The palace gardens were in full bloom.
Soft colors spread across the neatly arranged flower beds, the scent of tea blending faintly with the sweetness of the afternoon air. Laughter—light, practiced, and polite—drifted beneath the white canopy where the tea had been arranged.
Esmeralda sat among them.
Composed.
Proper.
And entirely uninterested.
"...Lady Esmeralda, you must try this," one of the noble ladies insisted, gesturing to a delicate pastry.
"It's quite good," another added.
Esmeralda offered a small smile.
"I will, thank you."
She didn't.
Across from her, the Empress Rosette watched with quiet amusement, her fan resting lightly against her lips.
"You're as reserved as ever," the empress remarked.
"I prefer listening, Your Majesty." Esmeralda replied smoothly.
"How modest."
There was no bite in the words.
If anything—
There was approval.
Beside the empress sat Amaria Meadows, hands folded neatly on her lap, her posture flawless, her smile soft and unassuming.
"I think Lady Esmeralda simply observes more than she speaks," Amaria said gently. "It's admirable."
Esmeralda glanced at her briefly.
"...You give me too much credit, lady Amaria."
Amaria only smiled.
The conversation continued—light topics, court gossip, fashion, minor politics wrapped in polite language.
Nothing of real importance.
And yet—
Everything required attention.
Esmeralda reached for her teacup, taking a small sip just to occupy herself.
This is exhausting.
Then—
The atmosphere shifted.
Subtly.
The murmurs quieted.
A presence entered.
"Your Highness."
Every lady present straightened, some more subtly than others.
Rael stepped into view, dressed simply but impeccably, his posture relaxed, his expression unreadable.
The reaction was immediate.
Soft whispers.
Barely contained admiration.
"He's even more striking up close..."
"I heard he rarely attends gatherings like this..."
"So composed..."
Esmeralda didn't look at him right away.
She didn't need to.
She could already feel it—
That shift.
That quiet pull of attention that followed him wherever he went.
"Mother," Rael greeted, inclining his head slightly.
The empress smiled.
"You're a rare sight today."
"I was passing by."
His gaze moved.
Not across the group.
Not lingering.
Just—
Settling.
On her.
Esmeralda sighed internally.
Of course.
"Lady Esmeralda," Rael said.
Her eyes lifted to meet his.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
A brief pause.
"I need a word."
Simple.
Direct.
The surrounding ladies immediately grew more attentive, their curiosity barely hidden.
The empress raised a brow, amused.
"Oh?"
Rael didn't elaborate.
He didn't need to.
The empress studied him for a moment—
Then glanced at Esmeralda.
"...Go on."
Permission granted.
Of course it was.
Esmeralda set her teacup down.
"...Excuse me."
She stood, composed as ever, ignoring the subtle shift of attention that followed her as she stepped away with him.
---
The moment they were out of sight—
Esmeralda let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
The noise of the tea party faded behind them, replaced by a quieter stillness—one that felt far too intimate for comfort.
"...You interrupted a tea party."
Her voice was even.
Composed.
"You looked bored."
"I was managing."
"You're not good at it."
She turned to him sharply.
"...You called me out for what, exactly, Your Highness?"
Rael didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he turned to face her fully.
Not just a glance this time.
Not a passing look.
He faced her.
And then—
He simply watched.
Esmeralda felt it.
The weight of his gaze, steady and unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world to study her.
"...What?" she asked, a touch more guarded now.
Still, he said nothing.
Then—
As if deciding something—
He slipped a hand into his coat.
When he pulled it out, a small velvet box rested in his palm.
Esmeralda's eyes dropped to it.
Then rose again.
Slowly.
"...You're unbelievable."
"Open it."
"No."
"Open it."
Her brows drew together.
"...You interrupted a royal tea party for this?"
"Yes."
There wasn't even a hint of hesitation.
Esmeralda stared at him.
Searching for something—doubt, humor, anything that might make this less serious.
She found none.
"...You're serious."
"Yes."
The silence that followed stretched thin between them, almost tangible.
Then, with a quiet exhale—
She reached out.
Took the box from his hand.
It was warm.
She hadn't expected that.
Her fingers lingered for half a second longer than necessary before she pulled it back.
Opened it.
And just like that—
Her breath stilled.
Emerald earrings.
Deep and vivid, catching the light even in the shade.
Not just beautiful.
Intentional.
Chosen.
For her.
Esmeralda closed the box.
Not quickly.
