The days in the castle felt long to Eden, though they blurred together in a haze of silence and quiet moments with Darian. He had grown accustomed to the prince's gentleness, the way he treated him with more care than Eden had ever known. Yet, there were times—when Darian wasn't around—that the coldness of the palace crept back into his bones.
The court gossips were relentless. They whispered behind his back as if he were a ghost, a strange creature who didn't belong. He had never been one to care for other people's opinions before, but there was something about the way they spoke of him now—his blindness, his brokenness—that cut deeper than he had expected. It was a constant reminder of everything he'd lost.
As Eden sat by the window once more, listening to the wind rustling the trees outside, he tried to block out the words of the maids he had overheard.
"The prince is too kind to him. It won't last. He's just an omega."
"He's blind, for heaven's sake. What could he possibly offer the prince?"
They were right in a way. What could he offer? What was he but a broken, blind omega who had been abandoned by his family, cast aside by everyone who should have cared for him? And yet, Darian—the prince—had treated him differently.
But it wasn't enough to quiet the storm inside him. The anger, the hurt, the confusion—it still simmered beneath the surface.
Darian's mind, meanwhile, was far from peaceful.
He had been meeting with his council most of the day, dealing with the intricacies of ruling the kingdom, but his thoughts were constantly drawn back to Eden. To the omega he had brought into his world. His mind was filled with questions.
Could he truly change? Could he offer Eden something real, something beyond the pain of the past? His actions so far—offering kindness, respecting Eden's space, providing comfort—seemed to have made an impact, but Darian wasn't blind to the wariness in Eden's eyes. He knew he had a long road ahead of him.
As Darian entered the grand hall, he was greeted by the usual whispers, polite bows, and flickers of sideways glances. The servants were quiet, their eyes downcast, afraid to meet his gaze. But it wasn't the servants who worried him; it was his peers.
Among them stood Lady Isolde, her eyes sharp as ever, her lips curved in a perfect smile as she approached Darian. The moment their eyes met, Darian felt a subtle shift in the air. She was always watching, calculating, measuring his every move.
"Your Highness," she said in her usual silky tone. "I trust Eden is settling in well?"
Darian felt his jaw tighten at the mention of Eden's name. "He is. Why do you ask, Lady Isolde?"
She smiled, though it was a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I was just thinking…" You have been so attentive to him, haven't you? " Some of the court is… well," concerned. They worry it may appear unbecoming of you."
Darian's eyes narrowed. "And what exactly do you mean by 'unbecoming'?"
Isolde leaned in slightly, her voice lowering as if sharing a secret. "You know how the court is. They talk. An omega—blind, no less—suddenly favoured by the crown. Some are saying it looks like favouritism. That it may make your position unstable."
Darian exhaled slowly. He had expected whispers to begin circulating, but he hadn't anticipated the level of subtle manipulation that Lady Isolde would employ.
"Lady Isolde, your concerns are noted," Darian said, his voice sharp. "But I will not let others dictate who I choose to care for. You are, of course, free to express your opinion, but do not mistake kindness for weakness."
Isolde's eyes glittered, but her smile remained. "Of course, Your Highness. I merely wanted to ensure you were aware of the potential… consequences."
Darian didn't answer immediately. He simply nodded, then turned to leave the hall, his footsteps echoing through the stone corridors.
Back in the prince's chambers, Eden was alone once again.
He hadn't seen Darian since breakfast, and while part of him relished the peace and quiet, another part longed for the prince's presence. Darian had been different since he had taken Eden in. There was a softness to him, an honesty that Eden had never expected. But with that softness came a vulnerability that Eden wasn't sure how to handle.
He still wasn't sure if he could trust Darian. The whispers, the cruel words from the servants, made everything feel even more impossible. It would be so easy to leave. To run away and escape this place—escape the people who saw him as less than human.
But even as Eden thought about fleeing, he knew he wasn't truly ready to leave Darian. Not yet. There was a part of him, however small, that wanted to believe in the prince's sincerity.
There was a knock at the door, and Eden flinched. He hadn't expected anyone to visit him today. He rose from the bed, his bare feet padding softly on the stone floor, and made his way to the door.
When he opened it, standing in front of him was Prince Darian, looking slightly out of breath. His eyes softened as he took in the sight of Eden standing before him, his face lit by the soft sunlight streaming through the window.
"Eden…" Darian's voice was low, almost hesitant. "May I come in?"
Eden stepped aside, not trusting himself to speak. His heart was thundering in his chest. What was this feeling? Why did Darian's presence affect him so much?
Darian entered the room quietly, his gaze never leaving Eden. "I wanted to talk to you. About… everything."
Eden closed the door behind them and turned to face him. His heartbeat quickened as Darian stepped closer, and for a moment, neither of them said anything.
Finally, Darian broke the silence. "I know things aren't easy for you here, Eden. I know there's a lot of pain in your past, but I need you to know… I'm not like them. I'm not going to hurt you again. I swear."
Eden's breath hitched, and he found himself looking away. The promise in Darian's voice sounded genuine, but Eden's scepticism was hard to shake. How could he believe that? How could he believe anyone after everything he had been through?
"I…" Eden's voice faltered. "I'm not sure I can believe you. Not yet."
Darian nodded, his expression not one of anger but of understanding. "I don't expect you to. I just… need you to know I'm here. I'm not going anywhere, Eden. Not unless you tell me to."
The words hung in the air, and Eden felt a strange tightness in his chest. It wasn't quite relief, but it was close. Darian wasn't demanding anything from him. Not yet.
"I don't want to be alone anymore," Eden whispered, almost to himself.
Darian stepped forward, placing a hand gently on Eden's shoulder. "You won't be. I'll be here for as long as you need me. Just… give me a chance."
Eden closed his eyes for a moment, letting the warmth of Darian's touch seep through the layers of his walls. It wasn't enough to erase the pain. It wasn't enough to fix everything. But maybe, just maybe, it was a start.