20 Years Later
He stared at her cold, dry lips as if they were the most delicious tart in the universe.
His instincts took over. Without realizing it, he leaned closer, bringing his lips toward hers.
Only a tiny distance remained before he could finally touch the lips he'd dreamed about every night. Only a tiny distance before tasting the sweetest thing in existence.
And that tiny distance...
...was destroyed by a single movement.
Narcissus placed his index finger against her lips, stopping her from doing the one thing every cell in her body was begging for.
Looking into her half-lidded eyes, he said mercilessly,
"I won't kiss you, Aphrodite."
Her heart shattered.
The walls of her hope collapsed.
Humiliation consumed her whole being.
What was this ridiculous wetness suddenly blurring her vision?
Her throat ached, and she was afraid to speak, terrified that Narcissus would hear the tremble in her voice.
When he saw the tears filling her eyes, he repeated,
"I won't kiss the Queen of my kingdom in front of all these people."
She swallowed hard and tried to steady her breathing.
Breaking eye contact with him, she finally looked around.
Only then did she realize where they were.
The banquet hall was still filled with nobles and guests.
How embarrassing...
She had become so lost in dancing with Narcissus that it had felt as though only the two of them existed.
Now she noticed countless eyes fixed on them.
The guests continued dancing while secretly watching them. The round tables surrounding the hall were still occupied, and people whispered to one another, occasionally gesturing in their direction.
She could tell they were talking about them.
Trying to ignore everyone, she forced her attention back to the pair of sapphire-blue eyes before her.
She wanted to focus only on him—the man standing a single breath away.
Dressed in the flawless white attire reserved only for princes, Narcissus looked radiant.
None of the stares mattered.
None of the rumors mattered.
She only wanted him.
His gaze.
His lips.
His very existence.
Then disaster struck.
As she casually glanced across the room, her eyes suddenly met a pair of crimson-red ones.
Ruby-red eyes.
Eyes that couldn't compare to the beautiful blue diamonds of her Narcissus.
Eyes that inspired only one thing.
Fear.
Instinctively, her hands loosened from around his neck, and panic filled her face.
Her voice trembled.
"Nemesis... is here."
She felt the arms around her waist stiffen, making her fear even worse.
Seeing the terror in her eyes, Narcissus answered calmly,
"Relax. Nothing's going to happen."
Aphrodite shook her head.
Ever since their eyes had met—that brief moment that hadn't even lasted a second—she no longer had the courage to look at those furious crimson eyes again.
"He wasn't supposed to come tonight. Narcissus, I swear he told me he wanted to rest tonight... but now... now..."
Narcissus lifted one hand from her waist and gently placed it over her lips, silencing her.
The warmth of his skin against her lips made her heartbeat race, and she fell silent.
Her pupils were still trembling, and her face clearly showed her distress.
Narcissus believed she was only frightened because of Nemesis.
But Aphrodite knew the true reason behind all her turmoil was the man standing in front of her.
"Nothing is going to happen."
After a brief pause, while looking into her brown eyes, he continued,
"Nemesis adores you too much to ever punish you."
"And you...?"
Narcissus answered with an easy smile.
"The king would never allow his precious minister to be harmed. So don't worry."
"Just enjoy the dance."
Even so, Aphrodite could see the anxiety hidden in his eyes.
Nemesis, the King of the Kingdom of Wrath, treasured Narcissus deeply, and Aphrodite was his queen.
Yet she could swear that if both her life and Narcissus's were ever in danger, Nemesis would save his minister first without hesitation.
The king's affection for the young man before her was beyond anything anyone could imagine.
Still, she couldn't calm herself.
The hostile look Nemesis had given them continued to haunt her.
Minutes passed.
One by one, the guests left the palace.
The music stopped.
Servants cleared away the leftover fruit, pastries, and the crimson banners decorating the walls.
Yet the two of them remained in the center of the ballroom, standing in silence without moving.
Narcissus was the first to break it.
"I'll talk to the king."
"I'm coming with you."
Narcissus fixed his eyes on the queen's green ones and said in a warning tone,
"Don't do anything that foolish."
Then he left Aphrodite alone in the ballroom.