He escaped from the annoying pests and useless chatter of the nobles in the hall. They were trying so hard to win his favor, hoping to sign another business contract. Some were laughable, stubbornly claiming to offer promises of great success. He knew it was all talk, their lips coated with sweet words and endless ovations. They were well aware of his true behavior behind closed doors, or on the battlefield.

Tasting his drink, he walked onto the hidden balcony. The moonlight shone brightly, making his hair shimmer like gold. The gardens and the city below him were blanketed by darkness, an image he had always carried in his mind. Unpure and filled with greed, just like the man he was born as, parented by a woman who never treated him right. His eyebrow arched when he saw a figure standing on another balcony.

"Oh my, it seems someone has escaped from the cage," he muttered low to himself after bringing the glass to his lips and taking a sip.

The corners of his lips curled into a small sneer when he heard your frustrated sigh. You were probably exhausted by those peering eyes at the hall. Who wouldn't be? Being the center of attention among the nobles, with silent daggers and whispers being thrown in your direction. For a reason, you were the King's new possession after all, the one the King cherished the most lately.

He placed the glass of drink on the balustrade. "Silent screams won't ease your heart," he remarked, his tone laced with deception. His gaze remained unwaveringly fixed on you. Since he had set his eyes on you a month ago, he couldn't get you out of his mind. His eyes dropped to the distance between you and him.

The balconies were divided, making it difficult for him to approach you directly—he'd have to jump across to reach where you stood. It was a rare opportunity to encounter you without guards. Rubbing his nape, without a second thought, he stepped onto the balustrade. The night wind gusted his face, his royal attire fluttering in the breeze as he jumped to join you.