The courtyard of Princess Nina's palace lay bathed in silver moonlight. The soft rustle of cherry blossom leaves and the distant whisper of wind filled the air with a gentle melancholy.
The place was quiet — a serene world enclosed by wooden corridors, open paper doors, and the gentle murmur of water.
Cherry blossoms drifted lazily through the air, settling upon the stone path that curved around a small fountain at the courtyard's heart.
There, beside the fountain, Princess Nina sat alone, her silken robe trailing softly across the polished floor.
Moonlight shimmered on the water's surface, and its reflection trembled faintly, as if sharing her unrest.
Her eyes were fixed on the moon, yet her thoughts wandered far beyond its tranquil beauty.
Shaun Thunderhawk…
Her fingers idly brushed across the fountain's edge as her thoughts wandered — circling the same image over and over again.
No matter how much she tried, she couldn't push the image from her mind — that fleeting moment when she had seen him wounded, blood staining the earth.
Each time she closed her eyes, that scene replayed again, and her heart ached with an emotion she couldn't name.
"Why…" she murmured softly, gazing at the rippling reflection of the moon. "Why can't I forget his face…?"
Inside the chamber behind her, laughter and the clack of shogi tiles echoed.
Natsumi and Julia sat across from each other, locked in a friendly match, their calm voices blending with the soft sound of wooden pieces.
To them, it was an ordinary evening — yet for Nina, the night felt unbearably heavy.
Footsteps whispered across the veranda. Reina appeared, her crimson robe fluttering lightly as she stepped into the courtyard.
She paused at the edge of the pond, her eyes and her gentle face etched with concern.
"Princess Nina," Reina said softly, "you've been sitting here for a long time. What troubles you so deeply?"
Nina's gaze remained fixed on the pond. Her fingers tightened around her sleeve as the moon's reflection wavered.
"…I don't know, Reina. I can't clear him from my mind. Every time I remember Shaun's wounds… it feels as though I can't breathe" she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I shouldn't be so affected… He's just… a stranger. But every time I remember his wounds, there's this pain inside me — this strange ache I can't explain," She pressed a hand against her heart, her eyes glistening.
Reina's eyes softened. "You're kind, Your Highness. Perhaps too kind. But maybe this isn't kindness — it's guilt. You still believe what happened to him was your fault, don't you?"
Nina's lips trembled. "I… yes. I can't shake the thought that it's my fault. If only I hadn't…" Her voice faded into the sound of rippling water.
Reina knelt beside her, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Then you already know what you must do."
She looked into the pond's reflection — two faces, blurred by moonlight. "If guilt chains you, the only key to set you free is forgiveness — and that begins with an apology."
Nina turned toward her, eyes glimmering faintly in the moonlight. "Apologize…?"
Reina nodded. "To Shaun Thunderhawk. Speak from your heart — Free yourself from this burden. But… do it when Lord Vince isn't around. We both know how he feels about that boy."
For the first time that evening, a faint, melancholic smile crossed Nina's lips. "Yes… you're right. I don't wish to cause him more trouble. I'll wait for the right moment."
The night breeze stirred, carrying with it the scent of cherry blossoms. Nina's reflection rippled once more — as a single blossom fell into the water — moonlight, petals, and ripples merging into one.
Why… does my heart ache so much for him?
The thought lingered — unanswered — beneath the quiet song of the fountain.
**********
The academy courtyard was alive with chatter and laughter as disciples enjoyed their lunch beneath the soft bloom of cherry blossoms.
A gentle breeze carried petals across the stone paths, filling the air with warmth and colour. A little farther from the crowd, Shaun Thunderhawk sat quietly beneath one of the great cherry blossom trees.
The sunlight filtered through pink petals, dappling his face with fleeting shades of gold and rose. In his hands, an untouched lunchbox rested — his thoughts far away.
His friends — Natasha, Sabastian, and Shaumin — had gone to buy food for everyone.
They'd planned to celebrate their friendship, but thanks to that unpleasant encounter with Vince and his group, the day had lost its cheerful spark.
Shaun leaned back against the tree trunk, gazing at the falling petals. But his mind wasn't on the blossoms… it was on her.
Princess Nina Heavenstar.
