Fragile Desires (18+) (GxG)

Thirty | Museums

Ten years old, standing carefully on the edge of the palace fountain, the cold spray misting my face.

Below, the water churned, an intimidating expanse of emerald green.

Fear, a cold serpent, coiled in my stomach, threatening to paralyze me.

Yet, there he stood, Antonio, a mischievous glint in his dark eyes, a silent challenge etched on his face.

It had started innocently enough, a harmless competition during a fencing lesson.

He'd dodged my attack with effortless grace, a playful smirk replacing his usual stoicism.

"Bet you can't land five perfect touches in a row," he challenged me and to my surprise—

I had.

The exhilaration of victory was short-lived, however, as he'd upped the challenge.

"Then jump off the fountain," he'd declared, amusement dancing in his eyes.

Jumping off the fountain?

Absurd.

It was a childish dare, a test of courage meant for younger siblings, not heirs and soon-to-be bodyguards.

Yet, the seed of defiance had been planted.

The princess, forever expected to be poised and graceful, couldn't back down from a mere challenge, could she?

Especially not in front of Antonio, my confidante, my best friend, and secretly, the only person who dared to see the rebellious spirit simmering beneath my royal facade.

So, I jumped.

The water embraced me with a shock, the world a distorted symphony of gurgling and muffled laughter.

When I surfaced, hair plastered to my face, lungs burning, Antonio was laughing nearly uncontrollably.

A strange sense of accomplishment washed over me, a taste of freedom stolen from the perfectly crafted cage of my life.

That day by the fountain marked the beginning of our unspoken pact.

Dares, escalating in absurdity and consequence, became the language of our friendship.

Scaling the forbidden west wall of the palace, sneaking out to explore the night markets disguised as commoners, these were the threads that wove the tapestry of our bond.

Each dare, a rebellion against the burdening expectations of our roles, a shared defiance against the strictness of our lives.

We knew the risks, the potential consequences of our actions.

Yet, there was an unspoken understanding, a silent vow.

We wouldn't let the other down.

We'd face the consequences, the lectures, together.

Because in that shared defiance, in the thrill of the impossible, we found a freedom neither of us could experience anywhere else.