The palace slept.
The echoes of the throne room's upheaval—the blazing constellation, the cries of nobles, the hunger in Lord Everhart's eyes—had faded into silence. Now only the murmur of wind brushed the halls, carrying the faint scent of soot and roses from the garden below.
Andy walked with Nia through the dim corridors. Neither spoke, yet their hands brushed now and again, the faint glow of their new rings pulsing in rhythm. Each time, it was as if the System itself was reminding them: together, always.
When they reached her chambers, Andy hesitated. He'd never stepped past the threshold of a noblewoman's room before, and here, with the night hushed around them, it felt like a crossing he could not undo.
But Nia turned, her silver hair spilling down her back, her eyes soft and certain. "Stay," she whispered.
The word broke through his hesitation. He followed her in.
---
Her chamber was modest for a noble heir, though beauty lingered in every corner. A carved desk held books and scrolls. A shelf brimmed with jars of dried flowers—lavender, rose, mint—the faint fragrance weaving into the air. The bed was draped with pale blue sheets, its frame etched with Everhart's crest, though the moonlight spilling across it softened its sharpness.
Nia crossed to the window, pushing it open. Cool night air drifted in, carrying the hush of the city below. She sat at its ledge, her gown trailing softly, the new star-shaped gem on her ring catching the moonlight.
Andy lingered by the door, uncertain. His body still trembled faintly from the System's transformation. The emptiness gnawed at him—power sealed, flames dimmed. He clenched his fists, sparks fizzing and dying.
"I hate this feeling," he muttered. "Like everything we fought for… is gone."
Nia turned, her gaze steady. "It's not gone. It's waiting."
Her words struck him deeper than she knew. He moved closer, drawn by her certainty, by the light she carried. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because I see you," she whispered. She lifted her hand, showing the ring. "And I feel you."
---
He stopped in front of her, the moonlight laying shadows across his jaw, his shoulders tense. Her hand rose, hesitating only a moment before she pressed it to his chest. His heartbeat thundered beneath her palm—wild, unsteady, but alive.
"You said you'd stand for me," she murmured. "Then let me stand for you now."
Andy caught her wrist—not to stop her, but to steady himself. His voice was rough. "Nia…"
Her name left him like a prayer.
She stepped closer, erasing the distance. Her forehead brushed his, her breath mingling with his ragged one. Her hands slid up to circle his neck. He froze, then let go, his arms encircling her waist, pulling her closer.
The kiss began softly. A hesitant press, a question trembling between them. But when her lips parted, when he answered with desperate tenderness, the question turned into an answer neither could deny.
Their rings flared.
Light burst around them, gentle but vast, scattering across the chamber like stardust. The System's chime sang, not cold but warm, as if echoing the beating of their hearts.
> [New State Initiated: Soul Resonance]
Temporary Affinity Boost Activated.
New Passive: Shared Heartbeat (Partners sense each other's emotions and physical state).
Nia gasped softly, pulling back just enough to breathe. She could feel him—truly feel him. His fire, his fear, his longing. It wasn't just her own pulse racing—it was his too, mirrored within her.
Andy's eyes widened. He felt her trembling devotion, her fear of losing him, her fragile but unyielding love. For a moment, he was overwhelmed. Then he leaned in, kissing her again, sealing the truth with fire and light.
---
They moved together, not in urgency, but in surrender. His lips trailed softly along her temple, her cheek, returning always to her mouth. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer. Their bodies pressed together, warmth mingling until it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.
Her head fell against his chest, and he held her tightly, as though the world might steal her away if he loosened his grip.
"Nia," he whispered into her hair, his voice unsteady, "I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you."
She lifted her head, eyes glistening. "Then let me be selfish." She brushed her lips against his again, softer, tender. "Because I choose you. No matter what my father says. No matter what this House demands. Always, Andy."
His breath caught. Tears pricked his eyes, though they never fell. "Always," he echoed.
The System chimed once more, quieter, as if moved by their vow.
> [Hidden Reward: Eternal Oath (Unspoken)]
Future Resonance strengthened when words of love are confessed.
Neither noticed the notification fully. They were too lost in each other.
---
Later, they lay together on her bed, clothed but close, their hands still entwined. Nia rested against his shoulder, her fingers tracing the lines of his palm. He stared at the ceiling, his heart still syncing with hers through the Shared Heartbeat.
"Do you hear it?" he asked softly.
"Hear what?"
"My heart. It's steady." He smiled faintly. "It's never steady."
Her chest tightened at the simple words. She kissed his jaw gently, lingering there. "Then let it beat with mine. From now on."
Silence settled between them, but it was no longer heavy. It was warm, filled with the quiet knowledge that they had crossed a threshold neither System nor court could undo.
Outside, the stars shone brighter than usual. And somewhere in the vast night, one star pulsed in rhythm with two hearts joined as one.
---