FALL IN LOVE WITH A MONSTERS [HEEJAKEHOON]

betryal

(Flashback)

Jino's pov:

The grand halls of the castle stretched out before me, lined with tall, arched windows and velvet curtains that whispered with the wind. Everything felt ancient the kind of silence that carried centuries in its stillness. I followed behind my hyung, trying not to fall behind, but curiosity tugged at me like a child at my sleeve.

They said my hyung Heli had become a knight here. A protector of someone important. I didn't know what that meant fully, only that I wanted to see it for myself.

My boots clicked lightly against the marble floor as I wandered toward the center corridor.
Paintings of people I didn't know stared down at me from gilded frames.

I turned a corner, my eyes still fixed on the tall ceilings and then suddenly

Thud.

"Ouch!" a voice gasped.

I stumbled back slightly, startled. My eyes dropped and standing before me was a boy.

He looked about my age. Soft brown hair that curled slightly near his temples, and clear, striking eyes that reminded me of starlight on water. He wore a dark blue robe with silver threading along the cuffs, unlike anything I'd ever seen.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice barely more than a breath.

The boy tilted his head. He didn't seem angry. In fact, a tiny smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"You're not from here," he said softly, studying me. "Are you one of the new knight's kin?"

I nodded slowly. "My older brother. Heli."

The boy's eyes widened slightly. "Knight Heli?" He stepped a little closer, his expression curious now. "So you're Jino."

That surprised me. "You know my name?"

He nodded again. "He talks about you. A lot."

I didn't know what to say. My cheeks flushed without warning.

"And you are...?" I asked.

The boy hesitated for the briefest moment, and then gave a short bow.

"I'm Solon," he said, his voice light. "Prince of this castle."

I blinked.

Prince?

I had just bumped into a prince?

Panic rushed through me. "I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"

But Solon only laughed a light, unbothered sound. "Don't worry. I don't like formalities."

His eyes sparkled.

And in that moment, I didn't see a prince. I saw a boy, not so different from me, standing in a castle just as lonely.

Neither of us knew then, in that small moment between apologies and names, that this was the beginning of something forbidden.

And unforgettable.
_________________________________________

SIX MONTHS LATER:

The sunlight filtered gently through the trees, painting dappled shadows on the stone path beneath my feet. I walked slowly, careful not to crush the delicate wildflowers I held in my hands a small bouquet of soft blues and creamy whites I had picked from the garden.

They weren't royal flowers or anything grand. Just simple ones.
But they reminded me of him of Solon.

He liked the quiet things, I noticed. Things no one paid attention to.