Crown Prince Timas has always treated royal duties like an elaborate game—until the brilliant Scholar Evara changes everything. When Timas is forced to escort the visiting scholar around court, he and his best friend Milori make a bet to see who can win her attention first. What starts as harmless competition quickly becomes something deeper, forcing both young men to confront who they really are. But when tragedy strikes at the heart of the court, the careless prince must choose between the games he's always played and the leader his kingdom needs him to become. Royal guard Milori has spent years trying to belong at court—with little success. Even his friendship with the Crown Prince has only created a bigger divide between him and the other guards. Competing for Scholar Evara's attention seems like harmless fun—until he discovers just how fragile everything he values really is. Now he must learn what true loyalty means, and discover that sometimes the best way to protect someone you love is to be brave enough to call them a friend, even when it breaks every rule. A novella set 150 years before the Fae King Series. Join young Timas and Milori as they navigate friendship, competition, and the discovery that some bonds run deeper than either could imagine. Full of humor and banter, but with real stakes and dangerous undercurrents that will change everything.