You Really Do Have Beautiful Eyes

I couldn't get close enough, and just as I bit gently at his lower lip, I felt him flinch, a low groan escaping his throat. His arms tightened around me, his body pressing closer, and I responded with equal passion, pulling him even nearer. Everything felt raw, unguarded—everything that had been building between us was finally unleashed.

Then, in the middle of the kiss, I heard a voice—clear, authoritative, and cutting through the haze of desire.

"Julian. Lady Seraphina."

I froze, my breath catching in my throat, heart slamming against my ribs. The shock of hearing that voice, so unexpected, was like a splash of cold water. I jerked back, pulling away from him in panic, my cheeks flushing a deep crimson.

My eyes darted to the figure standing just a few feet away, and my stomach plummeted. There, bathed in the soft moonlight, stood King Christopher. His expression was unreadable, his eyes cold as they flicked between Julian and me.

"F-father?" Julian's voice cracked with confusion, thick with a mixture of embarrassment and shock. His body tensed, frozen in place, and for a split second, I thought he might collapse under the weight of it all. "How did you...?"

The king raised an eyebrow, a wry smile tugging at his lips, though his eyes were sharp, cutting through us both. "I always know where my son is," he replied, his tone light but laced with something much heavier. "But the real question is, what have you been doing?"

I barely managed to keep my feet, my whole body trembling as the shock of the situation settled over me. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I could feel the heat of the kiss still lingering, and now the weight of the king's gaze made it all the more unbearable.

Julian's face was pale, his breath shallow. "Father, this is... none of your business," he said, his voice stronger now, but I could hear the tremor of disbelief beneath it.

The king's expression darkened, his gaze turning steely. "But it is," he said softly, stepping forward with an almost predatory grace. "You see, when a prince shares his first true love's kiss, it binds you together. You're now betrothed, whether you intended it or not."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I stumbled back, my head spinning as I tried to process what he was saying. Betrothed? How could this be happening? My heart raced, and my thoughts scrambled in a desperate search for something—anything—that could make sense of this.

"But—how?" My voice came out in a strained whisper, barely above the wind. "How could that happen? I—I'm just a noble. I'm not fit to be your... your bride."

Julian's face mirrored my shock, his brow furrowing as he looked from his father to me, then back again. "Wait—how is this possible? We didn't even know... that something like this could happen. What do you mean, 'betrothed'? We've kissed before!"

King Christopher's eyes softened, but the momentary gentleness only made the situation worse. "Are you referring to the time when Seraphina kissed you to save you from dying?" he asked, voice calm and measured. "That, my son, does not count. You were unconscious and confused. However..." His gaze shifted to me now, as if weighing me in a new light. "This time… it's different."

We had no idea this was how it worked.

I could feel the blood drain from my face, the weight of his words sinking in like stone. Betrothed. The word echoed in my mind, but it felt utterly unreal, a spell I couldn't break.

The king's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. "It's a tradition that's kept within the royal family. Only the king is aware of what happens when a prince shares his first kiss. The magic that binds you together is beyond your control now, and there's nothing to be done about it." He glanced at Julian, his gaze softening just slightly. "The bond is real. And it cannot be broken."

Julian looked like he might collapse, his knees shaky beneath him. "But we kissed before," he repeated, his voice distant, as though the reality of what was happening hadn't quite settled in yet.

The king's tone was solemn. "That kiss didn't count. But this one? It does. And the magic is... binding. Forever."

I barely registered the king's words. The pressure of what he was saying—the weight of his authority, the finality in his voice—it was all too much. My breath came in shallow gasps, and I felt dizzy, light-headed. I couldn't understand how this could be real. How was this happening?

"But..." I stumbled over the words. "I don't even understand. We didn't know. How could we have known?"

The king stepped closer, his eyes no longer soft, but firm. "This is something passed down through generations, Seraphina. It's never been shared with anyone except the king. It's a tradition that binds the prince to his true love, and now, it has bound you." He looked at Julian again, his gaze hardening. "You cannot undo this. It's done."

A silence fell over us, the weight of his words pressing down on my chest. The world seemed to spin in slow motion, and I could barely catch my breath.

Julian's hand found mine, his grip tight, trembling. He was just as overwhelmed as I was. "This... this can't be real," he muttered, more to himself than anyone. "This is too much."

The king nodded slowly, his gaze sharp. "It is real. And it's complicated. You'll need the blessing of the six churches before you can proceed. There are... hurdles ahead." His expression darkened again, his voice dropping to something more serious. "But understand this: what is done cannot be undone."

I could barely focus on his words, still caught in the rush of emotions and confusion. My heart was racing, my mind reeling. But the sudden weight of the responsibility, the burden of everything that had just been thrust upon us—it was almost more than I could bear.

"What do we do now?" I whispered, barely able to speak.

Julian's hand tightened around mine, his voice hoarse but determined. "I don't know," he said softly, as though the words themselves felt impossible to say. "But we'll figure it out. Together. Somehow."

The king watched us, his expression unreadable. "Try not to dwell too much on it," he said quietly. "There are eyes everywhere. You'll be watched. And there will be consequences."

His final glance lingered on us before he turned to leave, his shadow stretching long across the garden. "I will inform Duke Richard of this immediately. Good luck."

We stood there in stunned silence, the night air cool around us, the shock of the moment still fresh. I couldn't find words. Couldn't even begin to grasp what had just happened. But Julian's hand in mine was the only thing that felt real in this swirling madness.

"I... didn't—" Julian began, his voice faltering. He shook his head in disbelief. "How did he even find us?"

"I don't know," I managed, feeling a strange numbness. "But I think it's safe to say... we've both learned a lot tonight."

Julian squeezed my hand tighter, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that both frightened and reassured me. "Yeah," he said softly, "And I think we're in this together, no matter what."

The world had shifted beneath us, and the weight of it was almost too much to bear. But in that moment, despite everything, I knew one thing: we would face whatever came next side by side.