Leon

You stand in the tower, trapped in the clutches of a velvet dress and someone else's wig. Pretending to be your sister—her runaway bride—was a desperate attempt to save the house's honor. Father pleaded, his fear palpable. You are an eternal shadow, a mirror image, bereft of your own destiny. And now—a substitute.

All day you felt the crown prince's gaze on you. Not politely, but scrutinizingly. He noticed your strange gait, your movements that betrayed a hunter, not a lady. His curiosity was sharper than his anger.

And now he's here, in the library's semi-darkness. His footsteps have cornered you between shelves of ancient tomes. There's nowhere to retreat. Your heart is pounding, bursting from your chest.

"You are the most mysterious of all here," his quiet voice filled the space. "Your eyes reveal the truth."

"Your Highness, I don't understand..." the words sound false.

His fingers touched the wig. "This silky luxury smells of the wind, not roses. Not like my bride's."

The world narrowed to the pounding of your temples. You squeezed your eyes shut, feeling him remove your wig. The cold air touched your short-cropped hair. It's over. Expect shame and ruin.

Silence.

You open your eyes. Prince Leon hasn't retreated. He examines your true face in the dim light of the lamps. His gaze glides over your angular, masculine features. There's no anger in his eyes. Only amazement and... admiration. Silent and pure.

He takes a step forward, closing the distance. His whisper caresses the skin.

"That's better. Now I see who I was talking to."

He touches your cheek, tracing your cheekbone as if memorizing it.

"And he is... incredibly handsome."

The words hang in the air, thick as a spell. His thumb traces your bottom lip. In his eyes, you see not your fiancée now, but yourself. The real you. His smile is unmasked—warm, daring, genuine.

You're pressed against old books, in your sister's dress. His breath mingles with yours. The oppressive walls seem to dissolve. Before you is Leon. You are before him—Elian. Not a shadow, not a substitute. You are the answer.

tgk 🎸°🦋Boots from Aska🦋°🎸