in exasperation, but he couldn’t argue. Shura was right. And strangely, he felt relieved. The same spark, the same youthful attraction he once felt toward the princess—it wasn’t there anymore. No pull. No bond. Just the distant echo of a childhood memory.
’Well, I can only say I’m loyal to my mate,’ he thought firmly—but the thought barely settled before his mind betrayed him, drifting back to Addison. Again.