Forbidden Love✧⁠*⁠。

Episode 1

Ever since he was born, Santa had never felt like a normal person. He lived under the heavy expectations of his parents, destined to be a great prince, to fulfill his duty, and to follow the rules that seemed to bind him tighter with each passing day. But deep inside, he resented it all. What Santa truly desired was freedom—the kind of freedom that allowed him to be himself without the gnawing feeling that he was never good enough. He yearned for a life beyond the castle walls, a life where he could explore the world without the constraints of royalty.

Everyone believed that living as part of a royal family was a dream come true, a life of luxury and privilege. But to Santa, it felt like a gilded cage. The palace was meant to be a sanctuary, but it was, in fact, suffocating. The ornate halls echoed with laughter and celebration, yet he felt a profound loneliness in his heart. He had never ventured beyond the palace grounds except for obligatory royal functions, always surrounded by the weight of tradition. He often shared this longing for freedom with his sister, Becky, who felt the same suffocating pressure. She, too, wished for a life where she could shed the pretense of grace and propriety that was expected of her.

Both siblings understood that finding the freedom they so desperately craved would be a difficult task, if not impossible. Their lives were dictated by the rules of the court, but they took comfort in each other’s presence. Together, they would find solace in their shared frustrations, confiding their hopes and dreams to their trusted bodyguards, William and Est, when they had the chance to meet.

At that moment, Santa found himself in the palace library, surrounded by the musty scent of old books and the faint sound of rustling pages. He was seated at a grand oak table with Becky and their teacher, Arm, who was responsible for their education. Arm’s lessons ranged from the history of their royal lineage to the responsibilities that awaited them as they matured into their roles. Though both Santa and Becky had already learned most of the material, they endured the lessons with a sense of resigned boredom.

As Arm droned on about the significance of the royal family’s ancestry, Becky, sitting next to Santa, playfully nudged him with her elbow. A mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes as she leaned closer and began to mock the teacher’s earnestness, her voice barely above a whisper "Oh, yes, Your Highness, let’s all focus on how important it is to know about the significance of the royal family's ancestry!" Santa struggled to contain his laughter, biting his lip in an effort to maintain composure. He leaned closer, whispering, "Phi, stop!"

Arm’s voice broke through their shared amusement. "Your Highness, will you both please focus? This is a serious topic," he admonished, his tone stern but laced with a hint of exasperation.

Santa and Becky exchanged quick glances, their eyes glimmering with suppressed laughter, and nodded obediently, but the moment of levity lingered between them.

After what felt like hours, the lesson finally came to an end. Arm left the library, and Santa and Becky made their way to Santa’s room. As they walked, Santa turned to his sister, an amused yet mildly reproachful expression on his face. "Phi, we could’ve gotten in trouble earlier. You can’t just mock him like that! You almost made me laugh out loud."

Becky shrugged, a playful grin spreading across her face. "Sorry, Nong, but the lesson was so boring!" She flopped onto Santa’s bed, stretching out comfortably.

"Yeah, I have no idea why we need to know all of that," Santa replied, his tone exasperated yet affectionate.

Becky pouted playfully, looking up at him with mock seriousness. "I want to sleep. Wake me once Namtan calls us for lunch, alright?"

"Go sleep in your own room," Santa teased, but Becky just shook her head.

"Nope, I’ll sleep here," she insisted, making herself cozy on the bed.