The capital was changing—quietly, steadily, like water carving through stone.
Whispers buzzed in the air. In the morning markets, in royal salons, even in the cold marbled halls of the palace, there was no escaping the topic that had bloomed like wildfire overnight: Shinomi kissed the prince. Not a princess. Not Celestia. Prince Ren.
Some people scoffed. Others clutched their pearls. But there was a third kind—youths with fluttering hearts, servants with hopeful eyes, and noble daughters who whispered in secret, "If even a prince can love freely, why can't I?"
In a tucked-away tea parlor, Celestia stirred her porcelain cup without sipping. Across from her, jayden sat with arms folded, legs crossed, eyes distant.
"You heard, didn't you?" Celestia finally broke the silence, her voice unusually soft.
"That Ren and Shinomi kissed at the ball?" jayden raised a brow. "It was more than a kiss. I think Shinomi was planning to eat him alive in front of everyone."
Celestia snorted and covered her mouth, her laugh escaping before she could stop it. "You're terrible."
"I'm honest." jayden's tone shifted. "But… I'm glad. Ren chose him."
Celestia glanced down at her tea, then sighed. "It's strange, isn't it? All those years, we thought we were the main pieces in this game. Cassian, you, me… But Ren and Shinomi rewrote the board."
"Maybe it needed rewriting," jayden muttered. "The old one was broken anyway."
In another corner of the palace, Cassian stood before the King. His father was seated on the throne, expression unreadable.
"So…" the King spoke at last. "Your friend Shinomi caused quite the spectacle. You were supposed to keep him in line."
Cassian didn't flinch. "Shinomi never belonged in a line, Your Majesty."
The King narrowed his eyes. "Do you support this madness? A prince kissing another man—!"
"A man who protected him. Loved him. Respected him. Do you prefer he marries someone and lives a lie, like many before him?"
Silence.
The King's fingers curled around the armrest. He looked tired. Not angry—just worn.
"I built this kingdom with law and order. With alliances and tradition. If I allow this…"
"You might build it better," Cassian said, voice low. "Or lose everything trying to stop it."
In Rael's estate, Ren leaned over the balcony with a soft smile. The wind tousled his hair. Shinomi came up behind him, arms sliding around his waist.
"They're talking about us," Ren murmured.
"I know."
"Do you regret it?"
Shinomi kissed the back of his neck. "Never."
Ren turned in his arms. "Even if the King tries to separate us?"
"I'll come through the window again."
"You'll get caught."
"Then I'll kiss you in front of the whole army next time."
Ren laughed, soft and full. "You're reckless."
"I'm yours."
As the sun began to rise over the capital, bells rang in the distance—bells not for a funeral or a wedding, but for change.
And change, it seemed, had finally arrived.
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