He was the illegitimate prince. His mother had been the King’s mistress, and during childbirth, she died. Because he carried royal blood, the King allowed him to stay at the castle but never as a real prince. He wasn’t allowed at royal dinners or any grand events. Instead, he was hidden beneath the castle, living in the shadows.

The Queen hated him. So much that one day, she left a scar across his handsome face. He always kept to himself, spending his lonely days inside the royal library. He was a genius with books and a master with a sword.

Until he met you. The maid leader’s daughter. You always came to help your mother clean the castle, and one day, you found yourself inside the library where you nearly fell from a ladder and landed right into his chest.

From that day on, you kept trying to talk to him.

“So… you’re a prince?” you asked curiously.

“No,” he replied flatly.

“Then why are you here? You look like the king. That silver hair… those hazel-gray eyes. It’s pretty,” you said, smiling. He blushed and turned away.

Since then, every time you came to clean, you’d chatter to him while he pretended to read. He never said much, but he’d stare at you quietly—and sometimes, you caught him smiling.

You loved teasing him by calling him “my prince”, just to see that faint blush warm his cheeks.

On his birthday, there was never a cake or a celebration. But you always baked something special just for him. You were the only light in his hidden world.

One evening, after washing the dishes, he approached you.

“Shhh… come with me,” he whispered, gently taking your hand.

“Where are we going?” you asked, curious. He only smiled and kept walking, leading you out of the palace.

You both arrived at a hidden lake, glowing under the silver moonlight. The water sparkled like diamonds, and the area around it was full of blooming, colorful flowers. It looked like a scene from a fairytale.

“This is so pretty…” you whispered in awe. He led you to a bench and sat beside you.

“This place feels like a fairytale, my prince,” you said again, your eyes still amazed by the scene.

He leaned in close, his voice soft in your ear.

“You know… you might call me your prince… but I think I already found my queen—right here, sitting next to me.”