Aiden stopped in front of Murad, breathing heavily as if every step had caused him immense internal pressure. He looked at the prince with eyes wavering between determination and confusion, then said in a low but clear voice:
"Murad… I need to tell you something… something personal…"
Murad looked at him, his face still preoccupied with the mysterious messages he had received moments ago. He didn't respond immediately, only gave a slight nod, encouraging Aiden to continue.
Aiden took a deep breath, as if all his words had been building up inside him the entire time:
"I… I like you, Murad. From the very first moment I saw you… I felt something different, I don't know how to describe it… but I wanted you to know…"
Murad smiled lightly, but he didn't feel enough interest to respond to these feelings at that moment. His heart was preoccupied with the looming danger in the messages and the investigation he needed to start immediately:
"Aiden… I appreciate your honesty… but now is not the time for that. There is something far more important I must do. I'm sorry."
Aiden tried to smile, but he felt a slight disappointment, and his voice disappeared behind his breaths:
"Alright… I understand… I just… want you to know."
Without adding anything, Murad turned his back and began walking quickly toward his car, his heart pounding with pressure and determination. He knew he needed to find out who this person daring enough to threaten and monitor him was, and that the matter was no longer just a casual threat but could turn into a politically sensitive issue.
Inside the palace, the head of security reported the incident to him and ordered increased security until dawn.
In the morning, Murad woke up to the voice of Yana, his royal escort, who had already informed the police as soon as she was notified. Many police officers arrived and surrounded the palace, then the technical police entered and requested Murad to provide the messages and images, while the cyber police moved swiftly. Through computer screens, digital evidence began revealing the sender's identity, and whether they were part of a larger network or just an unknown individual.
As the investigation consumed more of his time, news arrived: King Nilofer himself was personally following the case. The matter had reached full sovereign attention, mobilizing technical police units to monitor all related accounts and data.
Amid all this, John found a rare opportunity to stay close to Murad. While security measures were tight, his presence beside him in the palace became more important, allowing for private meetings under the guise of official investigations.
Murad sat with John in one of the quiet corners of the palace, away from prying eyes, where he didn't have to worry about surveillance or mysterious messages:
"I think… things are going to get even more complicated in the coming days," Murad said, trying to speak softly.
John smiled lightly, placing his hand on Murad's shoulder:
"But at least we're here… together."
Aiden, who noticed Murad's absence from the university, felt a mix of jealousy and worry, but interpreted his absence as a rejection of his feelings, which pushed him into a depressive crisis.
The next day, the royal palace was filled with a false calm, outwardly serene but internally bustling with activity. The royal security and cyber investigation teams worked tirelessly, examining every message, image, and digital activity to determine the identity of the unknown sender.
Murad sat in his office in the palace, with some official files in his hands, yet he couldn't fully concentrate. Every few minutes, he would lift his head to check on the progress of the investigations and listen to reports from security officials for any updates.
After hours of intensive analysis, the security team reached the first important pieces of evidence:
1. The sent image had been taken with a high-resolution camera, installed in a public place that allowed observation of the palace balcony, not inside the palace itself.
2. Data linked to the unknown number showed suspicious activity within a complex digital network, but it didn't reach sensitive information about the kingdom itself.
Murad felt the level of danger rise, but he remained composed. Focus was his only control, every step calculated, every move precise.
In an urgent meeting with King Nilofer, Murad presented the findings:
"Your Majesty, this is not just a personal threat, it could escalate into a political issue if the information is leaked to the media or used as leverage."
The king smiled, placing his hand on Murad's shoulder:
"Your swift and mindful action… reassures me. The royal and technical police will follow every lead, but I want you to stay here in the palace, so your absence isn't exploited."
As the investigations continued, security intensified inside and around the palace. All staff and entry points were under strict monitoring, while the cyber team continued tracing every possible digital trail of the unknown sender.
With each new report arriving at his office, Murad realized that the person monitoring him was close enough to create tension, yet far from accessing the kingdom's secrets. This gave him a dual feeling: anxiety and caution on one side, focus and readiness on the other.
The mysterious messages were just the beginning. What he did not yet know was that uncovering this person's identity could shake the academy politically and perhaps pave the way for many upcoming changes—including private meetings with John under strict security.
After days of monitoring and intensive analysis, the technical and cyber police announced that they had traced the digital source of the messages and images sent to Murad. The location was not deeply embedded in kingdom networks or inside the palace but was someone from the public, with moderate technical knowledge yet unaware of the kingdom's real secrets, making their threat limited in impact.
With these results, a precise operation was coordinated to apprehend the suspect. As soon as they entered the monitored area, police forces stormed the place and captured the individual without major resistance. The suspect was an ordinary young man from outside official circles, visibly frightened and anxious, without any means to directly access the palace or royal secrets.
The person in custody was taken to the investigation department, while Murad remained in the palace, following the reports directly. The mysterious messages were gone, and his mind relaxed slightly, though he remained vigilant: any wrong step could revive the threats.
