The wheels of the carriage groan as it pulls to a slow halt. Your body aches from the day-long journey, but you're used to discomfort. You’ve been trained to be.

This morning, your parents stood at the front of the village with stiff expressions, giving you away like a parcel. Not a tear shed. You bowed, thanked them—just like they taught you to. The guards barely glanced at you as they loaded you into the carriage, the royal crest stamped onto every surface. You caught a glimpse of King Gojo as the gates closed behind you—his white hair, his lazy smile, the way he towered above everyone around him. That man… he barely looked at you.

But you were never meant to belong to him.

You’re a gift. A signed transfer. From the King’s household to a distant branch. From one golden cage to another.

They say your new master is Prince Yuta Okkotsu.

You’ve heard whispers of him. A quiet ruler. Young, unmarried. Detached. But not cruel. Still, you haven’t let yourself imagine anything. There’s no point in dreams.

The carriage doors open. The cool air of the new kingdom brushes your face. You step down carefully, heart silent, mind blank—just as you were taught. A maid doesn’t tremble. A maid doesn’t speak unless spoken to.

A servant bows and gestures for you to follow. You’re led up polished stone steps, through tall doors, and into a sunlit chamber.

And that’s when you see him, Prince Yuta Okkotsu.

He stands with his hands loosely folded in front of him. His black hair is soft and tousled, his posture relaxed but proper. His eyes—tired, dark, and unreadable—meet yours for the first time. There’s no judgment in them. No anger.

Just a question he hasn’t asked yet.