---
Morning came softly. The sun filtered in through the high windows, dust motes dancing in the golden light. Aiden stirred, blinking at the ceiling with a splitting headache and a dry mouth.
His body felt warm… heavy. He shifted slightly and froze when he realized—
Shinomi was sitting by his bed, arms crossed, eyes already on him.
"You're awake," Shinomi said simply.
Aiden's heart thumped once, hard. He sat up slowly, the blanket slipping off his shoulder. "Oh no. Did I…?"
"You kissed me," Shinomi said flatly.
Aiden dropped his head in his hands. "Great. Amazing. Perfect."
"You were drunk."
"I was wasted," Aiden corrected with a groan. "Can we pretend it didn't happen?"
Shinomi stared. "No."
"…Figured."
Aiden peeked through his fingers. "I didn't mess everything up, did I?"
Shinomi's gaze softened just slightly. "No."
Before either could say more, a knock came at the door. One of the guards cleared his throat. "Princess Celestia has requested a word with Ren."
Aiden and Shinomi exchanged glances.
"I'll let her in," Shinomi muttered, rising with a flicker of irritation in his expression.
---
Celestia stepped into the room moments later, her posture graceful as ever, her smile too polished to be sincere.
"Well, well. Seems you survived," she said lightly, eyeing Aiden's disheveled state with amusement. "Quite the dramatic night, hmm?"
Aiden shrugged awkwardly. "It was just a little too much wine."
She didn't sit. Instead, she moved toward the fireplace, warming her hands delicately before glancing back.
"You said something strange last night, though," she said. "Something about being 'in the book.'"
Aiden blinked, then suddenly let out a soft, awkward laugh. "Oh, that? That was just something stupid."
Celestia arched an eyebrow.
"I meant I was reading a book before I got drunk," Aiden explained, rubbing the back of his neck. "I always get sentimental when I drink. The story just got stuck in my head, I guess."
Shinomi looked at him curiously, but didn't press.
"A book?" Celestia asked. "What kind of book?"
"Some fantasy drama," Aiden lied smoothly. "Two kings. One's a jerk, one's sweet. A queen who chooses the wrong guy. Typical plot. It just… annoyed me, that's all."
Celestia studied him for a beat longer, her smile never quite reaching her eyes. "Mm. Sounds like a frustrating read."
"Exactly," Aiden said, grinning. "Drunk me got mad at fiction. Embarrassing, right?"
Celestia tilted her head slightly. "Fiction has a funny way of reflecting real people."
"I guess." Aiden smiled, not too bright, not too dull. Just enough to close the subject.
---
After she left, Shinomi sat back down beside Aiden.
"You really read a book like that?" he asked after a moment.
Aiden stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah. Kinda cheesy. I hated how it ended."
Shinomi gave him a look. "And if you could rewrite it?"
Aiden grinned, lying back down with his arm over his eyes.
"I'd give the second lead a happy ending."
---