Chapter 2) The First Kiss Beneath the Moonlight

 

The grand ballroom glittered beneath magnificent crystal chandeliers, their light dancing across polished marble floors. Elegant melodies drifted through the air, mingling with the fragrance of fresh blossoms until the palace itself seemed wrapped in a dream.

 

At night, the Royal Palace of Escariel was even more breathtaking than it had been by day.

Every noble in the kingdom had gathered to celebrate the union of Escariel and Cartesion, filling the palace with laughter and conversation. Yet despite the lively festivities, every pair of eyes inevitably settled on the young couple at the center of it all.

Bathed in golden light, Astina and Prince Theodore looked almost unreal—as though they had stepped from the hands of a master sculptor, two flawless porcelain figures brought to life.

 

"What a beautiful match."

"The future of both kingdoms is sure to shine as brightly as the two of them."

The compliments never seemed to end.

Astina maintained a graceful smile, though her cheeks were beginning to ache from holding it for so long.

Everyone offered blessings for their engagement, but it wasn't difficult to see where the nobles' true interests lay. Behind every polite smile and clinking wineglass were calculating eyes measuring alliances, influence, and political gain.

 

The banquet was far more tedious than she had expected.

Setting down her goblet, Astina discreetly stifled a yawn.

The introductions stretched on endlessly, and while the orchestra played beautifully, every song sounded exactly the same.

 

Meanwhile, Theodore fulfilled the role of the perfect fiancé without the slightest complaint.

He greeted everyone with warmth, listened attentively, and treated every guest with impeccable courtesy. He was everything a crown prince should be.

Almost...

too perfect.

 

And somehow, that perfection made Astina feel strangely suffocated.

After watching him politely entertain yet another noble, she reached over and gave the sleeve of his formal jacket a gentle tug.

 

"...Y-Your Highness?"

Theodore immediately turned toward her, concern flashing across his face.

"Is... is something wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"A little."

She leaned closer until only he could hear her voice.

"I can't breathe in here."

The warmth of her whisper brushed against his ear.

Theodore instantly felt his face grow hot.

Astina smiled mischievously.

 

"Want to escape with me?"

"...Excuse me?"

His emerald eyes widened.

"...Yes!"

The answer burst out before he could stop himself.

His face flushed scarlet, and the sight of his honest, utterly transparent reaction made Astina laugh.

Her laughter rang through the air like ripe fruit bursting beneath the summer sun—light, bright, and irresistibly sweet.

For a moment, Theodore forgot how to breathe all over again.

 

Astina lightly tugged at his sleeve.

"The palace gardens are beautiful at night."

Her eyes sparkled with quiet excitement.

"Come with me."

Together, they slipped away from the ballroom unnoticed—

like two children sneaking off on a secret adventure.

 

**************************

Moonlight poured gently over the palace gardens, where countless hydrangeas bloomed beneath the night sky.

The cool evening breeze carried the rich fragrance of flowers, wrapping the garden in a tranquil stillness so beautiful that merely breathing it in made one's heart feel lighter.

After running from the ballroom, both of them slowed to a leisurely walk.

The laughter that had filled the air only moments ago gradually faded, leaving a comfortable silence between them.

 

Music drifted faintly from the palace in the distance.

The murmur of the banquet floated through the night.

Golden lights shimmered beyond the hedges.

The sweet scent of flowers lingered with every passing breeze.

 

As the wind brushed past, the hem of Astina's dress fluttered softly against her legs.

Standing so close beneath the silver moonlight, she became strangely aware of Theodore's breathing.

Embarrassed by the sudden thought, she looked away.

For some reason...

her heart had begun beating just a little faster.

At this very moment—

it felt as though anyone could fall in love.

 

"You really are... an extraordinary person, Princess."

"...Me?"

Astina blinked in surprise, her clear blue eyes lifting to meet his.

The instant their gazes met, Theodore's heartbeat quickened again.

 

"When we first met..."

