The river had always been Caelum's sanctuary. A place untouched by prying eyes, where the weight of tradition and duty melted away.
Under the soft glow of the moon, the water shimmered like liquid silver, its gentle ripples whispering secrets to the night. A cool breeze caressed his skin as he sat by the riverbank, his crimson eyes reflecting the sky's endless darkness.
Here, he wasn't a prince.
Here, he wasn't a bride.
Here, he was simply… Caelum.
With a sigh, he reached up and removed his mask, letting the night air kiss his face. His long, black hair cascaded over his bare shoulders, damp from his brief dip in the water. The golden ornaments on his wrists and forehead gleamed faintly under the moonlight.
For a moment, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to breathe.
Until—
Snap.
A sound.
His eyes flew open.
---
A Stranger in the Night
Caelum turned his head sharply, his body tensing.
Someone was there.
For a split second, his heart pounded in fear. But then he forced himself to calm down. It was dark, and without his mask, no one would recognize him. No one had ever seen his true face before.
He was safe.
Or so he thought.
"You should be more careful," a deep voice murmured.
Caelum's breath hitched.
The voice was rich, smooth, yet laced with something powerful—something that sent an odd shiver down his spine.
Slowly, he turned his head.
A man stood at the edge of the trees, bathed in moonlight.
Tall, broad-shouldered, with golden hair that looked almost ethereal under the night sky. His sharp features were regal, his golden eyes piercing even from a distance. The air around him crackled with authority, with danger, with something undeniably magnetic.
Caelum's heart skipped a beat.
Who… is he?
The stranger took a slow step forward.
"What's your name?" he asked, his voice lower this time.
Caelum stiffened.
For a moment, he almost answered. Almost let himself get drawn into those golden eyes.
But then—he realized.
This was not just any man.
This was the king.
His husband.
His stomach twisted. He had only ever heard of him—whispers of his conquests, of his unshakable power, of his cold, unreadable gaze. He had never seen him in person, never once imagined that their first meeting would be like this.
And yet…
He didn't recognize him.
Caelum's lips parted slightly, a mix of disbelief and relief flooding his chest. Without his mask, the king had no idea who he was.
A slow smirk tugged at Caelum's lips.
So that's how it is?
For the first time in his life, the heavy chains of his title felt light. Here, in the cover of night, he was not a prince, not a bride—just a nameless stranger.
A flicker of mischief sparked in his crimson eyes.
And then—
He ran.
---
The Chase Begins
The king's eyes widened as the beauty bolted into the trees, his dark hair whipping behind him.
What the—
Without hesitation, the king followed.
His feet pounded against the earth as he pursued the fleeing figure, his heartbeat thundering in his chest. His instincts screamed at him to catch him—to grasp that slender wrist and demand to know his name.
The beauty was fast, but the king was faster.
"Wait!" he called, voice firm.
Caelum nearly laughed. As if.
He pushed forward, weaving through the trees with practiced ease. He had played in these forests since childhood—this was his terrain. But the king was relentless, closing the distance between them at an alarming speed.
Damn it, he's too fast!
Caelum's eyes darted around, searching for an escape. Then, a thought struck him.
A smirk curled on his lips.
Let's see how well you handle this, Your Majesty.
Without breaking stride, he summoned his magic.
A thick mist began to rise from the ground, swirling like ghostly tendrils, stretching through the trees in an eerie embrace.
The king faltered, his vision clouding instantly.
A trick? No—this was magic.
His eyes narrowed. The mist was dense, unnatural, shifting like a living thing.
And then—
The beauty was gone.
Vanished into the night.
The king clenched his jaw, scanning the empty space where his mysterious stranger had stood only moments ago.
His breath came fast, adrenaline still rushing through his veins.
Slowly, he straightened, exhaling sharply.
And then, a chuckle escaped him.
Low, amused.
"So… you have magic too," he murmured.
His lips curled into a smirk.
This was no ordinary encounter.
This was a game.
And now—
He was determined to win.