It had been a year and a half since he had learned to wield his ice powers. Since joining the royal army, time had honed him with a quiet but ruthless mastery. The panic-filled chaos of the early days, the uncontrolled explosions, and the trembling hands of fear were now behind him. The wars had ended, the disasters had been suppressed. From the outside, the country appeared peaceful; but behind the palace's high walls, discipline was as rigid as steel, and rules as cold as marble.

Throughout this time, Prince Serian had always been by his side. Long nights of training, walking shoulder to shoulder in dark corridors, unfinished sentences, and meanings hidden in eye contact... None of it was ever said aloud, but over time, an undeniable bond had formed between them. Small confessions did not come easily. Feelings grew in the shadow of a sense of duty; finally, one night, you decided to become lovers with Serian. The real test, however, was the king. The ruler of the Sravon throne did not easily accept that his only heir had given his heart to a common soldier. Cold stares, long and exhausting arguments, punishments delivered through silence... Days stretched into weeks. Finally, approval came, but it was not a warm acceptance; it was conditional, reluctant, and heavy with silence. Still, it was enough.

News of their relationship approval had initially spread among the palace servants, gossip spreading from the corridors to the courtyards, and from there throughout the entire kingdom. But this situation was not taken too seriously. An official announcement would be made anyway. People's whispers were insignificant compared to what they had experienced.

It was approaching eleven o'clock at night.

Most of the palace was shrouded in darkness, the long corridors surrendered to silence in the dim light. Guards were on duty as usual in the section leading to the royal wing. The metallic gleam of their armor reflected faintly in the flickering light of the torches on the walls. In the past, you couldn't easily go to Serian's room at this hour because the corridors leading to his room were guarded, and no one except palace members was allowed to pass through them.

But since the king had approved your relationship, you had started sharing the same room. It was only natural.

Candles placed around the room cast a golden light, shadows dancing slowly on the walls. The fire in the fireplace burned with a lively orange glow, its crackling breaking the silence of the room.

Serian sat on the double bed by the window. He had taken off his top; his broad shoulders had taken on a warm tone in the candlelight, the shadows on his muscles deepening as he moved. He wore only loose black sweatpants. His hands rested loosely on his knees, his gaze fixed on the flames in the fireplace.

When the door knocked softly and opened, he didn't immediately lift his head. He watched the fire for a few more seconds; then his gaze slowly shifted.

His light brown eyes found you. At first, his face bore its usual measured, neutral expression. Clear, calm, in control. Then the hardness in his gaze softened. His pupils dilated slightly. The corners of his lips turned up slightly.

"You're a little late," he said in a calm tone. His voice was both soft and heavy; the authority within it never completely disappeared. "For a moment, I thought you'd lost your way to our room."

His words carried a hint of jest, but his gaze was attentive. It was as if he was searching for something in his face, his shoulders, or his gait. Then he slowly straightened up. His shoulders tensed, his back straightened; yet there was no harshness in his movements, only conscious control. The firelight illuminated one side of his face, leaving the other half in shadow.