5 Years Later
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨Evelynne's pov୧⋆ ˚｡⋆
The city spread out beneath us, the lights of the marketplace twinkling like stars. The night air was cool, the scent of jasmine from the palace garden drifting in. The quiet was thick—full of the kind of stillness that only exists in places untouched by time.
I sat on the stone railing, my long silver gown flowing around me like liquid moonlight, hair loose and tumbling down my back in soft waves. I looked out over the city with a quiet, almost faraway expression. The way I held myself—poised, still—was every bit the future queen I was meant to be.
But in that moment, I was just a girl. A girl still figuring out what she meant to the world... and to the people who meant everything to her.
Rowen stood beside me, arms resting on the railing, his eyes cast downward, reflecting the lights of the city below. His tall frame was relaxed, but his presence—as always—felt steady. His suit was slightly disheveled from the evening's celebration, hanging loose in a way that made him feel more like a part of the palace than a guest. His blond hair fell in soft waves, a little wild, a little untamed—like him.
"Evelynne," he said softly, breaking the silence without disturbing it. "Do you ever wonder how we ended up here?"
I tilted my head, offering him a small smile.
"In the palace? With the fancy celebrations and ridiculous royal gowns?"
Rowen chuckled, "Yeah. Something like that. We were just kids when I first came here. I didn't even know how to knot a tie properly."
I raised an eyebrow. "I had to teach you how to hold a fork."
"That's not funny." He smirked, nudging me gently with his elbow.
"I think it is," I teased, leaning back against the cool stone. "But you're right. It is strange. We've been friends since forever... but now it feels like we're standing on the edge of something big. Something we can't even name yet."
The air shifted—charged with the subtle tension of change. Rowen looked out toward the horizon, as if trying to find something he'd lost.
"I guess it's hard to imagine what comes next," he said quietly. "You've got your whole future ahead of you. A kingdom to rule. People to lead. And me? I'm just here... I don't know how much longer I'll even fit into your life the way I have."
My heart skipped a beat.
I turned to him, my fingers brushing the stone beside me.
"Don't say that, Rowy. You're as much a part of this palace as I am."
He glanced at me, and his gaze softened. "I don't want to be in your way. You've got responsibilities I could never understand."
"You've always been with me. Always," I said, voice firm but quiet. "I need you here."
For a long moment, the silence returned. But this time it was comfortable—full of things left unsaid. Things neither of us were quite ready to admit.
From inside the palace, a voice called out, breaking the spell.
"Evelynne! Rowen! It's getting late—you two are always out here when there's work to be done!"
It was the Queen's voice, warm yet commanding, echoing from the hallway.
I sighed and lifted myself from the railing.
"Coming, Mother!" I called. Then, with a soft laugh, I added, "Honestly, they're like clockwork."
Rowen chuckled, adjusting his jacket. "They're just making sure we don't disappear into the night."
"No chance of that," I said with a grin, brushing off my gown. "We could sit out here forever and not hear a thing. The world just... disappears."
"That's the idea," he murmured, glancing at me before following me back inside.
The warmth of the palace met us like an old friend. Golden light spilled from chandeliers, and the polished floors gleamed beneath our feet. Tapestries lined the halls, each thread a reminder of the world we had grown up in.
For the past few years, Rowen had lived here with us. Ever since his own home was shattered, the palace had become his. My family never treated him like a guest—he was family in every way that mattered, even after his grandfather passed away 3 years ago.
"Evelynne, Rowen," came my father's voice from the dining room. Deep, commanding, but always kind. "There you are. We were about to start dessert."
My mother stood beside him, her eyes warm as they settled on us. The King and Queen had welcomed Rowen into our lives with open arms, and now, he belonged here.
Rowen smiled back, though a flicker of hesitation still lingered.
"We'll be right there."
The Queen's gaze softened as she looked at us, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"You two have grown into fine young adults. It's hard to believe how much time has passed since you were children running through these halls."
I smiled, the corners of my eyes crinkling in a way only Rowen ever noticed.
"It's strange. Sometimes it still feels like we're those same kids."
"Some things never change," Rowen added quietly.
The Queen's smile deepened as she met his gaze. "Indeed."
As we walked to the dining room, our footsteps echoed in the stillness. But as we passed through the grand hallway, a moment passed between us—small and private, but powerful in its quiet.
My hand brushed against his. Barely a touch.
But it was enough.
In that brief moment, Rowen felt it too—everything he'd ever needed was right there beside him.