After so much struggle, I finally reach the heavy metal door of his room to inform him that the evening meal is ready. The guard steps aside silently, his ever-watchful eyes following my every move.
I knock. No response.
I was told they returned some minutes ago, so he must be inside. But why isn’t he answering?
I knock again, louder this time, but the silence remains.
“Is he in?” I ask the guard who stands like a statue at his post. This one rarely speaks, though they all exchange shifts regularly.
He nods, offering no further explanation.
If he’s inside, why isn’t he answering? Unease churns in my stomach as I debate whether to enter. Something feels… off.
Finally, I decide to open the door. The hinges creak as I step inside, my movements hesitant.
He’s standing near the window, his hands clasped behind his back, staring outside toward the field where I had been earlier.
“Your Highness, the evening meal is ready,” I announce, keeping my tone respectful. Despite our usual banter, I know better than to take liberties when his mood is unpredictable.
He doesn’t respond. Not a glance, not a word. It’s as though he hasn’t even heard me.
“Your Highness, the—”
“Since when are you so close to those people?” he cuts me off sharply, his voice low but heavy with an unfamiliar edge.
I freeze. There’s no mistaking the coldness in his tone.
For hours, I had been in the field with the knights, fooling around after training. Running, laughing, and clashing swords in playful combat. Them teaching me some skills.
For the first time in so long, I had felt free—alive. Even Michael had encouraged me, saying this was the happiest he has ever seen me.I don’t respond. Maybe I should, but the words refuse to come.
“Didn’t you hear me?” he snaps, turning to face me now. His expression is unreadable, caught somewhere between anger and… something else.
I’ve stopped trying to understand Prince Arthur. One moment we’re talking casually, sharing jokes, and the next, he’s so serious it’s suffocating.
But what troubles me most—what my mind refuses to let go of—is the jealousy I sometimes catch in his eyes.
I don’t know what to make of it. If this behavior continues, I might start believing things I shouldn’t.
“Evening… evening meal is ready,” I stammer, trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground.
“Are you ignoring my question?” he demands.
“I’m not close to them,” I say quickly, my voice defensive. “I was bored, so I thought I could join their training. Is that not allowed?”
“I leave for just a few hours, and you’re already throwing yourself at men?”
His accusation hits me like a slap.
“Throwing myself at men? Are you serious? What have I done to possibly give you the idea of me throwing myself at men, I... Forget it,” I say, turning to leave, my anger bubbling to the surface.
But before I can take another step, he grabs my arm, his grip firm yet careful.
“Who do you think you are to walk out on me?”
I whirl back to face him, my voice tight with frustration. “Is there something else you want me to do for you, your highness?”
“Respect,” he says, his tone cold and unwavering. “Respect me like everyone else in this palace does. If you think you can do whatever you want here, you’re mistaken. I’m the one who hired you, and that means everything you do revolves around this room, not the field and everywhere in the palace, how many times do I have to repeat that?”
“Yes , your highness,” I say simply, my voice small.
The room falls silent, the tension thick between us. My head hangs low as I wait for his permission to leave, my chest tight with the sting of his words. The accusation, the scolding, the audacity to imply I was throwing myself at anyone—it’s all too much.
Then, without warning, his arms are around me. Strong, warm, and unyielding.
I freeze, my heart pounding furiously.
“Your Highness…” I manage, trying to pull away, but he doesn’t let go. My attempts are futile against his strength.
Slowly, my resistance fades. My body betrays me, relaxing into his embrace as if it has a will of its own.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, his voice softer now. “I didn’t mean to say those things to you and I didn't mean it when I said you were throwing yourself at men.”
“It’s fine. I’m fine,” I murmur, though my voice wavers. “Can you… can you let me go now?”
“I get jealous,” he admits, his words catching me off guard. “And when I’m jealous, I say things I shouldn’t.”
Jealous? My mind races. Jealous of what?
“What are you jealous of?” I ask, even as a voice in my head warns me not to.
He doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, his hand moves to my back, the other resting gently against the back of my head. He pulls me closer, pressing my face against his broad chest. His heart beats as wildly as mine.
“Do you believe in love at first sight?” he asks softly, his chin resting atop my head.
I don’t know how to respond. My mind feels like it’s spinning out of control, unsure of what’s real or what I’m supposed to feel.
I stay silent.
One of his hands drifts lower, resting lightly at my waist, while the other remains steady at the back of my head. My arms, as if acting of their own accord, wrap around him loosely.
Warmth envelops me, and for a brief moment, I let myself feel it.
A knock on the door shatters the moment.
I jolt, reality crashing back in. I try to pull away, but his arms tighten around me.
“Your Highness, the meal is ready,” a voice calls from the other side.
“I’m coming,” he replies, his tone steady.
Even after the voice fades and the footsteps retreat, he doesn’t let me go.
“Please,” I say, struggling against his hold, my composure returning. “Let me go.”
“Just a little longer,” he pleads softly, his voice almost desperate.
“This is wrong,” I whisper, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
His hold loosens slightly, but he doesn’t release me completely. “Why is it wrong?”
I don’t answer. I can’t. My thoughts are a chaotic mess, and staying here any longer feels like stepping too close to the edge of something I can’t control.
“How wrong?” he repeats asking, his question surprising me. What does he mean by that? How wrong? I mean, it’s wrong in every possible way.“It’s just hugging. Why are you making such a fuss about it? Why are you acting like I’m harassing you?” His voice lowers, but his grip doesn’t loosen. “You were hugging me back a few minutes ago. So, why are you fighting it now?”“This is wrong,” I repeat, my voice firmer this time.But he ignores me, as if he hasn’t heard. I stand frozen, speechless, the sound of his drumming heart filling my ears.“Can you feel my heart, Maya?” he asks softly. “This is what happens every time you’re close to me. Even when I just think about you.”I want to say something, anything, but the words seem to have abandoned me.“I’m attracted to you, Maya,” he continues, his voice raw with vulnerability. “I’ve fallen in love with you. You’re the reason I rejected Princess Ferrior. Because, for some reason, I’ve realized the kind of person I truly want. Not just someon
Three days gone, and I haven't seen Michael around the palace. Just where is he when I need him the most? He said he'd get me out of this place, so why has he disappeared all these days?I've been avoiding Prince Arthur with all my might, though it’s nearly impossible since all my duties revolve around him.Every moment around him feels like walking on a tightrope, and I’m terrified of what might happen if I slip.Right now, I’m walking toward the knights' quarters to check if Michael has returned. I’m praying so hard that tears start rolling down my cheeks. I feel helpless.Running away on my own isn’t an option—not with guards posted at every corner of this place."You again? I told you to tell me the problem you have so I can help you instead of him, but you refused," says the nosy knight I always run into when I come looking for Michael.“Lucky you… he’s back,” he adds, and my heart leaps with hope.“Where is h—” My words catch in my throat as Michael steps out of one of the door
He doesn't give up. His lips hover close, trying to connect with mine again. I turn my head slightly, my body trembling as I fight the urge to give in. How long can I resist?Instead, he pulls me into another embrace again, holding me so tightly it feels like he never plans to let go."Ar...thur..." I whisper his name, my voice barely audible. I didn't mean to call him that-it just slips out. I feel his lips curve into a smile against the side of my neck.He tightens his hold on me, and my body stiffens."This... this is wrong. Please... let me go. It's really wrong..." I finally manage to say, though it takes everything in me to get the words out."I love you," he whispers. "I really love you. Please, tell me your fears. I'll fix everything. Then we can be happy together.""You don't understand..." My voice shakes."How can I understand if you won't tell me? My love, please, say it. Whatever it is, just tell me," he pleads, his tone soft yet desperate."You won't love me anymore if I
