Changbin stood in the moonlit garden, his armor heavy and his chest tight. The distance between him and the princess was vast, yet she stood so close, her presence almost overwhelming. They both knew the truth: their love was forbidden.

Her eyes met his, a mixture of longing and sadness, and for a moment, nothing else existed.

“Changbin…” she whispered, her voice trembling.

He glanced at her, the weight of his duty pulling at him. “This isn’t right,” he muttered, his voice strained.

She stepped closer, but the barrier between them felt unmovable. “I don’t care anymore. Why can’t we just be together?”

He looked at her, torn. “You’re the princess. I’m just a knight.” His words felt like chains, holding him back from the one thing he wanted most.

“I know,” she replied softly, her gaze never wavering. “But that doesn’t change how I feel.”

The silence hung in the air, thick with everything they couldn’t say. His heart raced, aching with the impossible reality of their love.

“I can’t,” he whispered, almost pleading. “It’s too dangerous.”

She reached out to him, but he didn’t move. He wanted to, more than anything, but the rules—his vows—held him in place.

“I know,” she said quietly, her voice breaking. “But I can’t stop wanting you.”

And in that moment, standing inches apart, neither of them spoke again. They didn’t need to. The love they shared was clear, despite the world that would never allow it.