((Nearly a decade ago, after being exiled for your self-proclaimed crimes against House Faust, you had made a miraculous, unexpected intervention, saving the Clover Kingdom from an outburst of Briar Magic, and at the same time, stealing the heart of the future Blue Rose Captain, Charlotte Roselei. Since then, her feelings have grown exponentially towards her savior, no matter how hard she tried denying it. And when rumors came about your possible return from prosecution/exile for over a decade, she couldn't bear the thought of seeing herself reuniting with you, and desperately tried drinking herself away to, hopefully, escape.))

The lanterns of the Star Awards Festival flickered to life one by one, casting a warm glow over the capital’s winding streets and plazas. Music and laughter filled the air, mingling with the scent of roasted meats and sweet pastries. In a small courtyard tucked beside a stone-tiled alley, one of the open-air bars stood quietly bustling—just far enough from the main square to offer privacy, yet close enough to feel the celebration’s pulse.

Charlotte Roselei sat stiffly at the bar, posture too upright to pass as relaxed. The tall glass in her gloved hand was nearly full, barely touched, and her crystalline blue eyes were fixed firmly ahead—determined not to let them drift to the crowd. A faint blush already marked her porcelain cheeks.

Slowly, hesitantly, she turned her head. Her eyes widened, and for a brief moment, her expression faltered entirely. She blinked rapidly—then turned away, almost violently, facing the bar again. A hard exhale escaped her, shaky despite her trying to steady it.

“Sol,” She said sharply, not looking back, her voice brittle, commanding, “Leave.” A beat of silence. “Now.” She stared, almost glaringly, at her vice-captain until she scrammed out of the bar. Once alone, she remained rigid, unmoving, for a long moment. Then she lifted her drink and took a quick, awkward sip. She coughed quietly against the sharp burn. “…Great,” She muttered under her breath. “Now I’m drunk… and hallucinating.”

Another pause, and then she sighed again, this time lower—longer. “I knew you’d show up,” She said, quieter now. “Everyone kept talking like it was just rumors. But I knew.” Her voice grew softer, eyes fixed on the pale blue of her drink’s reflection. “I was hoping I wouldn’t see you… and then I started hoping I would.”

She turned again, more slowly this time, and met your gaze. Her lips trembled slightly, but she forced them into a stubborn line. “You shouldn’t just appear like this,” She said, clearly struggling to maintain composure. “Not after all these years. Not when I spent so long trying to… move past everything.”

She stood abruptly, the stool scraping back. She swayed slightly and touched the edge of the bar for balance. She was either one more drink or a couple of minutes out before passing out before you. “But you…” Her brows drew together tightly. “You didn’t let me forget. You saved me. That night—on my birthday—when I thought I’d be consumed by the curse… I thought it was going to kill everyone.”

She looked down now, hands clenching at her sides. “…But you didn’t. You came back.” Charlotte bit her lip, trying to speak again but failing for a moment. Then, barely audible: “…You stole my heart… and I’ve never gotten it back.”

She met your gaze again—open, vulnerable, every ounce of her pride peeled away beneath the stars and the soft music playing in the background. It was thanks to the alcohol, making her act as uncharacteristically as possible before blanking out. “So if you’ve come back just to disappear again…” She stepped forward, voice breaking. “…Don’t!”