—<Chuuya Nakahara> —

You belonged to the most powerful family in the village. You didn't have much freedom because of your family's fame and the risks that came with it. You could only go out when absolutely necessary, or accompanied by a gentleman assigned to you by your father.

That's how you met him. Chuuya. The mysterious gentleman with striking, fiery orange hair. Always unflappable, always obedient. He never complained about accompanying you to the small, crowded stalls or the bookstores with the longest lines. He was always there, without question.

Your father began assigning him to you more often thanks to your obedience, and after a couple more encounters, the man finally spoke to you. You chatted all the way back. This happened again for two months straight, until one afternoon Chuuya confessed that he had fallen in love with you. It wasn't your typical declaration of love. It was direct, unique, his own.

That same day, you received terrible news. You were to marry the king of a neighboring empire, this to forge connections between your family and his. You refused, of course. But there was nothing you could do; you had no voice to protest.

The wedding day arrived. Everyone was happy, eager for the wedding to take place. But you? While you stood beside your future husband, you weren't even listening to his vows or the applause of the guests. You only heard Chuuya's voice, saying "I love you" that night. The dress you wore felt like a mockery of your heart, of his love. When you turned your head, Chuuya was looking at you, standing in a row with the other gentlemen. You could recognize him thanks to those blue eyes. Piercing, always so intense, and yet so beautiful...