Not slowly either.
Just... carefully.
"...Why?"
Her voice came out quieter this time.
Rael met her gaze without flinching.
"...I saw them," he said. "I meant to give them to you the other day, but you weren't alone."
"That doesn't explain anything."
"It doesn't have to."
The answer came too easily.
Too simply.
It unsettled her more than it should have.
Esmeralda held the box back toward him.
"I'm not accepting this."
Rael didn't move.
Didn't even glance at it.
"It's yours."
"It isn't."
"It is."
Her grip tightened slightly around the box.
"...You're difficult."
"So are you."
A quiet beat passed between them.
Then—
He stepped closer.
It wasn't sudden.
It wasn't aggressive.
But it was enough.
Enough for Esmeralda to feel it—
the shift in distance,
the way the air changed,
the way her body reacted before her mind could catch up.
She stilled.
Instinctively.
"Stay still."
Her breath caught.
"...Your Highness—"
Too late.
He had already taken the box from her hands.
His fingers brushed against hers in the process.
Brief.
Accidental.
And yet—
It lingered.
Before she could gather herself, he had opened the box again.
Then his hand lifted.
And touched her ear.
Light.
Careful.
Esmeralda froze.
Every thought in her mind scattered at once.
Gone—replaced by the sharp, undeniable awareness of him standing too close.
"Don't move," he said, quieter now.
Closer.
She didn't.
Couldn't.
The world seemed to narrow—
to the faint warmth of his fingers,
to the subtle brush of skin against skin,
to the space between them that no longer felt like enough.
He fastened the first earring.
Slowly.
As if making sure it sat perfectly.
His knuckles grazed her cheek.
Barely there.
But enough to send a faint, unwelcome warmth rising to her skin.
Then the second.
Just as careful.
Just as deliberate.
No hesitation.
No rush.
As if this—this closeness—was something he had already decided on.
Esmeralda stared straight ahead, her posture still, composed—
but her pulse betrayed her.
Louder than it should be.
Faster than she liked.
This is unnecessary.
Completely unnecessary.
She should stop him.
Say something.
Step away.
And yet—
She didn't.
When he finished, his hand lingered near her ear for a fraction longer than needed.
Not quite touching.
Not quite gone.
Then it withdrew.
And the distance between them returned all at once.
Cold.
Abrupt.
"...There," he said.
As if nothing had happened.
Esmeralda blinked once.
Twice.
"...You do realize they'll notice when I return, right?"
Rael let out a quiet breath—almost amused.
"Good."
Her lips parted slightly.
But no words came out.
She looked at him—
really looked this time.
But he had already turned his gaze away.
"...I'll return it later."
"You won't."
"...You're very sure of that."
"Mm."
A pause.
"...Then... thank you, Your Highness."
"Rael."
The correction came immediately.
Firm.
Unwavering.
Silence fell between them again.
"...What?"
"You can call me Rael."
There was no teasing in it.
No lightness.
Just certainty.
Esmeralda opened her mouth to respond—
But nothing came out.
Instead, a faint warmth crept up the back of her ears, spreading before she could stop it.
She turned her head slightly, as if that could hide it.
It didn't.
"You should go back."
"...I should."
Her voice was softer now.
Not weak.
Just... quieter.
She took a breath.
Smoothed her expression.
Pulled herself back together—
layer by careful layer.
Then turned.
Walked toward the tea party.
Each step measured.
Controlled.
Proper.
And just a little too quick—
to suggest she was entirely unaffected.
The moment Esmeralda returned—
The attention was immediate.
"My, Lady Esmeralda—"
"Those earrings—"
"They're stunning!"
The ladies leaned in slightly, admiration barely concealed.
The empress's eyes landed on her, sharp and knowing.
"...How lovely."
Esmeralda resisted the urge to sigh.
"It was nothing," she said.
"Nothing?" one of the ladies echoed. "From His Highness?"
Another added softly, "How thoughtful..."
The whispers shifted.
Warmer now.
More certain.
The empress smiled faintly.
"He has good taste."
Esmeralda said nothing.
Across the table, Amaria watched.
Her smile remained.
Gentle.
Unchanged.
"...They suit you very well," Amaria said sweetly.
Esmeralda met her gaze briefly.
"...Thank you."
But for just a moment—
Something flickered.
Subtle.
Gone almost instantly.
Amaria lifted her teacup, her expression soft as ever.
As if nothing had passed.
As if nothing had changed.