Maya POV
I never planned to make a scene on the very first day of the company's big outdoor event. But then again, I've never been one for smooth entrances. As usual, I was running late, juggling my oversized bag, a half-sipped coffee, and the disastrous decision to wear heels on uneven ground. Spoiler alert: it didn't end well.
Just as I was about to navigate through the crowd, I tripped over a stray cable and spilled coffee all over some important documents. The entire room went silent for a moment before everyone stood up, staring at me like I'd just committed a crime. My boss—a typical middle-aged man with zero patience—snapped, his voice sharp and angry.
"Maya, you are impossible! How many times do I have to tell you to watch your steps? But today, you've outdone yourself. This is the biggest mistake yet. I can't tolerate your clumsy behavior anymore. You're fired."
I blinked, trying to process his words. Fired? Just like that? My heart raced, but I refused to let the tears come. Not here. Not now.
"I—I'm really sorry," I stammered, cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I didn't mean to—"
But he cut me off with a dismissive wave. "Save it, Maya. Pack your things and leave. We can't have someone like you risking the company's reputation."
I grabbed my bag, my hands trembling. Around me, whispers floated like needles—clumsy, disaster, lost cause. Great. Just what I needed.
As I stepped out of the office, I couldn't help but think: maybe this chaos isn't the end, but the push I desperately needed. Time to figure out what's next... even if it scares me.
With that thought swirling in my mind, I dragged myself back home. The city lights blurred past the window, but inside, everything felt cold and heavy. I laughed bitterly at my own mess—heels, coffee, disaster—but the humor faded fast. I didn't know what to do…
The silence in my small apartment was deafening. I sank onto the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling. Losing my job wasn't just a setback—it felt like the ground beneath me had given way.
What if I couldn't find another one? What if this was the start of a downward spiral? My dreams, my plans—all suddenly felt so fragile, so distant.
For the first time in a long time, the chaos inside me quieted down and was replaced by a sinking sadness and a gnawing worry about what the future held.
King Lucian's POV
The grand windows of the royal chamber framed a view of Ardenne's sprawling capital—an ocean of stone rooftops and narrow streets humming with life. Yet here I sat, confined by golden walls and thicker expectations.
At twenty-four, I carried the weight of a kingdom on my shoulders, but all I longed for was a taste of freedom. A chance to shed the crown, even if just for a day, and lose myself among strangers in a world where no one knew my name.
The palace was a cage disguised as a throne room. My mother's strict rules and endless duties made it clear: the king's life was never truly his own.
That was why I kept my secret close. Every year, I participated in the Grand Adventurer's Challenge — disguised, anonymous, free. It was the one escape I could claim, the one place where I could be Lucian, not a king.
As I stared out the window, lost in thoughts of freedom and duty, the heavy door creaked open. My personal royal guard Sebastian Gray stepped inside—my childhood friend, yet a man of unwavering discipline. He embodied everything the palace demanded: seriousness, precision, and strict adherence to protocol.
Since the day I ascended the throne, he had been my shadow—silent, watchful, and always ready. Without him, escaping the suffocating grip of royal duties would have been impossible.
He stood tall behind me, clearing his throat softly before speaking in his usual formal tone.
"Your Majesty."
I turned slightly, forcing a smile. Despite his stern demeanor, there was a comfort in his presence—someone who understood both the crown and the man beneath it.
Sebastian stepped forward, his expression steady as always. "Your Majesty, I've prepared your schedule for the day."
Lucian sighed softly, already dreading the endless meetings. "Go ahead."
"The morning begins with a council briefing at 10 a.m., followed by a diplomatic reception at noon," Sebastian recited, eyes sharp. "Also, the Queen has requested your presence at the Royal Charity Gala this evening. She insists it's important you attend."
Lucian's jaw tightened. "The Queen always knows how to fill my days with obligations."
Sebastian nodded. "Indeed, Your Majesty. She's particularly insistent about the gala this year, given the recent unrest in the southern provinces. Your attendance would signal strength and unity."
Lucian stared out the window again, the weight of the crown pressing down heavier than ever. "Very well. Make sure everything is arranged seamlessly. I don't want any surprises."
"As always, Your Majesty," Sebastian replied with a slight bow. "I'll ensure your transport for the gala is arranged after your final meeting, Your Majesty."
Lucian managed a faint smile. "Do that. And Sebastian… thank you, for always being the anchor in this sea of chaos."
Sebastian's usually stoic face softened just a bit. "It is my honor to serve, Your Majesty."
Lucian gave a brief nod, the corner of his mouth lifting in a rare, fleeting smile. "But some part of me wondered how many more days like this I could endure before the mask cracked."
Sebastian offered a respectful bow before turning on his heel and exiting the chamber, leaving Lucian alone with his thoughts—and the weight of yet another carefully planned day.
As the heavy doors closed behind him, silence settled in once more. But in the quiet, something stirred—a feeling Lucian couldn't name. As if the winds of change had begun to shift.
Maya's POV
I lay curled up on the couch, the city outside buzzing like a cruel reminder that life goes on—even when yours feels like it's falling apart. I wanted to scream, cry, rewind the day and walk differently, speak differently... be someone else entirely.
But instead, I just stared at the cracks on my ceiling, wondering if this was all my life would ever be—tripping through one failure after another.
I didn't know what tomorrow held. All I knew was that I couldn't stay like this forever. Something had to give. Maybe it already had.
And somewhere, deep down in the quiet between my thoughts, I whispered to myself: "Please... let this not be the end of my story."
Lucian's POV
Far across the world, in a palace made of glass and gold, I stood before my reflection—not just a man, but a symbol, a duty, a crown. And yet, behind the polished armor of royalty, there was restlessness in my veins.
I pressed a hand to the cold windowpane, the stars above Ardenne scattered like promises waiting to be broken.
For a moment, I closed my eyes and imagined what it would be like to disappear—to leave the weight of the throne behind and be… just a man.
What neither of us knew then—Maya with her broken dreams, and I with my gilded cage—was that fate was already moving. Quietly. Softly. Pulling two lost souls toward one reckless collision.