𝓜𝔂 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓕𝓸𝓻 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓘𝓼 𝓐𝓶𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓮

𝐹𝒶𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑅𝑜𝓈𝑒𝓈

"Watch out!"

The warning comes a second too late, but before I hit the ground, a pair of strong arms catch me mid-fall. The world spins for a moment as I'm steadied, my breath catching in my throat.

"Are you alright?" a voice asks, his tone both concerned and exasperated.

The moment our eyes meet, time feels as though it stands still. His gaze locks onto mine, unwavering and steady, and I find myself unable to look away. Those familiar sky-blue eyes... For a moment, the world fades—only the two of us exist. A sudden gust of wind carries a flurry of heliotrope petals around us, their delicate purple hues raining down like a blessing or perhaps a tease. I blink, snapping myself out of the trance, and so does he.

"You seem... unsteady," he remarks, his tone light yet laced with concern. He steps closer, offering his hand as though to steady me. I hesitate but eventually place my hand in his, allowing him to guide me upright.

"I'm fine, truly," I reply, brushing invisible dust from my skirts, though the warmth of his hand lingers. "Thank you."

He doesn't release me immediately, his gaze flickering back to mine with a subtle glint of curiosity. "I saw you yesterday," he says after a pause, his voice bright with the air of casual conversation. "You seemed busy, so I didn't intrude."

I raise an eyebrow, caught off guard by his observation. "Oh, I was," I admit. "I was being given a tour of the palace."

He repeats the word, as if tasting it. "A tour, huh?" His lips curve into a mischievous smile. "So, you must be someone important. Care to enlighten me?"

I straighten my posture, clasping my hands before me as decorum demands. "I am Princess Ophelia Coscinocera of the Kingdom of Moonfall."

His eyes widen ever so slightly, and then that smile of his widens into something almost boyish. "Well, if that's the case..." He pauses, extending his hand. When I place mine in his once again, expecting a firm shake, he surprises me. Instead of shaking my hand, he turns it over and lowers his head, pressing a warm, soft kiss to the back of my hand.

An involuntary shiver runs down my spine, and I hope he doesn't notice. His voice is smooth, teasing yet sincere, as he straightens. "That makes you my fiancée, doesn't it? Which means, here, you would be Crown Princess Ophelia Coscinocera of the Sunrise Kingdom."

I nod, my voice steady despite the flutter in my chest. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Prince Helios."

"The pleasure is all mine," he replies, his voice carrying a natural charm. He studies me for a moment, his head tilting slightly. "You're even more beautiful than I imagined."

A faint blush threatens to creep up my neck, but I suppress it, maintaining my composed exterior. "Thank you," I murmur, though his gaze remains fixed on me, as though he sees something beyond my outward appearance.

"I've heard about the blue tint in your features," he says thoughtfully, his eyes scanning my hair, my skin, and fixing themselves at where my own eyes are covered. "But I never imagined it would be so... vivid. It's remarkable."