It's been hours since Madin managed to escape the palace, and the situation is beginning to raise suspicion. The tension among the servants is palpable.Everyone knows that when Prince Arthur discovers Madin’s absence, it won’t be taken lightly.Inside his chamber, Prince Arthur is lost in thought. He hasn't summoned her since their encounter earlier in the day because he doesn't want to seem overbearing.He’s also been preoccupied, replaying the scene in his mind—the moment he kissed her. She didn’t resist. In fact, she leaned into him, closing the gap.The memory alone makes him smile like a fool. He sits on the edge of his bed, brushing his fingers over his lips, recalling the warmth of hers."She must feel something for me too," he murmurs to himself, the words soothing yet puzzling. "But why does she keep refusing to admit it?"The thought frustrates him, the smile slipping from his face. He clenches his jaw, the question plaguing his mind like a relentless storm. His musings are
It's been two days since Madin disappeared, and the atmosphere in the palace is heavy with unspoken questions and unease.Arthur hasn’t left his chambers except for the occasional appearance at the king's insistence.Even then, his presence is a shadow of the man the court once revered. Gone is the confident, composed prince who commanded every room he entered. Now, he is distracted, irritable, and burdened by an ache he cannot escape.Arthur sits by the window, staring out at the vast fields that stretch beyond the palace grounds.His eyes, red from lack of sleep, search the horizon as if Madin might suddenly appear, walking back toward him. The memory of their last conversation replays in his mind endlessly."Why?" He mutters to himself, his voice hoarse. "Why would you leave like this?"He grips the edge of the window frame, the cool wood grounding him momentarily. His mind is a storm of emotions—guilt, anger, confusion, and a yearning so deep it terrifies him.Madin’s absence fee
It’s been a month since Michael took Madin to his brother Jack’s home in a neighboring village. While the family treats Madin with kindness and understanding, he feels anything but safe or at ease. His mind remains trapped in the torment of leaving the palace, a place that held both his greatest fears and the person he cannot stop thinking about. Each passing day feels like an eternity, and the weight of his guilt and longing is crushing.He often sits by the window of the small, modest home, staring at nothing. The world outside is a blur of sounds and colors, but none of it reaches him. Every thought circles back to Arthur. Every memory, every word, every smile—they haunt him relentlessly. Sometimes, in his darkest moments, he thinks death would be kinder than the agony of living with this unbearable pain."Madin," Jack's voice cuts through the suffocating silence. Jack enters the small room, his face lined with worry, his voice trembling as he speaks. "We have a serious problem
"It’s been days now. When are you planning to get rid of that kid?” the king asks sharply, his voice cutting through the quiet tension of the dining hall.Prince Arthur, seated across the table, stops chewing. He hasn’t had much of an appetite in weeks, but tonight, the king’s question robs him of the little will he had left to pretend.“I will, Father,” Arthur replies curtly, pushing his chair back and standing. He strides out of the dining hall without another word, leaving his meal untouched.Since the truth about Madin’s identity was revealed, Arthur has been a shell of himself. The next day after the revelation, he forced himself to wake up and carry on as though nothing had happened. He resumed his royal duties, maintaining the mask of strength and control that his position demands.But inside, he is crumbling. He hasn’t spoken about Madin, not to his father, his advisors, or even himself in the rare moments of solitude he allows. The palace is abuzz with whispers, the truth a
Standing at the very end of the last row of beautiful girls in dazzling dresses, I tug at my oversized black gown, trying to stop it from dragging in the dirt.The itch from the wig Aunt Christabel forced on me is unbearable, and my patience is wearing thin.We're all lined up in the palace courtyard, waiting for the crowned prince to choose his personal servant.My gaze flits across the courtyard-rows upon rows of girls fidgeting with nervous excitement.Their colorful gowns shimmer under the sunlight, and their perfect hairstyles speak of hours of preparation.I shouldn't even be here."Tomorrow, get ready. I've found a dress for you," Aunt Christabel had said last night, her tone as sharp as the needle stitching my fate. "You'll be near the crown prince. Imagine that!"But I don't want to imagine that. Why would I? I'm a boy-not a girl dreaming of a crowned prince!Instead, I'm here, surrounded by girls desperate to be chosen, pretending to be someone I'm not.Flashback to the Anno
