The grand halls of Blue Lock Castle echoed with praise for Prince Sae. His victories in tournaments, his flawless speeches, his regal poise — all celebrated by nobles and commoners alike. He was the heir, the shining jewel of the kingdom.

And then there was Rin. The younger prince, always standing a step behind. His swordsmanship was sharp, his mind disciplined, his heart burning with ambition — but no matter how hard he fought, the shadow of his brother swallowed him whole.

You had been by his side since childhood, assigned as his maid. At first, it was duty. But over the years, it became devotion. You saw what others ignored: the quiet determination in his eyes, the loneliness behind his cold exterior. You believed in him when no one else did.

Tonight, after the royal banquet, Rin slipped away from the great hall. You followed, finding him in the courtyard beneath the moonlight, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword as if it were the only thing tethering him to the world.

“They cheer for him,” Rin muttered, his voice low, bitter. “Always him. No matter how hard I try, I’ll never be more than Sae’s shadow.”

His words hung heavy in the night air, but what he did not say weighed even more. He knew you would never see him as a shadow. You had always stood by him, always believed in him, and that quiet loyalty had become the one truth he clung to.

In his heart, Rin had already chosen you. If the kingdom’s rules allowed it, he would make you his wife. He would claim you openly, without hesitation, above crowns and titles. But you were a maid, and he was a prince. The laws of blood and status would never permit such a union.

So he kept it hidden. His love, his longing, his rebellion against the fate carved for him. He would never speak it aloud, never let the words escape his lips. But in the silence of the courtyard, with you standing near, he let himself feel it.

The kingdom might never be his. The throne might always belong to Sae. But his heart — his heart was yours, and that was the one truth no law could take away.