CLAIRE'S POV:

I leaned in the shadow of the stone pillar, pretending to admire the tapestry. My gaze, however, never left Courtland. He was speaking in low tones with Rosalind, and they looked so perfect together.

The fine, red scales on Rosalind's gown shimmered under the light. It was the mark of a common Dragon-kin, less noble than the crimson-gold of a half-blood, but still enough to crush a Dragonless girl like me under her heel.

Maeve sighed beside me. "Give it up, Claire. Rosalind's back. You don't have a chance."

I shook my head stubbornly. "Not necessarily." My own heart felt hollow.

Luckily, a steward approached them and spoke respectfully to Courtland. Courtland nodded, gave Rosalind an apologetic smile, and turned toward the corridor leading away from the main hall.

My chance! He was alone.

"I... I need to use the washroom," I told Maeve, and before she could stop me, I hurried after him.

My heart hammered against my ribs. I wove through several couples murmuring sweet nothings to each other. Their strange looks made my cheeks burn.

I turned into the quiet corridor that led to the balconies. The light here was dimmer than in the hall, with only the Dragon-crystal stones embedded in the walls casting a faint glow.

Courtland was just ahead of me, his tall back nearly blocking the entire passage.

How should I start? I walked faster, my mind racing. Maybe I could pretend to be passing by, and then...

Just then, two servants carrying heavy platters rushed out from a side path, calling out, "Make way, my lord!"

I jerked to the side to avoid them, not noticing the curled edge of the carpet beneath my feet.

A short gasp escaped my lips. I lost my balance, my body tipping forward uncontrollably.

I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the humiliation of falling flat on the floor, of becoming the biggest joke of the evening.

But the pain never came.

A strong hand gripped my arm, pulling me into a firm, warm embrace.

I collided with a hard chest. My nose was instantly filled with Courtland's unique dragon scent—a cold, sharp mix of cedar and faint metal that made my head spin.

"Careful," his deep, magnetic voice rumbled above my head, laced with a detached politeness.

My cheeks flushed crimson. I could feel his fingers gripping my upper arm through the thin fabric of my dress. The skin there felt like it was on fire.

I scrambled out of his arms, taking a step back. I kept my head down, not daring to look at him. "S-sorry, Lord Courtland. I wasn't watching where I was going."

His gaze fell on me. I could feel it, almost a physical weight, scrutinizing me and making my skin crawl.

"Are you alright?" he asked. His tone was flat, emotionless.

I shook my head quickly. "I'm fine. Thank you."

He gave a slight nod, saying nothing more. His ice-blue eyes were completely calm, as if he had just steadied a piece of falling furniture.

He dropped his hand and walked past me, continuing down the corridor as if our encounter was a meaningless interruption.

I stood frozen, the warmth of his touch still lingering on my arm, but my heart was growing colder by the second.

When I returned to the hall, my steps were unsteady. Several young noblewomen were glaring at me with a mixture of jealousy and contempt.

Maeve rushed over, her voice tight with worry. "Gods, Claire, I saw you run into Lord Courtland! Are you okay? Did he do anything to you?"

The noblewomen's whispers drifted over.

"Who is that Dragonless girl? How dare she throw herself at Lord Courtland. So shameless."

"Exactly. She should look at her own status. Lord Courtland is the future Dragon Lord. His mate must be of the noblest bloodline."

"He actually touched her. She got off easy."

The words were like needles stabbing into my heart, but I couldn't argue.

I pulled Maeve to a quiet corner. The brief flutter of my heart from that touch had been replaced by a crushing sense of loss and shame.

He had held me, but his eyes had never once seen me.

CLAIRE'S POV:

The day after the feast was the young nobles' court strategy class. The noise in the corridor pulled me from my thoughts. Last night's accidental touch still made my heart skip a beat.

I walked into the classroom, which was already half-full. It was a spacious room, devoid of lavish decorations, with only rows of dark wooden desks and a map of the kingdom on the wall.

Maeve had saved me a seat and was waving at me excitedly.

I walked over and saw an empty chair next to her. "What's this?" I asked, confused.

Maeve gave a mysterious smile and lowered her voice. "I found out Lord Courtland is auditing the class today. I picked this spot up front. He'll probably sit here."

My heart leaped into my throat, a mix of anticipation and anxiety. If I could sit next to him...

Just then, the court official in charge of seating arrangements walked in. He held a parchment scroll, his expression stern.

He cleared his throat and began reading names, assigning each person a seat. "... Miss Maeve Riley, third row, seventh seat."

Maeve's face fell. She was being sent to the other side of the room.

The official continued, "... Miss Rosalind Sterling, first row, third seat." I watched as Rosalind rose gracefully and took her place near the front.

Soon, only a few of us were left—the lowest-ranking Dragonless and other auditors.

The official didn't even look at us. He just waved a dismissive hand toward the back corners of the room. "You lot, find a place to sit."

It was a naked, dismissive gesture, as if we weren't living people but objects to be placed. The class seating was just another display of power.

My cheeks burned with heat. Maeve started to protest, but I pulled her back. I knew these were the rules, the unshakeable order of the dragon world.

A few other servants with Dragonless status hung their heads and shuffled to the back.

I took a deep breath, swallowing the humiliation. I walked to the very last row and sat in the seat closest to the wall. From here, I could barely see anything but the backs of the nobles' heads.

Courtland walked in at that moment. He wasn't in his formal attire but in a fitted training uniform that made him look even more imposing. He went straight to the front row and sat in the empty seat next to Rosalind.

They shared a smile and exchanged a few quiet words. The sight was a thorn in my heart.

Maeve shot me a sympathetic look from across the room.

I forced my gaze away and pulled a papyrus scroll and a charcoal pencil from my cloth bag.

If I couldn't stand beside him in status, then I would prove my worth in other ways.

My father used to say that knowledge was the only weapon for the Dragonless. I couldn't shift into a dragon, couldn't fight on a battlefield, but I could learn strategy and bring honor to my family.

I straightened my back, focusing all my attention on the lesson.

The Elder in charge of the class walked in, and the lesson began.

He lectured on the defense strategies for the kingdom's eastern border. The content was dry and complex.

Many of the noble children were yawning or whispering amongst themselves.

But I listened intently, scribbling notes on my papyrus. Every defensive node, every resource allocation, I committed it all to memory.

I told myself I wasn't learning for anyone else. I was learning for myself, so I wouldn't be completely abandoned by this world.

I felt a faint gaze from the front of the room.

I looked up sharply, but I only saw Courtland's profile as he focused on the lecturer. It must have been my imagination.

I gave a self-deprecating smile. How could it be? In his eyes, I was probably no different from the desks and chairs in this room.

I refocused, burying my head in my notes.

The charcoal pencil scratched against the papyrus.

The sound was surprisingly clear in the quiet back of the room. It felt like my own silent declaration.

I, Claire Bullock, would never just accept my fate.