»Under the blue-violet sky, where two suns and two moons crossed paths,
a melody drifted through the air, echoing all the way into the icy mountains.
Snowflakes whirled down from the peaks, stirred by the beating wings of a magnificent white phoenix.
They fell into the desert lands, only to evaporate beneath the thundering roar of a fiery dragon.
Forest nymphs hid in fear within the towering trees of the emerald woods –
while the witch swamps along the border of the demon realm – rotted in their own foul stillness.
A breeze carried the scent of the wilted kingdom across the border into the fresh, green lands.
It swept through the bustling harbor,
past beings hoisting sails and setting out to sea.
Further it flowed deeper into the vynesalic capital.
It glided past majestic airships –
sliding along the walls of the enormous, futuristic royal palace, that rose like a monument into the heavens.
It brushed through the hair of the guards
standing before the fortress-like, tech-secured gates.
Until, at last,
it reached the heart of the mighty palace garden.
There, it was finally drawn in by two large nostrils...«
"Yeah... that's the pure scent of nature...", murmured a black-haired man with quiet satisfaction as he exhaled slowly through his mouth.
His medium-length, layered strands swayed messily across the bridge of his nose.
A heavy scent of leather and metal surrounded him – deep and bitter, as if it were part of his very presence.
The long black leather coat, lined with blood-red fabric, creaked softly as he moved his arms.
Beneath it, he wore a black shirt, the collar casually undone.
"Smell that, Shuzo? That's what freedom smells like."
The boy beside him didn't move.
His toxic-green eyes remained fixed, empty, on the fountain – where a brightly feathered bird had just left behind exactly what he felt inside.
"At least someone who understands me…"
A faint, clear scent of herbs drifted from him – cool, almost melancholic.
His white shirt was buttoned all the way up to the neck, the sleeves fastened at the forearms with golden cuffs.
"Shuzo?" His father's voice cut through the silence.
The boy – barely seven years old – heard his name distinctly.
Oh— he heard it all too well…
"Hmh…", he murmured, turning his head stubbornly to the side.
His black hair was tightly braided into a single plait that fell over his shoulder – a sharp contrast to the expressionless emptiness in his eyes.
"Shuzo, I asked you a question." The man's voice grew sharper. He shoved the boy roughly in the shoulder with his thigh.
"Hey! Are you even listening to me?"
Shuzo stumbled two steps forward, blinked, lifted his gaze lazily – and narrowed his eyes.
"I just don't feel like it, Father."
Silence.
His father's look said more than a thousand words. And none of them were kind.
The man clicked his tongue in irritation and ran a restless hand through his hair.
His voice lowered – quieter, but far more dangerous:
"What's that supposed to mean, you don't feel like it? You're the Prince of Vynesalic!
A little interest in your own kingdom wouldn't be too much to ask."
"Mmh…" Shuzo finally turned his head fully toward his father, though his tone stayed flat.
"It's boring. You even said so yourself once – that it was dull, and that you'd rather be outside than stuck in here…"
A spark flashed through his toxic-green eyes.
"And besides. Kioto does everything for you anyway."
He shrugged.
What?!
The king froze at Shuzo's words.
"Boring? I never said that."
A cold, blatant lie.
His father's eyes narrowed to slits.
"Do you have any idea how many children would dream of being in your place?"
A brief silence settled between them.
Then he suddenly stood firm – feet apart, posture straight, secure.
One hand moved theatrically to his chest. "Shuzo…"
His tongue clicked once against a fang – as if he were giving a speech he'd long been proud of.
"You should be proud. The kingdom of Vynesalic will one day be yours."
He blinked, his tone slowing – as though he was already bored by his own words.
"That… is important."
"No, those are just Kioto's words again…", Shuzo whispered – just loud enough for his father to hear.
The elder gasped – but an amused grin twitched across his lips.
He was about to fire back with a heated retort when a familiar voice interrupted him.
"Kuroboshi?"
He turned around and saw the queen approaching, dressed in a light-blue silk gown.
The fabric hugged her waist and shimmered with every step – like water beneath sunlight.
A sweet trace of heaven orchids drifted through the garden, while her chestnut-brown braided hair glistened softly.
His wife.
"Ayumi…", he began, a little gentler than before „what are you doing here?"
"I came to check on you both." She offered him a warm smile before bending down toward Shuzo.
"Hello, my dear. How was your walk with your father?"
Shuzo didn't lift his gaze; his eyes remained fixed on the fountain.
"Boring."
Ayumi paused.
