The sound of the imperial orchestra echoed through the ballroom. Its soft and rhythmic melody passed through the ornate stained glass, reaching the garden where a young couple stared intensely at each other.
Leaning forward as he kissed the back of the lady's hand, the young man with white hair and silver eyes—so bright they could blind anyone who looked at them carelessly—let his lips savor the warmth of his beautiful lady's skin.
And how he felt that warmth!
So gentle!
So warm!
The woman he desired was irresistibly alluring, and, taken by the enchantment of the moment, he closed his eyes and surrendered to his daydreams.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP...
His heart, racing with emotion, unsettled him.
"Calm down," he thought.
Marin was there, and nothing in this world could separate him from the woman he loved so deeply.
The blue light of the moon touched the young woman's hair, reflecting the delicate maritime tones in her curls. A discreet breeze made them dance softly, but nothing else about her moved.
She remained petrified.
Unmoved!
In shock!
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP...
Her heart pounded as she felt the moist lips of that man upon the back of her hand.
A typical greeting for a lady, yet a gesture that seemed to stretch into eternity.
He was prolonging the touch!
Her turquoise eyes widened as she faced the one who claimed to be the first prince of the Elyndor Empire.
He was no ordinary man.
He was the very man who would bring everyone to ruin.
"But how?" she analyzed. "Why is the first prince Yoham?"
The air, already scarce from the tight grip of her corset, seemed to vanish entirely.
Feeling compelled to separate his lips from his lady's alluring skin, Yoham straightened his posture and gazed at her enigmatically.
His look, resembling that of a white fox, remained indecipherable.
"Won't you greet me as well, Marin...?"
His voice, once sweet and gentle, now bore a deep and seductive tone. The prince held the young woman's hand without releasing it, even after the greeting.
Marin remained still, only watching him.
A whirlwind of emotions bound her completely.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP...
"I imagine you're surprised, since I can read you perfectly well."
The young man spoke with a faint smile.
"At first, I didn't want to deceive you... Things simply happened as they were meant to happen..."
He looked away for a brief moment.
"Now I don't wish to hide anything from you anymore. That is why I prepared this ball. All of this is for you."
The prince touched a lock of his partner's hair. His delight in examining those silky, shining strands awakened in him the desire to lean closer and breathe in their fragrance, yet he restrained himself.
He needed control.
Just a little longer, so as not to frighten her.
"So? What did you do when you saw me arrive at the ballroom...?"
He carried on with his teasing.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP...
The girl's heart leapt at his words.
"You ran away the moment I was announced! Do you know how sad that made me? Look... See how I dressed up for you!"
Even while saying something so shameless, a mischievous smile spread across the prince's lips.
He was no fool. He knew he was handsome—many even said he was more attractive than his younger brother, the Sun of the Empire, the second prince.
And all of this...
He...
It was for Marin!
"I-I-I... Yoham... No! Your Highness..." Marin tried to say something but fell silent.
She was not one to be easily swayed, yet the situation seemed absurd.
"Call me as you always have, Marin. I don't want you to treat me differently."
The noblewoman tried to pull her hand free, still trapped in the prince's grasp.
Noticing her attempt to escape, Yoham gently drew her closer.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP...
The sudden movement made her lose balance, and her face collided against the man's chest before her.
Quickly, the girl lifted her gaze, staring up at him.
"Forgive my boldness, but I cannot let you go before I explain a few things. Otherwise, you will run away again. Do you know how many people and monsters I killed to be able to return? They were such exhausting years I thought I would die..."
I did it all so I could be here, now, with you!
"Y-Your Highness, I... Let me go..!"
"I can't push him away with my power... This man... He is the very one responsible for nearly destroying this world."
"How could I get close to the worst possible person? And right now, when I'm doing everything I can to avoid getting involved with the main characters..."
"It's also been ten years since I arrived in this world... The war could break out at any moment."
"I already told you to call me Yoham! When I saw you run, I simply couldn't ignore it..."
His gaze at her was filled with passion.
His fair cheeks flushed as he looked at the lips of the woman he desired.
"Marin... tell me... Did you miss me too?"
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP...
"This can't be... My old friend is the villain of this world... Worse yet, what he's saying and how he's acting..."
"Don't tell me that after everything he actually likes me as a lover? Yoham... how could you do this to me?"
"I can't believe what's happening... What now? What should I do? This man is extremely dangerous!"