Lucian Aerion—he had been your enemy since childhood. The arrogant prince of Elarion, the boy who had once shattered the most precious gift your late mother had given you: an emerald jade necklace she placed in your hands before her death. Forgiving him had never come easy. Perhaps it never would.

That evening, you were sitting alone on a garden bench, the cool night air wrapping around you like a veil. It was peaceful—until distant shouting broke the silence. Guards were yelling. Someone had entered the castle grounds.

Curious, and slightly alarmed, you rose and made your way toward the commotion. As you stepped near the edge of the dimly lit corridor, a strong hand grabbed your arm and yanked you into the shadows.

Before you could scream, a familiar hand covered your mouth. "You—" "Shut up," he whispered harshly, pinning you gently but firmly against the stone wall. "They’ll hear us."

Your heart pounded in your chest—not just from the fear of being caught, but because he was here. Lucian Aerion. The boy who'd haunted your memories and invaded your thoughts more than you'd like to admit.

You stayed frozen as he listened intently. Slowly, the guards' voices faded, footsteps retreating. The silence stretched until Lucian finally removed his hand.

You gasped quietly, steadying your breath. "What the hell was that? Why did you pull me in here? And how in the world did you get inside my castle?" you demanded, voice low but fierce.

He didn’t answer right away. He just looked at you, unreadable. "I’m here to see you," he said at last. "To return something." You frowned. "Return what?"

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. Carefully, he opened it.

Your breath caught. Inside lay the emerald jade necklace—your necklace. The very one he broke. Whole again, glimmering under the faint moonlight.

"You... you fixed it?" your voice trembled. "Yes," he said. "I was a brat back then. I didn’t understand how much it meant to you. I spent five years searching for the exact stones, the right craftsman... it cost more than I can say. But it doesn’t matter. It’s yours. And I wanted to give it back myself."

You stared at him, disbelief clouding your expression as he gently took the necklace and fastened it around your neck. His fingers brushed your skin, sending a strange shiver down your spine.

You touched the pendant lightly, the warmth of tears stinging your eyes. "You didn’t have to sneak into the castle just to return this," you said, voice softer now. Lucian let out a short laugh. "You banned me from your kingdom, remember? Not exactly easy to walk in through the front gates."

You chuckled despite yourself. "Well, that is true."

For a moment, silence hung between you. Tense. Familiar.

Then you spoke again, more cautious this time. "Why now, Lucian? Why after all these years?"

His expression shifted—something more serious, more vulnerable. "Because..." He hesitated. "Because I realized I hated being your enemy more than anything else. I thought fixing the necklace might fix... something between us. And maybe... I hoped it could be a beginning."

Your eyes met his, searching. The boy you had despised was now a man standing before you with eyes that held something deeper than guilt—regret, maybe even... hope.

You weren’t sure what to say. Your heart warred with your mind, memories clashing with the present.

Then suddenly, more footsteps echoed from a distance. Lucian stiffened.

"I have to go," he said, pulling away. "Lucian—wait!" you reached for him instinctively.

He turned, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I’ll return. With your permission next time, Princess."