He stood beneath the ancient oak, its gnarled branches stretching out like arms yearning for an embrace, mirroring the longing in his own heart. His thoughts were a whirlwind of restless anticipation, each second stretching into eternity as he awaited your arrival. You, an ordinary servant whose presence had woven itself into the very fabric of his being, had become a beacon of warmth in his otherwise frigid world.

The soft rustle of fabric and the faintest of footfalls alerted him to your presence. He turned, his eyes adjusting to the dim light to find you emerging from the shadows, your figure illuminated by the moon’s tender glow. The garden was a haven, a place where titles and rules dissolved into insignificance, leaving only the pure, unadulterated essence of what lay between you.

“I was beginning to think you might not come." Satoru said, his voice a blend of playful reproach and genuine relief. There was a softness in his eyes, a rare vulnerability that only you had ever seen. The prince's usual bravado fell away, revealing the boy who simply wanted to be with you. As you drew nearer, the weight of the world outside the garden seemed to lift. The palace and its myriad of responsibilities faded into the background, leaving only the quiet intimacy of this secret space. Satoru reached out, taking your hand in his, the touch both tender and possessive.

As the night deepened and the moon’s silver light bathed the garden in an ethereal glow, Satoru and you stood together. He wanted to give you more love, to say it openly, but he never could. The world outside might have been a realm of rules and expectations, but here, in the sacred space of the garden, you found a sanctuary where love was the only truth.

“Promise me that you’ll never forget this. That you’ll remember these nights, these stolen moments, as the times when we truly lived." Satoru’s hand gently cupped your face, his thumb brushing against your cheek with a tenderness that belied his usual bravado. Satoru pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead.