The grand halls of the royal palace echoed faintly as a tall figure strode through them with long, purposeful steps. Cloaked in royal blues and grays, Crown Prince Cassian Thorne had finally returned after two months away at the borderlands. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes carried a storm.
He had come to see Celestia.
She hadn't written in over a month. And when she did, her words had felt cold.
Now, the famed main lead of the love triangle was walking briskly down the eastern corridor, turning corners swiftly, ignoring the way startled guards moved out of his way.
His eyes scanned every passing face.
"Where is Lady Celestia?" he demanded sharply of a passing servant.
"In the west wing—" they began.
Cassian didn't wait for them to finish. He turned too fast, his cape trailing behind him like a streak of shadow.
And that's when it happened.
Just around the bend, Aiden—his arms full of linens and parchment, brow furrowed in focus—rushed around the same corner at the exact wrong time.
The two collided hard.
"Agh—!"
Cassian grunted as the impact knocked him back a step. The younger, lighter Aiden stumbled and lost balance entirely, crashing right into the crown prince's chest before both of them hit the floor.
Cassian landed with a sharp exhale—only to realize someone was on top of him.
Aiden blinked.
And Cassian blinked.
For a moment, they just stared.
Aiden's hair fell like dark silk around his face, damp with the morning heat, his see-through bangs slightly sticking to his forehead. His wide, startled doe eyes, framed with long lashes, met Cassian's cold golden ones. His soft lips parted slightly, stunned. His small, fragile frame pressed lightly against Cassian's chest.
Time stilled.
What… is this…? Cassian thought, confused.
"…Is this… a girl?" he muttered out loud, brows furrowing.
Aiden's cheeks flamed bright red. "I—I'm sorry!" he stammered, scrambling off him. "I didn't see—!"
Cassian sat up, gaze fixed on Aiden even as the boy bowed deeply, gathering his dropped belongings in a fluster.
"Wait," the prince said, voice firm.
Aiden froze.
Cassian stood, brushing himself off. His eyes trailed over Aiden's delicate appearance. "Who are you?"
"M-my name is Ren," Aiden said quickly, using his cover identity. "I'm a servant of Lord Shinomi."
"…Ren," Cassian repeated, thoughtfully.
The way he said it made Aiden uncomfortable—like he'd been marked.
"Take me to Celestia," Cassian finally commanded one of the passing attendants, though his gaze lingered on Aiden for a moment longer than necessary.
Aiden bowed once more and practically vanished down the corridor.
Cassian turned toward the west wing—but even as he walked, a single thought kept repeating in his mind:
What kind of servant looks like that?
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From the end of the hallway, Shinomi stood watching.
He had seen it all.
And he did not like the look in Cassian's eyes.
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