A faint sadness flickered in her eyes before she composed herself again.
She gently brushed a loose strand of hair from her son's face.
"Don't you want to go play with the other children?
I'm sure they'd be happy to have you join them."
"No."
The answer came short and sharp.
Ayumi sighed softly and gave a strained smile.
"All right, my love. If you don't want to… you don't have to."
Kuroboshi watched the scene with his arms crossed.
Deep lines formed on his brow, and a disbelieving snort escaped him.
"I just don't get it. Why do you let him get away with that, Ayumi?"
"Kuroboshi."
Ayumi's voice was calm – but firm.
She straightened and looked him directly in the eyes.
"He's still a child."
"A child who shows no respect."
Kuroboshi took a step forward, his eyes fixed on Shuzo's back as the boy slowly wandered off.
But for a moment, the child straightened his shoulders — as if forcing himself to keep walking properly.
"I'll have a talk with him."
Kuroboshi clicked his tongue thoughtfully.
"You'll do no such thing."
Ayumi's hand pressed gently against his chest, holding him back.
"Leave him be."
He glared at her, but there was such determination in her eyes that he finally shook his head and stepped back.
"You spoil him too much."
She raised an eyebrow briefly, as if to make sure he truly meant her.
"You had an entire hologram table made for him, even though he only asked for a card…", she replied softly, before turning away.
Kuroboshi merely rolled his shoulders.
"He challenged me…", he murmured, his eyes now following his son as well.
Time passed.
The two suns began to sink…
The royal couple sat in silence – upon an elegantly carved bench in the palace garden.
One of the suns cast a golden glow across the leaves – and children's laughter filled the air.
Ayumi's gaze remained fixed on Shuzo,
who sat alone at the edge of the fountain, lost in thought.
The other children had stopped playing – they seemed… to avoid him.
But Shuzo himself didn't move.
Not an inch.
Kuroboshi, on the other hand, had leaned back comfortably.
His emerald-green eyes looked distant,
while the wind tousled his black hair.
With his little finger, he calmly dug in his ear.
"Honestly, Ayumi… what do you say to moss roast leg tonight? I went hunting. Huge, fat thing, I'm telling you—"
He stopped mid-sentence when he noticed the heaviness in her expression.
"What is it?", he asked, his tone more serious now as he straightened slightly.
Ayumi stayed silent for a moment before answering softly:
"Shuzo… he hasn't smiled in days, Kuro."
She lowered her gaze.
"Not today, not yesterday…"
She paused briefly.
"He's changed. Even the servants' children seem afraid of him…"
In the blink of an eye, she looked up at the king.
"What if they start avoiding him?"
Him.
Shuzo Vynesalic.
The prince.
Kuroboshi followed her gaze to their son,
who sat with his back to them –motionless, like a statue.
As if he had heard them, his narrow shoulders sank even lower in quiet shame.
"He's just not a cheerful boy."
Kuroboshi leaned back into the bench again.
"Maybe he's just… a thinker. It's not the end of the world."
Blunt as ever.
"And besides, he's the prince—" The king raised his brows arrogantly.
„Of course he has friends. If he wants them."
But Ayumi shook her head, her hands clutching the fabric of her dress.
"He's different."
Worry flickered in her eyes.
"This isn't just thoughtfulness, Kuro.
He's pulling further and further away— as if he's trapped in a world we can't reach."
Kuroboshi frowned.
"Because he's different?"
He tried to take it seriously.
She nodded carefully.
"Ayumi…"
His gaze hardened – a cold mask concealing the helplessness underneath.
"You worry too much. He simply takes after his father…"
His voice sounded forcedly calm.
"Maybe he just needs time. He'll find his way again."
"Yes… time…", she echoed, breaking eye contact with a bitter smile that made him pause.
Time…
And watch him keep suffering behind his own coldness?
Her voice began to tremble.
Kuroboshi could see her composure slowly breaking apart.
"I'm… his mother."
She looked at him.
Her sky-blue eyes shimmered with rising tears.
"Shouldn't I know…", she whispered, her brows drawing together,
"…how to make him happy?"
"Ayumi…"
His voice was softer now, but she continued – her words trembling under the weight of her emotions.
"It breaks me… to see him like this."
Her voice caught in a sob.
"Every day I hope he'll play, laugh, make friends. But…"
The first tears traced their way down her cheeks.
"…maybe he doesn't want to…"
Kuroboshi looked at her in silence.
A lump formed in his throat.
Ayumi's tears visibly broke his heart.
"It's like he's drifting away from us."
She shook her head.
