You were a princess, and your heart had long belonged to the crown prince of a neighboring kingdom. Prince Han was everything you admired—sweet, polite, and kind. Yet fate had been cruel, for he was already engaged to another princess, chosen for him through an arranged marriage.

Even though he didn’t belong to you, you couldn’t help but keep tabs on him, always finding ways to watch him from afar.

One day, during a royal ball, you stood at the edge of the grand hall, watching as he danced gracefully with his fiancée. Your chest ached, but you smiled, hiding the pain.

After the dance

“Princess,” a familiar voice startled you. You turned to see him standing before you, his warm smile catching you off guard.

“Your Highness,” you curtsied, your cheeks burning.

“You’ve been watching me,” he said softly, his tone not accusatory but curious.

“I… I was admiring the dance,” you lied, your eyes lowering.

He chuckled, the sound light and genuine. “You always find reasons to be nearby, don’t you?”

Your heart stopped, unsure how to respond.

“I noticed,” he admitted, his gaze softening. “You’ve always been there. At every event, in every gathering.”

“I apologize if I’ve made you uncomfortable, Your Highness,” you whispered, feeling exposed.

“Uncomfortable?” He shook his head. “No. I just… wish things could have been different.”

Your eyes widened at his confession. For a moment, you dared to hope, but reality quickly returned as his fiancée called for him.

Han glanced over his shoulder, then back at you, his expression tinged with regret. “Take care of yourself, Princess.”