"It’s been days now. When are you planning to get rid of that kid?” the king asks sharply, his voice cutting through the quiet tension of the dining hall.Prince Arthur, seated across the table, stops chewing. He hasn’t had much of an appetite in weeks, but tonight, the king’s question robs him of the little will he had left to pretend.“I will, Father,” Arthur replies curtly, pushing his chair back and standing. He strides out of the dining hall without another word, leaving his meal untouched.Since the truth about Madin’s identity was revealed, Arthur has been a shell of himself. The next day after the revelation, he forced himself to wake up and carry on as though nothing had happened. He resumed his royal duties, maintaining the mask of strength and control that his position demands.But inside, he is crumbling. He hasn’t spoken about Madin, not to his father, his advisors, or even himself in the rare moments of solitude he allows. The palace is abuzz with whispers, the truth a
It’s been a month since Michael took Madin to his brother Jack’s home in a neighboring village. While the family treats Madin with kindness and understanding, he feels anything but safe or at ease. His mind remains trapped in the torment of leaving the palace, a place that held both his greatest fears and the person he cannot stop thinking about. Each passing day feels like an eternity, and the weight of his guilt and longing is crushing.He often sits by the window of the small, modest home, staring at nothing. The world outside is a blur of sounds and colors, but none of it reaches him. Every thought circles back to Arthur. Every memory, every word, every smile—they haunt him relentlessly. Sometimes, in his darkest moments, he thinks death would be kinder than the agony of living with this unbearable pain."Madin," Jack's voice cuts through the suffocating silence. Jack enters the small room, his face lined with worry, his voice trembling as he speaks. "We have a serious problem
It's been two days since Madin disappeared, and the atmosphere in the palace is heavy with unspoken questions and unease.Arthur hasn’t left his chambers except for the occasional appearance at the king's insistence.Even then, his presence is a shadow of the man the court once revered. Gone is the confident, composed prince who commanded every room he entered. Now, he is distracted, irritable, and burdened by an ache he cannot escape.Arthur sits by the window, staring out at the vast fields that stretch beyond the palace grounds.His eyes, red from lack of sleep, search the horizon as if Madin might suddenly appear, walking back toward him. The memory of their last conversation replays in his mind endlessly."Why?" He mutters to himself, his voice hoarse. "Why would you leave like this?"He grips the edge of the window frame, the cool wood grounding him momentarily. His mind is a storm of emotions—guilt, anger, confusion, and a yearning so deep it terrifies him.Madin’s absence fee
It's been hours since Madin managed to escape the palace, and the situation is beginning to raise suspicion. The tension among the servants is palpable.Everyone knows that when Prince Arthur discovers Madin’s absence, it won’t be taken lightly.Inside his chamber, Prince Arthur is lost in thought. He hasn't summoned her since their encounter earlier in the day because he doesn't want to seem overbearing.He’s also been preoccupied, replaying the scene in his mind—the moment he kissed her. She didn’t resist. In fact, she leaned into him, closing the gap.The memory alone makes him smile like a fool. He sits on the edge of his bed, brushing his fingers over his lips, recalling the warmth of hers."She must feel something for me too," he murmurs to himself, the words soothing yet puzzling. "But why does she keep refusing to admit it?"The thought frustrates him, the smile slipping from his face. He clenches his jaw, the question plaguing his mind like a relentless storm. His musings are
