Rui Kamishiro ~ Black Lily

Long ago, two neighboring kingdoms stood on opposite sides of the world. One was known as the Kingdom of Light, bright and prosperous beneath endless sunshine, while the other was the Kingdom of Darkness, where quiet forests and moonlit skies stretched as far as the eye could see. Although neither kingdom desired war, neither trusted the other enough to call them allies.

Everything changed when both royal families agreed that peace would last far longer if it was sealed through marriage.

The Kingdom of Light offered its only prince. Tsukasa had rarely been seen by the public. Ever since he was a child, strange rumors surrounded him, claiming he suffered from an unknown condition that left him impossibly fragile. A harsh breeze could leave him bedridden for days, direct sunlight irritated his skin, and even the smallest illness was said to become life-threatening. Whether the stories were exaggerated or not, his parents never took chances. Tsukasa spent most of his life sheltered within the palace, wrapped in layers of fine white silk, protected from almost everything the outside world had to offer.

The Kingdom of Darkness accepted the proposal, offering their own only heir in return.

Prince Rui was known for entirely different reasons. He was gentle, remarkably intelligent, and so painfully shy that court gatherings often exhausted him before they had properly begun.

Their first meeting had been arranged in a small room within the palace of the Kingdom of Light. Soft curtains blocked the afternoon sun, fresh lilies filled the room with a delicate fragrance, and every detail had been carefully prepared to keep Tsukasa comfortable.

Rui stood quietly near the doorway, hands folded behind his back to hide his nerves. His gaze drifted toward the prince seated across the room, dressed in countless layers of pristine white silk embroidered with silver thread. Tsukasa looked almost unreal, more like a porcelain doll than a person.

"U-Um..." Rui mumbled.