He smiled shyly.

"You seemed so beautiful that I could barely bring myself to speak to you."

His voice softened.

"But now..."

"I feel as though you've become much closer."

A gentle laugh escaped Astina's lips.

"I'm glad."

She met his eyes without hesitation.

"We're going to be closer than anyone else, after all."

A rosy blush slowly spread across Theodore's cheeks.

 

Watching him, Astina felt her own heartbeat grow louder.

He reminded her of a boy experiencing his first love—earnest, awkward, and painfully sincere.

It was unexpectedly... charming.

Theodore couldn't even bring himself to look away.

His innocent gaze remained fixed entirely on her.

 

Seeing how hopelessly transparent he was made Astina smile.

Is this what someone in love looks like?

Every emotion was written plainly across his face.

He was clumsy.

Earnest.

Completely incapable of hiding what he felt.

And somehow...

she found that irresistibly endearing.

Almost without thinking, Astina slowly lifted her hand—

and gently cupped Theodore's warm cheek.

 

A sudden memory surfaced in Astina's mind.

A moonlit garden.

A grand ball.

And...

A first kiss.

Isn't this exactly how it always happens in romance novels?

 

The thought made the corners of her lips curl upward.

Theodore could barely think.

The gentle warmth of her hand against his cheek...

The way her sapphire eyes held his beneath the moonlight...

Everything about her seemed impossibly close.

He forgot how to breathe.

He had thought she was beautiful before.

But seeing her like this—

close enough to count every delicate lash framing those brilliant blue eyes—

was enough to make his heart lose all rhythm.

 

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Astina asked with a playful smile.

Yet beneath the teasing tone, there was the faintest tremor in her voice.

Theodore opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

She was too close.

Close enough that he could feel the warmth of her breath.

 

Then—

Astina closed the remaining distance.

Her lips brushed softly against his.

The kiss lasted no more than the flutter of a bird's feather.

So light...

So fleeting...

Yet in that brief instant, their breaths mingled beneath the silver moonlight.

 

Astina's breath caught.

Her pulse raced wildly against her ribs.

Was it because they were standing so close?

Or because...

she had just kissed him?

Only moments ago, she'd thought it would be nothing more than a playful tease.

So why...

Why was her heart pounding so hard?

 

Theodore slowly reached for her wrist.

His fingers trembled as they closed around it with surprising gentleness.

He couldn't let this moment slip away.

Somehow...

he knew that if he let go now, he might never find the courage to be this close to her again.

And before she could hide behind another mischievous smile...

before she could laugh and run away...

He wanted to hold on to this moment—

just a little longer.

 

This time, it was Theodore who closed the distance between them.

Slowly...

Carefully...

He pressed his lips to hers.

The kiss lingered far longer than the first.

It was clumsy, hesitant, and impossibly gentle—the awkward kiss of two people experiencing love for the very first time.

Their breaths mingled, slow and warm beneath the moonlight.

 

Somewhere in the distance, voices called their names.

They were being searched for.

Yet neither of them heard a thing.

The rest of the world faded into silence.

All either of them could hear was the frantic rhythm of their own hearts.

 

Their lips parted only slightly, their uneven breaths blending in the narrow space between them.

An unfamiliar warmth blossomed quietly within their chests, spreading with every passing heartbeat.

When the kiss finally ended, neither of them had the courage to step away.

They simply stood there, gazing into each other's eyes.

 

Time itself seemed to slow.

As though, for one fleeting moment...

they were the only two people left beneath the moonlit sky.

 

 

**************************

Sleep refused to come to Astina that night.

Long after the banquet had ended, its lingering warmth still seemed to fill her room.

Almost absentmindedly, she touched her lips.

Her thoughts drifted back to the kiss.

 

Romance novels always make it sound so dramatic.

They say bells ring in your head... that the whole world suddenly glows with beautiful colors.

She let out a quiet laugh.

Honestly?

