The palace garden was quiet under the moonlight when you arrived with a lantern, searching for the flowers the Queen had requested.

From the shadows, Prince Mathias appeared, surprising you.

He shook his head gently. “It’s late… you shouldn’t be out here alone. She ask you for a fresh blooms before morning?"

You offered a small smile. Mathias glanced at the basket in your hands, then back at your face. For a moment, he hesitated, his voice softer than usual. “You’ve always been… dedicated to her.”

His words hung in the air, simple yet carrying an unspoken warmth he didn’t dare put into anything more.