The evening sun painted the royal palace in gold.
From the tall palace windows, warm light spilled across the marble halls while servants hurried through the corridors carrying trays of tea and freshly cut flowers. Outside, the royal garden bloomed beautifully beneath the soft colors of sunset.
White roses swayed gently in the wind.
Near the center fountain, beneath the large cherry blossom tree, sat Minji.
A small journal rested neatly on her lap as she wrote quietly with a fountain pen. The soft scratching sound of ink against paper mixed peacefully with the sound of flowing water nearby.
Minji liked moments like this
Quiet moments.
Moments where nobody expected anything from her.
A few pink petals landed across the pages of her journal. She brushed them away carefully before continuing to write.
"Today the roses bloomed earlier than usual. Sir Cedric said it means spring will be warm this year."
"You're writing about flowers again?"
A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
Minji looked up immediately.
Standing a few steps away was Prince Alraic.
His dark uniform still carried traces of dust from sword training, and his black gloves rested loosely in one hand. Golden sunlight reflected softly against the silver emblem pinned to his chest.
The servants nearby immediately lowered their heads.
The Crown Prince of the Empire rarely visited the gardens.
Minji closed her journal carefully.
"You're early today."
"And you're avoiding the question."
A faint smile appeared on his lips as he walked toward her.
"You always write about flowers, weather, or random little things."
Minji tilted her head slightly.
"Then what should I write about?"
Alraic sat beside her beneath the cherry blossom tree without caring about the expensive fabric of his uniform touching the grass.Alraic sat beside her beneath the cherry blossom tree without caring about the expensive fabric of his uniform touching the grass.
"Something interesting."
"Flowers are interesting."
"To you."
"They're peaceful."
Alraic looked toward her quietly for a moment before speaking again.
"You've always liked peaceful things."
His voice sounded softer than usual.
Minji looked away awkwardly.
Even after knowing him for years, moments like this still felt strange.
The prince of the empire frightened almost everyone inside the palace. Knights respected him. Nobles feared him.
Yet with her…
He acted normal.
Annoyingly normal.
"You skipped lunch again, didn't you?" Minji asked suddenly.
Alraic paused.
"…No."
"You did."
"How would you know?"
Minji calmly pointed toward the untouched dessert box in his hand.
"The kitchen only gives strawberry tarts on Thursdays."
Silence.
Then Alraic sighed dramatically.
"You notice too much."
"And you lie too easily."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
The nearby maids froze in shock.
The cold prince…
Was laughing.Was laughing.
One servant whispered nervously to another,
"Lady Minji truly is special to His Highness…"
Minji immediately heard them and looked embarrassed.
"We're only childhood friends," she said quickly.
"Only?" Alraic repeated.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Minji ignored him and reopened her journal.
The corner of the prince's lips lifted faintly again.
Before either of them could continue speaking—
A loud crash suddenly echoed from nearby. loud crash suddenly echoed from nearby.
"Ah—!"
A girl stumbled across the stone pathway before falling directly beside the fountain.
The tray in her hands shattered instantly.
Servant gasped in alarm.
"someone help her"
The girl quickly pushed herself upright, her golden hair slightly messy as tears gathered in her eyes.
"I-I'm so sorry…" she whispered shakily. "I ruined everything…"
At once, attention shifted toward her.
Even the passing noble stopped walking.
Minji blinked quietly.
The girl looked delicate.
Fragile.
Like someone who would cry if spoken to harshly.
One maid hurried forward.
"Are you hurt?"
"I-I'm fine…" the girl answered softly despite holding her ankle.
Minji stood up immediately.
"You're bleeding."
The girl looked startled when Minji approached her.
"Oh— no, it's alright—"
"You should sit down first."
Without hesitation, Minji gently helped her toward the fountain bench while another servant cleaned the broken glass.
The girl stared at her with wide eyes.
"You're… Lady Minji?"
Minji nodded softly
The girl lowered her gaze shyly.
"My name is Emma."
Beside them, Alraic watched silently.
Emma carefully looked toward him before quickly looking away again, cheeks slightly pink
Almost too perfectly.
"I recently arrived at the palace," Emma explained nervously. "I didn't mean to embarrass myself…"
"You don't need to apologize," Minji said kindly. "Accidents happen."
Emma stared at her for a second.
Then she smiled sweetly.
"You're much kinder than the rumors say."
Minji looked confused
"Rumors?"
Emma quickly covered her mouth.
"Oh—! I didn't mean—"
"It's fine," Minji laughed softly. "People in the palace always exaggerate things."
Alraic suddenly spoke.
"What Rumours?"
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Emma visibly stiffened under the prince's gaze.
"N-Nothing important, Your Highness."
His expression remained unreadable.
Minji noticed the tension immediately and stepped between them naturally
"You're scaring her."
Alraic clicked his tongue quietly.
"You trust strangers too easily."
Emma lowered her eyes innocently.
Minji smiled helplessly.
"She seems harmless."
For the first time, Emma's smile twitched slightly.
So small nobody noticed.
Nobody except Alraic.
The prince's gaze lingered on her silently.
Cold.
Sharp.
Suspicious.
But the moment Minji looked back at him, his expression softened again.
The evening bells rang throughout the palace.
Far above the royal garden, dark crows suddenly crossed the orange sky.
Minji looked up absentmindedly as flower petals drifted around them.
None of them knew it yet.
But this meeting—
Would eventually destroy everything.