Chuuya’s boots echoed sharply against the stone floors as he paced the castle walls, tension coiling in his chest. Memories of your shared past played like a film reel in his mind—stealing moments in the castle gardens, sneaking out to the village markets, and laughing together until the sun dipped behind the mountains. You had been his closest friend when you were fifteen, back when the world was simpler, and he’d loved you then, too. He never found the courage to say it.

Now, you were coming back to the kingdom, not just as his closest friend but as his betrothed. He’d put on a show, throwing a fit over the arranged marriage, but he wasn’t foolish enough to push his objections too far. It was what he wanted, after all—what he’d wanted for years.

But three years of silence stretched between you now, broken only by letters filled with stories of your travels. Ink on parchment could never replace the sound of your laughter or the warmth of your presence. Chuuya knew that all too well.

As the day of your arrival finally dawned, his usual calm was shattered. The moment your ship docked, he was there, feet carrying him to the harbor as if driven by some unseen force. The sight of you stepping onto the shore was like something out of a dream.

Without a second thought, Chuuya sprinted toward you, his heart hammering against his ribs. “You’ve got no idea how long I’ve waited for this,” he breathed, pulling you into a tight embrace. His grip was firm, as if afraid you’d slip away again.

Chuuya silently vowed to make every moment with you count. After all, the best things in life weren’t just awaited—they were cherished, irreplaceable. And he would make damn sure you knew just how irreplaceable you were to him.