With the sender captured, the atmosphere shifted in his favor. The security team focused on strengthening protection around the palace and the academy, allowing his royal escort more control over Murad's daily schedule and enabling him to stay closer to John for longer periods under official security measures.
During this time, Murad could sit with John in the palace's quiet corners, away from everyone's eyes, where he could breathe a little freedom emotionally:
"I think things will become calmer now," Murad said softly.
John smiled lightly, placing his hand on Murad's shoulder:
"At least, we're here… together."
Still, Murad remained aware that this calm was temporary. The messages and threats were just indicators that someone was observing life from afar, and the challenge might return someday. But for now, he had precious time to settle, protect himself, and grow closer to John, away from direct external interference.
After three weeks of absence, Murad returned to the academy. His feelings were a mix of anticipation and curiosity, as his long absence left a noticeable gap among his peers, and upon returning, he seemed to carry the weight of the events that occurred in the palace.
At the university gate, he immediately noticed small changes in the atmosphere: some students were still talking about the days he was away, whispers crossing between curiosity and surprise. Yet, there was no sense of danger as before. All threats in his messages had ended, the sender had been captured, and police focused on enhancing academy security.
Murad walked through the halls and classrooms, feeling a slight lump in his throat. He had grown accustomed to the daily routine, which had been mixed during the past weeks with palace troubles and political tensions. He sat in his usual seat in the middle of the classroom and turned to look around, checking the faces of students and peers, before his eyes landed on John, who was waiting with a warm smile, as if Murad's absence had not affected his emotional demeanor at all.
"You missed three whole weeks…" John said lightly, watching Murad's reaction.
Murad smiled, feeling relief despite all the events:
"I know… but things are calmer now. I can focus on studying, and also on some other things…"
Behind these words, he meant his time with John, which had become more private after the recent crisis, as the mysterious messages and threats no longer exerted direct pressure on him.
At this moment, Aiden was not present yet, as he had not met Murad since the incident, remaining nearby, observing from a distance, struggling with the feelings Murad had postponed weeks ago.
The university gradually returned to its usual rhythm, but for Murad, every step carried a new sense of responsibility and caution. Nevertheless, there was a relative feeling of freedom, and precious time to spend with John away from any threats or direct surveillance.
Murad sat in the lecture hall, and while words circulated around him, Aiden's confession from weeks ago did not leave his mind. A strange feeling, mixed with curiosity and concern, made him realize he needed to speak to him directly, to clarify matters and close this emotional chapter that remained unresolved.
He finished his lecture quickly, then approached his peers, asking about Aiden's whereabouts. They responded with confusion, some avoiding eye contact, others looking at him with sympathy. One close friend told him:
"Murad… he hasn't attended for about two weeks… the last time we saw him, he seemed deeply depressed and sad. He hasn't talked to anyone since then."
Murad felt a weight in his chest, but did not hesitate. He went directly to the academy administration, requesting Aiden's address or any contact information, insisting the matter was urgent. After some formal procedures, he obtained the address and took the academy car, heading quickly to the place.
On the way, his mind was filled with thoughts: it's all my fault; I underestimated his confession.
Murad approached the modest building where Aiden lived, his heart racing, his mind spinning with a thousand possibilities: would he accept to talk? Would their relationship be affected after this long absence?
He opened the door and quietly entered, avoiding any noise, knocking on the door of Aiden's apartment. After a moment, Aiden appeared at the door, pale, his eyes carrying a glimpse of surprise and confusion.
Murad took a deep breath and said in a low but firm voice:
"Aiden… I came to talk to you… please, I need you to listen to me."
Aiden remained silent for a few seconds, then stepped back slightly to let him in. The apartment was simple, reflecting his modest personality, yet clean and tidy, unlike the emotional state he had recently shown.
They sat across from each other on a small couch, the air between them charged with tension and lingering emotions. Murad looked at Aiden, trying to find the right words:
"Aiden… I know what happened weeks ago left a mark… and I want to clarify that what I said was at a time when I couldn't think about your feelings the way they deserved. It wasn't that I ignored you… I was preoccupied with a real danger threatening me."
Aiden lifted his eyes to him, trying to understand every word, and in his eyes was a mix of pain and hope.
"You… is everything okay now?" he finally asked, in a low voice.
Murad smiled lightly, but sincerely, placing one hand over the other on the table:
"Yes, thank you… I'll be honest with you, I do like someone, but now… I consider you a friend, and we can start anew. I want us to understand each other as friends without fear, without anything holding us back."
Aiden felt his tension gradually ease, against the pain of tears streaming down his face, yet he spoke:
"Two years ago, when I first joined the university, I loved someone who studied with me. He was one of those who loved me as a singer, and we had a relationship that lasted a year, but he left without warning. That broke me a lot. After what happened, I thought I no longer had a heart… until I saw you on your first day here. That's when I realized my heart still works," he said in a softer voice, trying to break the sadness with a false smile, tears streaming down his cheeks.
At that moment, Murad quickly hugged Aiden, gently saying:
"You don't have to hide your sadness."