•𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋• ||A Lee Heeseung AU||

Chapter 1

The once-empty dining table was now packed with people, the silence replaced by a hum of inaudible conversations.

It was summer, a season when kings from neighboring lands and distant empires gathered to indulge, discuss, and boast about themselves. Like a grand CARNIVAL.

This ritual, rooted in tradition, had begun centuries ago with the aim of uniting kingdoms through marriage. I had never cared much for it—until now.

My indifference shifted this summer when the King of the Cene Empire—my father—decided to host the event at our palace. The king believed it was time to find me a "proper kingdom." In this world, it wasn't about finding a suitable groom. No, here princes and princesses sought kingdoms to rule.

The King of the Cene Empire, my dad, believed to find me a proper Kingdom.

I sat at the edge of the long dining table, slowly sipping red wine, feeling it glide down my throat as I tuned out the endless, pretentious chatter around me. The nobles and royalties, who had arrived only hours earlier, were now downing costly drinks and exchanging words I could only describe as nonsense and utter bullshit.

After what felt like an eternity, the dinner ended. Without waiting for my father to to officially toast the end of the dinner, I made a quick escape to my room. Or at least that had been my intention. My walk not so proper due to my slight tipsy-ness.

Instead of collapsing onto my bed, I found myself heading for the rooftop—my sanctuary in this sprawling palace. As cliché as it sounds, it was the one place where I could truly be alone. The second best place after the pantry in the kitchen.

I pushed open the creaky door to the abandoned rooftop, expecting solitude, but I was greeted by an unfamiliar silhouette in the darkness. The abandoned rooftop wasn't so abandoned right now.

"Who are you?" the unexpected visitor asked, his voice cutting through the cool night air. It was unmistakably male.

"I should be the one asking that question," I replied, raising an eyebrow. "Who are you, and why aren't you downstairs?"

"It seems we both needed an excuse to escape that dreadful gathering," he said nonchalantly, turning his back to me and gazing at the stars, as if he trusted me not to harm him.

What if I pushed him off the edge?...

"Why would you be annoyed by it? Surely you're not being disadvantaged by it," I retorted, half-wondering if he too was being pushed into an arranged marriage. 

I made my way towards the edge as well, next to him. I rest my hands on the railing. Not expecting a reply, I turned towards the dark sky as well. The moon's brightness nullifying the stars'.

"Not exactly advantageous either," he murmured, his tone indifferent. "And the excessive pomp—it's not my style."

"Looks like we share that opinion," I said, smiling. He mirrored my expression, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"I sense something else is troubling you, Princess," he said after a few moments of silence. His attire, like mine, left no doubt about his royal status.

"Why do you think so?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

"Let me guess. You're being forced into marriage?" he said, taking a step closer. He seemed to already know the answer.

We both were looking at each other now that we could finally see our faces. His features were god-like. Dark eyes, sharp brows, dark black hair.

He then turned himself back towards the sky and I did the same.