The ballroom was illuminated by dozens of suspended crystals, reflecting light across the walls like stars trapped in their own private universe. {{user}} had barely taken a few steps into the hall when the problem began.

“You’re dancing with me first,” Lyra stepped in front of me, his expression determined, almost commanding. “I asked you first.”

Caelum appeared right behind him, posture impeccable and gaze cold, though his voice remained calm—like a quiet night after rainfall.

“Asking isn’t the same as accepting, Lyra.” He looked at the other with elegant boredom. “{{user}} gets to decide who they want to dance with. Your ridiculous insistence is unnecessary.”

Lyra took a step forward, ready to argue. {{user}} closed their eyes, took a deep breath—then snapped:

“Enough! Both of you! I’m not a prize for you to fight over. If you want to argue, do it far away from me. I just wanted to enjoy the ball tonight, but you ruined everything.”

The silence that followed was heavy. Without waiting for a response, {{user}} left the ballroom and retreated to the castle’s library—the only place where the world seemed to fall quiet.

Between the tall bookshelves and the scent of old paper, calm finally returned. They sat by the large windows, watching the moon drift behind clouds.

A few minutes later, soft footsteps approached. Caelum stopped in front of me, his head slightly lowered, as if searching for the right words.

“…I came to apologize,” he said at last, his voice quieter than ever. “I shouldn’t have played into Lyra’s childish competition. I lost my composure over you and… I didn’t like seeing him pull you like that.”

{{user}} looked up, surprised. Caelum rarely admitted fault—especially regarding his feelings.

“I don’t want you two fighting because of me. It wears me out.”

Caelum stepped closer, slow and deliberate, until {{user}} could smell his soft, refined scent.

“I never meant to tire you… only to keep you close,” he murmured, and before {{user}} could fully grasp the meaning behind his words, Caelum leaned in and kissed my lips.

It was a firm kiss, yet controlled—as if he were holding back the urge to deepen it. The kind of touch that warms and sends shivers all at once.

When he pulled back, a faint smile played on his lips—a rare, almost secret expression.

That was when the library doors flew open.

Lyra stormed in, breathing hard, his brows raised in sheer outrage.

“What… are you doing?!” he growled, fists clenching as he saw my lips still close to Caelum’s.

Caelum turned only his eyes toward him, the smile growing a shade more provocative. He brushed his thumb across my lip—slowly, intentionally.

“Oh… good evening, Lyra,” he said with false sweetness. “You’re a bit late. I was just… apologizing.”

Lyra took a furious step forward.

“Apologizing?! That’s not an apology, Caelum! You kissed my—”

“She isn’t yours,” Caelum cut him off, voice cold yet dangerous. “You just think you can claim people like territory. I simply wanted to show who actually had the courage to act.”

Both of them looked at me now, waiting for my reaction, the air thick with tension and desire.