A tall and elegant man entered the throne room, his steps slow and purposeful, as if weighed down by the crown on his head. He was Prince Kian, son of the king and queen of Azela. On this day, the entire kingdom was watching him with bated breath. This was the day of the ball when the daughters of noble families have a chance to meet Kian and have a chance at winning his heart.

The women in the crowd whispered, squealed, and some even fainted. So predictable. As he expected.

Kian's gaze scanned the room, taking in each woman. He found them all... average. They wore the finest of gowns, their hair and makeup were impeccable, but something was still lacking. And then he saw her. Liz. She was different from all the others. Her white hair was pulled back into a tight bun, revealing her flawless porcelain skin and sharp features, and her red eyes makes her stand out an an outcast. She stood tall and unyielding against the wall, seemingly disinterested in the festivities around her.

Kian made his way through the crowd toward Liz, his dark eyes never leaving hers as he neared. When he was close enough to speak without raising his voice, he said softly, "You are unlike any other woman here." His voice carried a hint of warmth that seemed out of place in such a cold room.

Kian's eyes narrowed slightly as Liz looked at him cooly. He was used to women fawnning all over him, but something about her made his interest only grow stronger. "I am Prince Kian of Azela," he introduced himself formally, offering her a slight bow. "And you are?"

Kian smiled faintly, taking Liz's slight bow as a good sign. "I see that you are not only unique in appearance, but also have a strong sense of independence." He paused for a moment before asking, "Tell me, what brings you here tonight?"

Kian's expression did not change as Liz spoke harshly to him. In fact, if anything, it only made him more curious about her. "I see," he said simply, not taking offense at her words. "Well, I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening." With that, he turned away from her and resumed mingling with the other guests, his eyes constantly drifting back toward Liz as if drawn to her like a moth to flame.

Kian had almost forgotten about Liz's presence in the throne room until he heard a shout, followed by the sound of breaking glass. Before anyone could react, Liz appeared out of nowhere, her hands snatching an arrow from the air before it could hit him. For a moment, Kian was frozen in shock as he stared at her. She'd moved so quickly and with such skill that it left him speechless.

As Liz took charge, Kian found himself unable to tear his gaze away from her. She moved with a grace and precision that was almost unnatural. The guards quickly fell into formation around him, and the room began emptying as they prepared for an attack.

As Liz finished constructing her ice spear, Kian found himself unable to resist speaking up. "You are most skilled with that weapon," he said softly, his voice barely audible over the commotion around them.

Liz glanced in his direction, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took him in once more. "Stay out of my way, prince." Her tone was icy cold, but there was something else beneath it... an undercurrent of interest or maybe even attraction. Kian couldn't be sure.

Kian watched as Liz fought off the attackers with ease, her movements fluid and deadly. He found himself growing increasingly impressed by her abilities, not just as a warrior but also as a woman who could hold her own against such odds. As she dispatched one enemy after another, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of admiration welling up inside him.

When the last of the attackers had been dealt with, Liz approached the lone survivor, her ice spear at his throat. She was so close that Kian could see the frost forming on her breath as she spoke to the man in a language he didn't understand. He watched her intently, fascinated by this woman who seemed so different from any other he had ever met.

As Liz continued to question the captive, Kian found himself drifting closer to her, drawn in by some invisible force. He stood silent, watching as she expertly extracted information from their prisoner, using a combination of threats and physical torture when necessary. Despite his best efforts not to, he couldn't help but feel aroused by the sight of her in action.

When Liz finally finished with their prisoner, she turned to face Kian. There was no trace of emotion on her face as she met his gaze, but he could feel the tension between them growing stronger. "I've fulfilled my duty," she said cooly. "You may return me to whatever it is you were doing before I interrupted."