He doesn't give up. His lips hover close, trying to connect with mine again. I turn my head slightly, my body trembling as I fight the urge to give in. How long can I resist?Instead, he pulls me into another embrace again, holding me so tightly it feels like he never plans to let go."Ar...thur..." I whisper his name, my voice barely audible. I didn't mean to call him that-it just slips out. I feel his lips curve into a smile against the side of my neck.He tightens his hold on me, and my body stiffens."This... this is wrong. Please... let me go. It's really wrong..." I finally manage to say, though it takes everything in me to get the words out."I love you," he whispers. "I really love you. Please, tell me your fears. I'll fix everything. Then we can be happy together.""You don't understand..." My voice shakes."How can I understand if you won't tell me? My love, please, say it. Whatever it is, just tell me," he pleads, his tone soft yet desperate."You won't love me anymore if I
Three days gone, and I haven't seen Michael around the palace. Just where is he when I need him the most? He said he'd get me out of this place, so why has he disappeared all these days?I've been avoiding Prince Arthur with all my might, though it’s nearly impossible since all my duties revolve around him.Every moment around him feels like walking on a tightrope, and I’m terrified of what might happen if I slip.Right now, I’m walking toward the knights' quarters to check if Michael has returned. I’m praying so hard that tears start rolling down my cheeks. I feel helpless.Running away on my own isn’t an option—not with guards posted at every corner of this place."You again? I told you to tell me the problem you have so I can help you instead of him, but you refused," says the nosy knight I always run into when I come looking for Michael.“Lucky you… he’s back,” he adds, and my heart leaps with hope.“Where is h—” My words catch in my throat as Michael steps out of one of the door
“How wrong?” he repeats asking, his question surprising me. What does he mean by that? How wrong? I mean, it’s wrong in every possible way.“It’s just hugging. Why are you making such a fuss about it? Why are you acting like I’m harassing you?” His voice lowers, but his grip doesn’t loosen. “You were hugging me back a few minutes ago. So, why are you fighting it now?”“This is wrong,” I repeat, my voice firmer this time.But he ignores me, as if he hasn’t heard. I stand frozen, speechless, the sound of his drumming heart filling my ears.“Can you feel my heart, Maya?” he asks softly. “This is what happens every time you’re close to me. Even when I just think about you.”I want to say something, anything, but the words seem to have abandoned me.“I’m attracted to you, Maya,” he continues, his voice raw with vulnerability. “I’ve fallen in love with you. You’re the reason I rejected Princess Ferrior. Because, for some reason, I’ve realized the kind of person I truly want. Not just someon
After so much struggle, I finally reach the heavy metal door of his room to inform him that the evening meal is ready. The guard steps aside silently, his ever-watchful eyes following my every move.I knock. No response.I was told they returned some minutes ago, so he must be inside. But why isn’t he answering?I knock again, louder this time, but the silence remains.“Is he in?” I ask the guard who stands like a statue at his post. This one rarely speaks, though they all exchange shifts regularly.He nods, offering no further explanation.If he’s inside, why isn’t he answering? Unease churns in my stomach as I debate whether to enter. Something feels… off.Finally, I decide to open the door. The hinges creak as I step inside, my movements hesitant.He’s standing near the window, his hands clasped behind his back, staring outside toward the field where I had been earlier.“Your Highness, the evening meal is ready,” I announce, keeping my tone respectful. Despite our usual banter, I k
A month later,I'm finally familiar with the palace-most of its rules, the endless duties, and the peculiar crowned prince.I've stopped questioning his odd behavior. Maybe that's just who he is- possessive with his maids and unpredictable. It's not my place to question him anyway.This morning, he left with the king to mediate a conflict in the Tabana Kingdom. Fighting over power, and as always, our king is the one they turn to for resolution.He's the most respected, wise, and powerful ruler in the region. When he speaks, even rival kingdoms listen.With the prince gone, I wander aimlessly around the palace, my thoughts scattered. I don't understand him. His actions and words often confuse me, leaving me with ideas I shouldn't even entertain.Yet, despite his strangeness, I like him. He's friendly to me in a way no one else has ever been.When he's free, we spend hours talking about nothing important, quarreling over nonsense.For the first time, it feels like I've made a real frien