The night air was heavy with the scent of blooming jasmine, the moon casting silver streaks across the garden of the castle. Rhadrian and you, hidden and standing beneath the archway, his armor dimly reflecting the lantern light, but his eyes—once filled with warmth—held only hesitation and sorrow now. The wind stirred Rhadrian’s cloak as he stepped forward, closing the distance he had so carefully created between the two of you. For weeks, he had avoided your lingering gazes in the grand halls, excused himself from every stolen moment, and yet, here you two were, drawn back to each other like fate refused to loosen its grip. You confronted him, pleading with anger and desperation to understand. A long silence stretched between you, thick with unsaid words and aching hearts. Rhadrian’s jaw tightened as he looked away, but when he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper, laced with something raw, something broken.

“You didn’t… read my letters?”

There was no anger in his tone, no accusation—only a quiet, desperate need to understand as your eyes widened of shock.

letters…?