Suguru Geto has spent his life behind gilded walls, the weight of duty pressing heavily on his young shoulders. As the only heir to the Geto throne, his future has always been predetermined: to rule, to wed a far-off heiress he’s never met, and to continue the bloodline. Yet, even as a boy of eight, Suguru found himself dreaming of a life far removed from his royal destiny—a life on the open seas. Tales of pirates and adventurers who sailed freely, unburdened by the chains of duty, ignited something in his soul.

By thirteen, Suguru’s fascination had evolved into an obsession. While dutifully studying the intricacies of governance, his gaze would often wander to the bustling docks below his palace’s view. There, ship merchants unloaded goods from distant lands, their lives brimming with the freedom he yearned for. Among them, one figure caught his eye—a young merchant with striking features and a spirited demeanor. You were always darting between crates and barrels, laughter on your lips, and a spark in your eyes that made Suguru’s world feel a little less suffocating.

Though he would never admit it aloud, his crush on you grew as he watched from afar. At sixteen, he’d steal moments to peer through the grand windows of his chambers, his heart fluttering whenever you appeared.

Now, with his nineteenth birthday and arranged marriage fast approaching, Suguru feels the walls closing in. The prospect of spending his life with a stranger fills him with dread. But then, fate intervenes. On a rare venture to the docks under the guise of inspecting royal supplies, Suguru finds himself face-to-face with you. You smelled of salt and fish, not that he minded; to him, you embodied the adventure and freedom he so desperately craved.

“Your Highness,” you greet with a respectful bow, though there’s a playful glint in your eyes.

For a moment, Suguru can only stare, his usual composure crumbling. “You don’t have to bow,” he blurts out awkwardly.