(Royal Palace of Velmoria — Night)
The door to Prince Velco’s chamber slammed shut behind him.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then Velco laughed.
A sharp, breathless sound burst from his throat as he leaned against the door, one hand pressed to his face.
“…Ha… hah…”
He pushed himself away and began pacing the room, boots echoing wildly against the marble floor. “What was it you told me?” he muttered, voice trembling with amusement.
He dragged a hand through his hair, eyes shining unnaturally bright..“I found it,” he whispered, then said it again, louder.
“I found it. I finally found
Velco turned toward the candlelit table, slamming his palm down. “And I’m going to strike
He straightened, chuckling darkly. “You were clever. I’ll give you that.” His tone shifted, mocking admiration. “Hiding her away. Playing the role of a devoted husband. Walking through the streets like a harmless commoner.”
Another laugh escaped him. “But even the mighty Emperor of Velmoria can make mistakes,” he said, shaking his head. “Big ones.”
Velco stepped toward the mirror and stared at his own reflection, eyes wild. “Your poor wife,” he murmured softly. “Lady Eva…” His lips curled. “She has no idea, does she?”
He tilted his head, studying his own grin. “She doesn’t know that the man she trusts, the man she laughs with, the man she shares her bed with…” His voice dropped into a whisper. “…is lying to her every single day.”
Velco laughed again, almost giddy. “She thinks he’s just a common man,” he said. “A simple husband.”
He leaned closer to the mirror. “How innocent.”
His fingers trembled as excitement surged through him. “I wonder how she’ll react,” he mused aloud. “Will she cry? Will she scream? Will she feel betrayed… or afraid?”
He laughed softly, savoring the thought. “Oh, I should tell her myself,” Velco decided suddenly. “Yes. That would be perfect.”
He straightened, eyes burning with anticipation. “I want to see her face,” he said, voice shaking with delight. “The moment she realizes the truth. The moment she understands that her husband—her precious Kyel—has been lying from the very beginning.”
“Oh…” he murmured, eyes half-lidded with anticipation. “I can hardly wait to meet Lady Eva tomorrow.”
The promise in his voice was far more terrifying than any threat.
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(Eva and Kyel’s House — Night)
Eva and Kyel lay asleep beneath the dim glow of moonlight, their breaths slow and in sync. Kyel’s arm was wrapped protectively around Eva, his hand resting over her stomach as if guarding her even in sleep.
Then—
like a warning whispered by fate—Kyel was dragged under. Not into an ordinary nightmare, but into the memory he despised the most… one that had never truly left him.
The throne room drowned in the stench of blood and iron.
At the center of the vast hall, Queen Seris Valenne knelt on her knees, heavy chains binding her wrists. Her once-elegant dress was torn and soaked in blood, a dark line running down from her temple. Despite the blade pressed cruelly against her throat, her back was straight, her head held high.
Enemies surrounded her on all sides. Before them stood King Thalor Therald. His eyes were wide, unfocused, his sword trembling so violently in his grip that it barely stayed upright. Behind him, half-hidden by his cloak, seven-year-old Eyan clung to his leg, sobbing, his small body shaking with terror.
“Mother…” Eyan cried, his voice breaking.
One of the enemies leaned closer, pressing the blade harder against Seris’s neck.
“King of Velmoria,” he sneered, “release the Dragon King now… or watch your wife die.”
Seris lifted her gaze, tears spilling freely, but her voice remained firm as she looked at her husband.
“Your Majesty,” she cried, “you cannot release the Dragon King. Do not worry about me.”
The blade cut closer, drawing blood.
She gasped but forced the words out through her pain. “If you release the Dragon King,” she sobbed, “I will never forgive you.”
Thalor’s hands shook uncontrollably. His breath came out in broken gasps as he looked from his wife to their son.
Seris’s eyes softened when they fell on Eyan. “Why are you hesitating?” she pleaded through tears. “You cannot choose me.” Her voice cracked, raw with love. “Think about Eyan… think about son.”
Eyan tugged desperately at his father’s clothes. “Father!” he cried. “What are you doing? Please—save Mother!”
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Thalor squeezed his eyes shut. A single tear slipped down his face.
His sword slipped from his hand and struck the floor with a hollow clang.
Seris smiled. It was gentle. Grateful. Filled with love and goodbye all at once. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Your Majesty.”
Eyan stared at his father in horror.
The enemy laughed softly. “So this… is your answer.”
The sword was raised. Then it fell. Blood sprayed across the marble. Seris’s head rolled across the floor, her smile frozen in place.
“No—!” Eyan screamed.
He tore himself free and ran toward her, his small hands reaching for her lifeless body.
But strong arms caught him from behind. Thalor dropped to his knees, clutching his son as the child struggled wildly.
“Mother!” Eyan sobbed. “Don’t go—please don’t go!”
Tears streamed down Thalor’s face as he held his son tightly. “Eyan… stop,” he cried brokenly.
“Mother, don’t leave me alone!” Eyan screamed, his voice cracking apart.
The throne room echoed with grief.
“KYEL.”
“KYEL!”
Eyan jolted awake.
His eyes flew open, soaked with tears, his chest heaving as if he had been drowning.
Eva was beside him, her hands gripping his arms. “Kyel, are you okay?” she asked softly. “Were you having a nightmare?”
Kyel surged upright and pulled her into his arms. His entire body trembled.
Eva wrapped her arms around him and gently patted his back. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m here. It was just a nigh
But Kyel knew the truth. It was not just a nightmare. It was a wound that had never healed.
__________________________________
(Next day)(Eva and Kyel’s House — Morning)
Kyel shifted restlessly in his sleep. His arm moved instinctively, reaching for the familiar warmth beside him—but found only cold sheets.
