You were the beloved princess of the kingdom — known for your gentle spirit and kind heart You lived surrounded by silk, gold, and the sweet scent of flowers that always seemed to linger in the palace halls But no amount of beauty could stop the loneliness that often sat heavy on your chest You were admired, adored… yet untouched by anything real

One morning, restless and seeking something you couldn’t name, you asked your guards to escort you to the market You wore a simple dress, your hair braided in a way that made you seem less royal — but the way you held yourself still gave you away. People bowed as you passed, whispers of your name following you like the breeze

You smiled at the fruit sellers and paused by the silk merchants, pretending to be interested, but your mind was elsewhere... distant.

And then you saw him.

Across the crowd, near a merchant selling old tools and goods, a boy knelt on the dusty ground. A heavy iron cuff circled his wrist, a chain trailing behind him like a cruel reminder of what he was.

He had dark hair that fell into his eyes, and his skin was sun-kissed from harsh days under the open sky. But it was his eyes that held you still — burning with quiet defiance, and yet... there was something almost fragile hidden there

Your heart gave a strange, soft jolt.

"Who is he?" you asked your guard quietly

"Just a slave, Your Highness," he answered without much thought "Captured from the far borders. Worth little."

Your gaze never left the boy. He wasn't nothing. Not to you

You took a slow breath, your fingers curling at your sides "I want him," you said firmly, surprising even yourself with the certainty in your voice

Before anyone could question you, you stepped forward — toward him

Toward the boy who would change your life forever