The castle was alive with movement that night as the moonlight poured through the heavy curtains in Darian's chambers. Outside, the sounds of the kingdom's hustle had softened, and in the distance, the faint clatter of the palace guards' armour echoed. The stillness that surrounded them felt like a bubble, keeping the world at bay. Inside the room, however, a different kind of energy thrummed.
Eden was sitting by the window, his fingers lightly brushing the edge of the glass. He had become accustomed to the quiet sounds of the night, but tonight, it felt as though the air itself was thick with expectation. It had been weeks since he had arrived at the prince's side, and yet, something had shifted. Something that made Eden feel as though the walls between them were crumbling, piece by piece.
He could feel Darian's presence even before the prince entered the room. The subtle shift in the air, the change in the weight of the space—everything about Darian's presence was marked by something Eden had learned to sense deeply.
Tonight, Darian was different. The tension in his step was palpable. It wasn't just the weight of the crown pressing down on him; it was something else. Eden could feel it. The way Darian's gaze rested on him, heavy yet soft, as if he was searching for something that wasn't yet found.
Darian's voice broke the silence. "Eden," he called, his tone quiet but firm, the hint of something deeper in it that Eden couldn't quite place. "May I speak with you?"
Eden didn't move at first. He hadn't expected Darian to ask such a thing. "Of course," he said softly, his hands stilling on the stone, unsure of what to expect next. "What's on your mind?"
There was a pause, and then Darian stepped closer. Eden could hear his footsteps approaching, the soft rustle of fabric as he moved closer. Eden turned his head toward the sound, though he couldn't see Darian's face, only feeling the shift in the atmosphere as he stood at his side.
"I've been thinking," Darian began, his voice strangely hesitant. "About everything that's happened. About you. And what we are… what this is."
Eden's heart gave a small lurch, his breath catching in his throat. He hadn't expected Darian to be so direct, not with the weight of the world on his shoulders. "And what is it that you think we are?" Eden asked, his voice trembling with something between hope and fear.
Darian was silent for a long moment, and Eden could feel the prince standing just a few paces away, as if the distance between them were physical and emotional.
"I think…" Darian's voice faltered, but then it steadied. "I think you've become everything to me. More than I ever thought possible."
The words hit Eden like a wave, rushing through him, leaving him breathless. His mind struggled to catch up with his heart. More than he ever thought possible? What did that mean? He felt a strange flutter in his chest, and for a moment, he almost forgot to breathe.
"But you're a prince," Eden whispered, the words escaping him before he could stop them. "You're supposed to marry someone else. Someone who isn't… someone who isn't me."
Darian didn't answer immediately. His silence made Eden feel exposed, as though everything he had ever felt—his fears, his doubts—were laid bare.
"I don't care about anyone else," Darian finally said, and his voice was thick with emotion. "I care about you. About this." There was a hesitation in his voice, as though he were afraid Eden might turn away. "I don't know what this will mean in the long run, but I do know that I can't let you go."
Eden's breath hitched, and for a moment, he was overwhelmed by the emotions that churned inside him. He couldn't deny the longing he had felt for Darian, the way the prince's presence had become his anchor, the way his touch had begun to melt away his fears.
"You—" Eden paused, his voice trembling, "You care for me?"
There was a silence, and then Darian's hand gently found Eden's, his fingers brushing against Eden's skin, soft and deliberate. "Yes," he said, and Eden could hear the sincerity in his voice, the weight of it. "I care for you in ways I can't explain. It's not just about protecting you anymore. It's more than that. Much more."
Eden wanted to say something—wanted to ask questions, to demand answers. But the words caught in his throat. His heart was racing, his senses heightened in a way that made everything else blur around him. He wanted Darian's touch, and he wanted to feel the prince's warmth even more. But the thought of being this close—truly close—terrified him. He was blind. He was broken. He could never be the one Darian truly needed.
"I don't know if I can believe you," Eden said softly, his voice full of pain. "Not when everything around me says I'm not worth it."
Darian's hand squeezed his gently, a touch full of reassurance. "You are worth it, Eden. You are more than worth it. And I will show you that every day."
The promise hung in the air between them, a quiet vow.
But as the silence stretched on, Eden's mind couldn't quiet the doubts. Could he really trust Darian? Could he let go of the fears that had always consumed him?
"I don't know how to let you in," Eden confessed, his voice small. "I've been alone for so long. I don't know how to trust."
Darian was silent for a moment, his presence close and steady. "You don't have to do it all at once. I'm not asking you to change overnight. I'm here for you, Eden. Just… trust me, little by little. I'll wait. I'm not going anywhere."
And for the first time, Eden felt a flicker of something in his heart—a small, fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to keep hiding. Maybe, just maybe, he could learn to believe in this. In Darian.
Eden leaned into the warmth of Darian's hand, the quiet comfort settling around him. He couldn't see the prince's face, but he didn't need to. In this moment, the touch of Darian's hand was enough.