His eyes snapped open. For a brief, terrifying moment, his mind went blank. Then his heart thundered violently against his ribs.
“Eva…” he whispered.
The bed was empty. Kyel sat up so fast the room spun. He swung his legs off the bed and strode toward the bathroom, pushing the door open without knocking.
Empty.
A sharp knot formed in his chest. He hurried down the stairs, his footsteps heavy and uneven, panic rising with every second.
“Eva!” he called out, louder now.
Silence answered him.
Kyel moved through the house, checking the sitting room, the kitchen—his voice echoing off the walls. “Eva…!”
Nothing.
Just as his fear threatened to spiral out of control, the sound of the front door opening cut through the quiet. Eva stepped inside, morning light framing her figure.
She smiled the moment she saw him. “Honey, you’re awa—”
She didn’t finish.
Kyel crossed the distance in two strides and pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her. His grip was firm—almost desperate.
Eva gasped in surprise, then relaxed against him. “Kyel?” she asked softly.
His voice came out rough, uneven. “Where have you been?” he said. “I woke up and you weren’t beside me… I—” He swallowed hard. “I was afraid.”
Eva tilted her head back to look at him, her expression softening. “I went out to buy chocolate,” she said gently. “I was craving it so badly.”
Kyel pulled back just enough to look at her properly, his brows knitting together. “If you were craving chocolate, you should’ve woken me up,” he said firmly. “Why did you go out by yourself?”
Eva smiled, lifting her hand to his cheek. “How could I wake you up?” she replied. “You barely slept last night. You were tossing around like you were fighting something even in your dreams.”
Her smile faded slightly as she searched his eyes. “Honey… what did you dream about?” she asked. “You looked so scared.”
Kyel’s gaze shifted away. He glanced around the room. “It was nothing,” he said after a pause. “I don’t remember what I saw.”
Eva studied him for a moment, then smiled again—this time softer, kinder. “That’s a good thing,” she said. “Some dreams are better forgotten.”
Kyel exhaled slowly, forcing himself to relax. “I’ll go take a bath,” he said. “Then I’ll make something proper for you to eat.”
Eva shook her head quickly. “No, I don’t need anything. I already brought my breakfast.”
She lifted the paper bag she was holding and opened it, revealing several neatly packed boxes of chocolate.
Kyel stared at them, incredulous. “You’re going to eat chocolate for breakfast?”
“Yes,” Eva replied without hesitation, nodding firmly.
She gently pushed him toward the stairs. “Now go,” she said. “Take a bath.”
Kyel let out a helpless sigh, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little. “…Fine.”
As he walked away, he glanced back once more—just to make sure she was still there.
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(At the Breakfast Table)
Kyel sat across from Eva, his gaze fixed on her as she ate chocolate as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Unbothered. Content.
Eva noticed his stare and lifted her eyes to him.
“Honey,” she asked, amused, “what’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Kyel leaned back slightly, crossing his arms.
“I’m just watching how easily you’re eating that,” he said. “Like it’s nothing. Are you really craving chocolate that much?”
Eva bit into another piece without hesitation, smiling around it.
“Oh yes,” she said cheerfully. “You have no idea how badly I wanted this.”
Kyel sighed, shaking his head in defeat.
“Fine. Eat it. But you still need to eat proper food too.”
“I will,” Eva promised lightly. “Later.”
She reached for another piece, completely focused on her chocolate.
Kyel’s eyes followed the movement of her hand… then her lips.
A faint trace of chocolate lingered there, and he swallowed hard before he realized what he was doing. Eva caught his stare. She paused, then lifted a piece toward him, smiling.
“Honey,” she said, “do you want to eat too?”
Kyel hesitated. “…Can I?”
“Of course.”
He stood from his chair and stepped closer. Eva raised her hand to feed him—but before the chocolate could reach his lips, Kyel gently guided her hand aside. His other hand came up to cradle her face.
Then he leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers, stealing the chocolate straight from her lips.
Eva’s breath hitched. She smiled against his mouth, eyes closing as she reached up and pulled him closer, melting into the kiss.
Kyel pulled back slowly, his breathing heavy. His thumb brushed softly over her lips as he whispered, voice low and dangerous,
“Don’t eat chocolate in front of me again,” he murmured. “It makes me want to eat alive.”
Eva flushed deeply and pushed him back, embarrassed—and very aware of her racing heart. "Kyel.."
Kyel chuckled. “I’m not lying.”
“I know,” Eva muttered, cheeks burning. “That very well.”
Kyel smiled warmly and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
“I should leave,” he said softly. “Or I’ll be late for work.”
“Okay,” Eva replied.
He knelt in front of her without another word and placed a tender kiss against her belly, his voice soft with warmth. “Bye, little one.”
Standing, he walked toward the door, pausing just long enough to glance back. “Bye, princess,” he said. “And remember—eat real food too.”
Eva laughed softly. “Bye-bye.”
She watched him leave, one hand resting over her stomach, her smile lingering long after the door closed.
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(15 minutes later)
Eva frowned softly. “Who could that be…?” she murmured. “I don’t remember having any visitors today.”
She stood, smoothing her dress as she walked to the door. The moment she opened it, her breath caught.
She froze—then quickly bowed. “G-greetings, Your Highness.”
Prince Velco stood before her, a faint smile curved on his lips. “Greetings, Lady Eva.”
Eva straightened slowly, confusion flickering across her face. “Your Highness… what brings you here?”
Velco’s smile deepened. “Lady Eva,” he said calmly, “I have come to tell you the .”
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the door.
“The truth…?” she repeated.
Velco’s eyes darkened as they met hers.
“The truth,” he continued softly, deliberately,
“about your husband.”