All she could remember was the lingering warmth on her lips... and the strange excitement that still fluttered in her chest.

It wasn't all that different from the times she'd playfully kissed the back of her own hand out of curiosity.

...Or so she'd tried to convince herself.

After a moment, she shook her head.

 

No.

That wasn't true at all.

It had been completely different.

She had been so absorbed in that fleeting moment that she'd lost all sense of time.

Then another memory surfaced.

Theodore's hand.

The way his fingers had wrapped around her wrist, firm yet careful, as though he were afraid she might disappear if he let go.

And those emerald eyes...

Warm.

Earnest.

Filled with emotions he hadn't even tried to hide.

A small smile found its way to her lips.

 

All right...

I suppose it's time to admit it.

For the very first time...

The prince she'd always thought of as nothing more than a sweet, inexperienced boy...

had begun to look like a man.

 

Astina had never kissed anyone before, so she had no way of knowing whether this was what a first kiss was supposed to feel like.

But one thing was certain.

It had left her with a warmth she couldn't quite put into words.

A warmth that made her smile whenever she thought about it.

Maybe... marrying the prince wouldn't be so bad after all.

The thought came so naturally that it surprised even her.

Still...

 

Wasn't a first kiss supposed to be... more?

The novels always made it sound like the world stopped spinning.

Like fireworks exploded behind your eyes.

Like destiny itself whispered your name.

She let out a quiet sigh.

Then she smiled to herself.

No...

Perhaps she was expecting too much.

The moment she remembered her young fiancé's face—flushed so red it looked as though it might burst into flames—she felt a pang of guilt instead.

Poor Theodore...

I think I was the one who teased him too much.

 

BOOOOOOM!

The entire palace shook violently.

The deafening roar struck without warning, throwing the room into chaos as if the palace itself had been caught in a raging sea.

Screams erupted from every direction.

Outside her window, crimson flames burst into the night sky, licking at the darkness like the tongues of dragons.

 

"Princess!"

The bedroom door flew open.

A maid stumbled inside, her face drained of all color.

"We're under attack! You must evacuate immediately!"

"...What?"

Astina stared at her in disbelief.

Under attack?

By whom?

 

"Astina!"

Bellona rushed into the room, hastily wrapping a robe around herself.

Her face was deathly pale.

"Come with me! Right now!"

Before Astina could react, Bellona seized her wrist and pulled her toward the door.

"S-Sister! What's happening?"

"The monster is here!"

Bellona didn't slow down.

"We have to run!"

"...Monster?"

"Kallis Das Valerion!"

Her voice trembled.

"The Emperor's Mad Hound has come to destroy Escariel!"

 

Astina froze for the briefest moment.

Through the palace windows, thick black smoke swallowed the stars while towering walls of crimson fire devoured the night.

The beautiful world she'd been admiring only moments ago...

was collapsing before her eyes.

 

"Astina, hurry!"

Diena was already waiting in the corridor.

She grabbed Astina's other hand without hesitation.

The four sisters clasped tightly onto one another, refusing to let go as they ran through the crumbling halls.

Everywhere they looked, servants screamed.

Explosions echoed without end.

The magnificent palace that had once symbolized the pride of Escariel was slowly disappearing beneath an ocean of fire.

Astina followed her sisters, desperately holding back tears.

Only moments ago...

These corridors had been filled with music and laughter.

Now they echoed with nothing but cries of terror.

 

Then—

Almost by instinct, she glanced out a shattered window.

And forgot how to breathe.

Beyond the sea of crimson flames...

A towering man clad in black armor stood amidst the destruction.

Like a demon that had crawled out of the depths of hell.

His crimson eyes gleamed through the fire.

 

A chill ran down Astina's spine.

She didn't know why.

She didn't know how.

But instinct told her everything she needed to know.

That man...

was the monster who had brought Escariel to ruin.

And for reasons she couldn't explain—

She was certain that one day...

she, too, would die by his hand.