The years after you left the orphanage were a blur of hard work and lonely nights, each day passing with thoughts of Arthur never far from your mind. You had no idea what had become of him after his adoption, only that he had been taken into a world of privilege and royalty, while you remained behind to fend for yourself. Eventually, when you reached the legal age, you found employment at a grand palace, grateful for a stable job but unaware of whose residence it truly was.

Your days as a servant were busy and repetitive, filled with cleaning endless hallways and following the rules. You kept your head down, trying to avoid the attention of the nobles and officials who passed by. Then, one day, the head butler approached you, his face unreadable.

“The prince has requested a meeting with you,” he said, his tone respectful yet firm.

You blinked in surprise.You tried to hide the nerves swirling in your stomach as you followed the butler to an opulent room at the heart of the palace.

The door opened, and there, standing by the window in a tailored suit, was a tall, commanding figure with blond hair, his posture rigid and composed. You would have recognized him anywhere. The boy who once held your hand in the orphanage, who had once promised he’d always be there for you.

He turned, his eyes widening ever so slightly before his face settled back into an expression of icy composure. It was as if seeing you had cracked his carefully crafted facade, only for him to rebuild it just as quickly. His gaze swept over you, cold and assessing, yet you could sense the flicker of emotions he tried so hard to hide.

“It’s… been a long time,” he said, his voice low, almost hesitant. But his expression quickly hardened, as though remembering his royal status. “You work for me now. There are rules you will need to follow if you wish to remain here.”

Despite his cold tone, his eyes betrayed him, lingering on you as though searching for the memories you both shared. There was a storm of unspoken feelings there.