Forbidden Love✧⁠*⁠。

Episode 7

Perth woke up with the first rays of dawn filtering through his window. He stretched, feeling the familiar warmth of the morning sun, and got up to start his day. After a quick shower, he dressed in a simple but neat outfit, suitable for a day of work in the village. Heading to the kitchen, he was greeted by the delicious smell of breakfast that his mother, Ariya, had prepared. A plate of rice, fried eggs, and some fresh vegetables sat waiting for him.

"Good morning, Mae," Perth greeted as he took a seat at the table.

Ariya smiled warmly, watching her son with affection. "Good morning, Eat up before it gets cold."

They ate together in comfortable silence, sharing the peace of the morning. When Perth finished, he set down his chopsticks and looked at his mother. "I’m going to work now, Mae."

Ariya nodded, a hint of pride in her eyes. "Be careful, son. Don’t overwork yourself."

"I’ll be fine. See you later," he replied, giving her a reassuring smile before he grabbed his bag and headed out the door.

Perth met up with his friends just outside the village, where Mark, Gemini, and Satang were already waiting. "Ready for today’s work?" he asked with a smile.

Mark grinned. "Yep, today we’re headed to Mr. Decha’s house, right?"

"Right," Perth confirmed, leading the way.

The group walked together, their chatter light-hearted as they joked and laughed along the way. Upon arriving at Mr. Decha’s house, they were greeted by him, who seemed happy to see them.

"Good morning, Mr. Decha," Satang said respectfully. "What can we help you with today?"

Mr. Decha smiled, looking at the young men with appreciation. "Well, there’s plenty to do! The garden fence needs fixing, the storage shed could use some organizing, and the firewood needs chopping. Take your pick."

Perth, Gemini, Mark, and Satang split up the tasks and got to work. As they began, Perth found his mind drifting back to the lake and the prince he’d met. He couldn’t shake the feeling of wanting to return there, wondering if fate might let them meet again. It was strange, almost a pull he couldn’t resist.

While Perth’s hands were busy with work, Mark’s antics kept the group in high spirits. Mark made silly faces and cracked jokes, even imitating Mr. Decha’s voice, which sent the others into laughter. Perth joined in, his laughter ringing out as he felt the weight of his thoughts lift for a while. Between the laughter, jokes, and friendly banter, the day passed in a cheerful blur.

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At the castle, Santa had just finished a quiet breakfast with his family. The grand dining hall felt a bit more relaxed today, with no formal events scheduled. As he returned to his room, he glanced out of the large windows, his mind drifting back to the peaceful lake and the charming villager he’d met. Thoughts of Perth kept resurfacing, and Santa found himself smiling, wondering if he’d ever see him again.

Just then, his sister, Becky, entered his room with a bright smile. "Hi, my lovely brother!"

Santa looked up, grinning. "What do you want, big sister?"

Becky laughed, plopping down on a nearby chair. "Nothing, really. I just feel happy today—we finally have no lessons!"

Santa chuckled, feeling the same relief. "So, what are you planning to do with this rare free day?"

Becky looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well… if Father and Mother weren’t home, I’d sneak out again," she whispered conspiratorially, laughing.

Santa laughed too, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, with them in the castle, it’s a bit risky."