"Further and further… until one day, he's just gone."
Ayumi lifted her hands to wipe away the tears, but they kept falling – unstoppable.
"I just want to protect him."
He kept watching her for a moment longer, then leaned forward – placing his hand gently over hers, guiding her eyes back to his.
"Listen to me, Ayumi."
His voice carried a firmness that even surprised himself.
"This isn't your fault. Shuzo is different from the others, yes—but that doesn't mean you've failed."
A pause.
Then, after a moment's thought, he added quietly:
"Or that I have."
"But…", she began, but he pressed her hand a little tighter.
"He'll find his way.", he said firmly.
"We won't leave him alone."
His gaze deepened.
"No matter how long it takes."
He took a slow breath – and meant every single word he spoke:
"Being different… isn't always bad. It's okay."
She searched his face for even a hint of doubt – but found only determination.
Then a sly grin flickered across his lips, followed by a low chuckle.
"And that's a good thing—because that way, we'll always recognize him."
She froze, surprised. "What?"
But Kuroboshi's eyes narrowed conspiratorially.
"Trust me, that's harder than you think—"
"Kuro!" Ayumi huffed, shaking her head as she gave his shoulder a playful shove.
But he only raised his brows.
"Really — black hair, green eyes, race marker: guardian vampire."
He tilted his chin mockingly downward.
"Can you imagine what it's like when all those little troublemakers are in one place — like rabid buzz imps? Bam, poof, he's gone! All the same — and I'm just standing there—"
He clicked his tongue, lifting his brows, mimicking the scene exactly, irritation and all.
"Where. Is. My. Son?"
He gave a dry laugh.
"And how am I supposed to recognize him again?"
His gaze met hers.
Emerald green against sky blue.
"I can hear him among all the others — with that bored little: Tja ..."
He stretched the sound out, exactly like his son, tongue and tone included.
Silence.
Only the emotionless expression remained.
"Kuroboshi!" Ayumi scolded, sharper now – but the twitch at the corner of her mouth
and the brief light in her eyes betrayed her.
It was a perfect imitation.
"What?", he asked with feigned innocence.
And she smiled – warm, soft, genuine.
"You're impossible."
His eyes, the strength in his posture –
she felt her resistance finally melt away.
For a moment, there was only the two of them.
King and Queen.
A young couple.
Then he gently pulled her into his arms.
She buried her face against his chest.
"It's just… I can't stand seeing him suffer like this…", she whispered – a faint breath filled with pain.
"I know."
His voice was soft.
"And I promise you, Ayumi… I'll do everything I can to make him smile again."
She lifted her head.
Before she could speak, he placed his hand against her cheek – his thumb brushing lightly across her skin as he leaned in.
A kiss – tender and deep, a silent promise that made words unnecessary.
Ayumi closed her eyes, letting herself fall into the moment – while the world around them faded away.
When they finally parted, her gaze lingered on him.
"I hope you're right, Kuro."
"Always, Ayumi."
His smile was warm and soft.
"Always."
They sat there for a long time, close and quiet in each other's arms.
The suns sank behind the trees,
and the sky faded into a gentle shade of blue-violet.
A beautiful moment.
Too beautiful.
Damn… I have no idea how I'm supposed to handle this.
His gaze drifted into the distance, his brow furrowing.
Where's Kioto when you actually need him?
He exhaled sharply through his nose.
Since when do royal advisers even get vacations…
Silence.
A moment – too pleasant for the beginning of a tragedy – too peaceful for Vynesalic.
Kuroboshi sighed, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"Wait a second… is this the prologue or already the start?"
He straightened up slowly.
"I think… I might actually be the main character right now."
"You okay?" Ayumi leaned against his shoulder.
But – the perspective began to shift.
Kuroboshi frowned.
"Why are we getting smaller?"
"That's the intro, darling. This is the intro."
"Shit. I'm part of a main character or—" he gasped.
"I knew, i should've read the damn fine print. These disrespectful rats…"
And so the day came to an end.
Unsatisfied – and yet… questioning.
Will he make it?
Will Kuroboshi Vynesalic ever get his family drama under control —
even though he doesn't even know how to style his damn hair?
Kuroboshi's eyes narrowed instantly.
His voice dropped, dangerously calm:
"What did you just say, you bastard…?"
Will we somehow fill in the blanks —before his son finally reaches adulthood?
And will we even make it to the main part of this book – with barely enough budget to keep going?
All of that… we'll find out in—
»Just Like You.«
"For all the gods' sake. That's enough… now get lost."