No matter how hard he tried, her face kept returning to his thoughts. Her expression when she first saw his wounds. The strange warmth — or was it sadness? — that flickered in her eyes.
"Why…?" he murmured softly. "Why would someone like her get engaged to Vince?"
Was she forced into it? Or… as Natasha and Scarlett had suggested, was it a calculated move — a way to preserve her family's influence in Silver Heaven? Or maybe, just maybe… she truly liked him.
The thought stung more than he cared to admit.
He let out a small sigh, brushing a petal off his sleeve.
Why do I even care so much?
His thoughts were interrupted by distant laughter — a group of disciples chatting happily nearby. Shaun's eyes wandered, following the cheerful voices across the courtyard.
And then — his gaze stopped.
Under another cherry blossom tree, sitting quietly with her hands folded in her lap, was Princess Nina herself.
Shaun froze. His breath caught.
She sat alone, her long hair swaying gently in the breeze, the sunlight catching the silver threads of her robe. For a moment, she looked less like a princess and more like a part of the spring itself — quiet, graceful, unreachable.
What is she doing here… alone? Where are her attendants? Her friends? Is she… waiting for someone?
A dozen thoughts rushed through his mind, and with them — an urge he couldn't quite explain.
There were so many things he wanted to ask her:
About her great-grandfather, Supreme Magus Gabriel Heavenstar. About Vince. About the truth behind that engagement.
It felt like the perfect moment to talk to her.
He even began to stand up… but then froze mid-motion.
Natasha's voice echoed in his memory — sharp and clear:
"Promise me, Shaun. You'll stay away from her. No more trouble."
He lowered himself back down, his expression conflicted.
His promise clashed with his curiosity, and something deeper — a pull he couldn't quite define.
Why do I feel drawn to her? he wondered. It's not just curiosity. It's something else… something I don't understand.
The breeze stirred again, carrying the faint scent of blossoms — the same wind that brushed gently across the princess beneath the other tree.
Unbeknownst to either of them, their hearts lingered on the same question under the same cherry blossom sky.
**********
On the far side of the academy courtyard, beneath another cherry blossom tree, Princess Nina sat quietly, her silk robe fluttering in the spring breeze.
It was supposed to be a cheerful day — her best friend Julia's birthday. To celebrate, Julia had gone to fetch lunch, with Reina and Natsumi accompanying her.
Nina had stayed behind to prepare their spot beneath the blossoms.
The weather could not have been kinder: warm sunlight, a gentle wind, and the pink rain of petals falling on the grass. The scent of blossoms mingled with the laughter of nearby disciples.
An afternoon made for smiles, she thought faintly — and yet, my heart feels heavy.
As she waited, Nina's mind drifted back to the previous night — Reina's words echoing in her ears.
"If guilt chains you, the only key to set you free is forgiveness. And that begins with an apology."
Nina's fingers tightened slightly on her lap. An apology… to Shaun Thunderhawk.
The name alone made her chest feel strange — like ripples spreading across still water.
But as her thoughts circled endlessly, a faint prickling sensation crawled up her neck. Someone was watching her.
She blinked and looked around. The courtyard was lively — disciples talking, laughing, trading food — yet no one was close. Her eyes wandered further… until they found Shaun.
He was sitting a little distance away beneath another cherry blossom tree, half-hidden in the drifting petals.
His gaze, quiet and steady, met hers for just a heartbeat before she gasped softly and turned away, her face flushing red.
H-he's looking at me!
Her pulse quickened, and her mind spun in circles.
Why is he here? Did he come for me? Or… is it just coincidence?
She tried to calm herself, pressing her hand over her racing heart.
The silence between them felt thick — not heavy, but fragile, like the still air before a breeze.
What should I do now? she thought anxiously. Reina told me to apologize when Vince isn't around. Maybe… maybe this is my chance.
Her gaze flickered toward Shaun again. He was still sitting quietly, lost in thought — looking every bit as troubled as she felt.
He must still be angry… or hurt. But he's a kind person. If I apologize sincerely, he'll understand.
Her nerves tangled with resolve.
She took a slow breath, brushing her hair behind her ear.
Alright… I'll do it.
With a trembling but determined heart, Nina slowly rose to her feet, ready to take her first step toward Shaun — and toward the apology that might finally set her free.
**********