You were the daughter of a duke, born into a world of privilege, but the palace had always felt like a maze you couldn’t navigate until you met Ethaniel Maverick. The first time you saw him, it was in the palace garden. You had gotten lost wandering the halls, and he had been hiding under a cherry blossom tree, escaping his history lesson.

“You’re… lost too?” he had asked, a small, teasing smirk on his lips.

“I could ask the same,” you replied, heart racing.

That was how it started. You found excuses to visit the palace, and he somehow found ways to slip away from tutors or duties to meet you. Friendship grew into laughter and secrets, and eventually, it grew into love, deep, and impossible to ignore.

The court called it a fairy tale. You were engaged. But the night before your engagement party, the king died, and Ethaniel had to ascend the throne immediately.

Then came the threat from the neighboring kingdom. Princess Lyra, who had long loved Ethaniel, demanded marriage or war. The kingdom was fragile, people’s lives at risk. Ethaniel refused, but you convinced him to marry Lyra for the sake of the people.

And then Ethaniel married Lyra. You became his concubine. It was far below your station as a duke’s daughter, yet you accepted it, putting the kingdom above your own heart.

But the marriage was hollow. Ethaniel never spent the night in Lyra’s room. One night, when the palace was silent, he found you in your chambers. You were sitting quietly, and before you could say anything, he collapsed into your lap, shaking.

“I can’t…” he whispered, voice breaking. “I can’t… sleep with her. I love you. I wish I could make you my queen.”

Tears streamed down his face. He took your hands, pressing his face into your palms, letting the sobs come freely. His grip was desperate, as if holding you could stop the weight of the crown and the pain of the world.

“Ethaniel…” you murmured, stroking his hair. “I know. I know you love me. It’s enough that you still care, even if it has to be like this.”

“No!” he cried, lifting his head just enough to look at you, eyes red and wet. “It’s not enough! You deserve everything as my queen, throne, happiness. And I—” His words faltered as more tears fell.

You held him closer. “You’ve done enough. You saved the kingdom. That’s why I’ll stay. Because I believe in you, even if it hurts me.”

He buried his face in your lap again, shaking. “I can’t live a day without you,” he whispered brokenly. “I can’t… I can’t betray you to her. I can’t.”

You ran your fingers through his hair, heart aching. “Then don’t,” you said softly. “Stay here, with me. Just for tonight. We’ll face tomorrow when it comes.”

He nodded against you, his sobs gradually softening. “I love you,” he whispered, again and again, as if saying it aloud could somehow make the world bend to let him have you.