Eyan’s face burned red with anger.

  Beside him, Violet’s hands curled slowly into fists, her nails digging into her palms as she watched everything unfold.

  “Lady Eva,” Eyan demanded harshly, “have you no dignity? Why are you willing to go to such extremes just to remain by my side?”

  “Because I love you,” Eva whispered.

  The words hit him harder than he expected.

  “Love?” Eyan echoed, his throat tightening. “You call this love?”

  He took a step forward, his voice shaking with restrained fury.

  “Do you even know what love is? What you’re doing is forcing your feelings onto me—pushing your selfish desire and asking me to accept it without question.”

  His eyes were cold now.

  “That is not love, Lady Eva. You cannot demand that the person you love must love you back.”

  Eva’s lips trembled. “Then… you don’t love me?”

  “No,” Eyan said without hesitation. “I’ve already told you. I love Violet.”

  “I don’t believe it,” Eva cried. “There’s no love between the two of you, you can't prove it to me.”

  Eyan’s jaw clenched. “Do you want me to prove it to you?”

  She met his gaze, desperation blazing in her eyes. “Yes. Prove it.”

  Something snapped.

  In one swift motion, Eyan stepped forward, wrapped his arm around Violet’s waist, and pulled her firmly against him. Violet gasped softly, startled by the sudden closeness.

  He lifted her chin gently, his fingers warm against her skin, then turned his gaze deliberately back to Eva.

  “Watch closely, Lady Eva.”

  He kissed Violet.

  Eva’s breath caught painfully in her chest.

  Tears spilled freely, splashing onto the floor as her legs weakened beneath her. The sight before her shattered whatever fragile hope she had been clinging to.

  She pushed herself up unsteadily, stumbling back as if struck. Her gaze lingered on them for one last, broken second—then she turned and fled the chamber.

  Eyan finally pulled away from the kiss.

  The room felt smaller somehow, tighter, as if the walls themselves were pressing in.

  Luca stepped forward, his gaze moving slowly between Eyan and Violet. He didn’t hide the disbelief in his eyes.

  “I thought you two ended your relationship after graduation,” he said, his voice low and controlled. “So tell me—what exactly is going on between you two?”

  “We never ended it,” Eyan replied calmly. “We were simply waiting for the right moment to announce our wedding.”

  Luca’s jaw clenched.

  He lifted his gaze again, this time locking eyes with Eyan—but the question he asked was not meant for the man standing before him.

  It was meant for the man who loves Eva.

  “YOU,” Luca said slowly, his voice sharp with restrained fury. “What you just did to HER…” He paused. “Are you absolutely certain you won’t regret it?”

  “I’ll NEVER regret it,” Eyan answered without hesitation.

  Something dark flickered across Luca’s face.

  “Good,” he said coldly. “Then remember those words.”

  He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous edge.

  “Because I will remind you of them myself—If you ever dare to forget it.”

  Luca turned and strode toward the door.

  The door slammed shut behind him.

  Silence fell.

  Then—

  Eyan and Violet bolted.

  They ran straight toward the far end of the room like criminals fleeing a crime scene, hands clamped over their mouths, eyes wide with mutual horror.

  They burst into the adjoining bathroom and immediately leaned over the marble basin.

  Water splashed.

  Both of them began rinsing their mouths furiously.

  Violet gagged dramatically, clutching the edge of the sink as if her soul were trying to escape through her throat.

  “Ugh—” she retched. “I can feel it coming out.”

  Eyan winced. “Stop it. You’re making me feel sick too.”

  Violet answered by promptly vomiting.

  Eyan turned his head away in instant disgust, face twisting. “Absolutely revolting. I will never emotionally recover from this.”

  Violet wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, eyes blazing. She spun toward him and—without warning—smacked his chest.

  “You piece of absolute crap,” she snapped. “Why did you kiss me? I I wanted to kiss Eva, not you.”

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Eyan recoiled. “It’s not like I wanted to kiss a man either! I didn’t have a choice!”

  Violet’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Who are you calling a man?”

  Eyan gestured wildly at the empty air. “You, of course. Do you see anyone else here who likes women besides

  Violet kicked his shin.

  Hard.

  At that exact moment—

  ?? BOOM

  A loud crack echoed outside.

  Violet shrieked and jumped, instinctively wrapping her arms around Eyan’s waist.

  “What was that sound?!”

  Eyan stiffened, blinking. “It’s… fireworks.”

  Another explosion followed.

  ??BOOM

  .

  .

  .

  “SPLASH.”

  Violet turned her head, confused. “Eyan… did you hear that sound? .”

  Eyan was busy gargling mint water with extreme dedication.

  “Hm.” He spat into the sink. “What sound? I told you. Fireworks.”

  Violet stared at him. “That was not fireworks it was different.”

  Eyan picked up another bottle—this one even stronger—and began gargling again.

  Violet crossed her arms. “How long are you planning to do that?”

  “I want to erase even a single of you from my lips,” he said solemnly.

  She shoved his stomach. “If you hated it that much, why did you do it in the first place?”

  Eyan froze.

  Then his tone dropped—still calm, still controlled, but sharp underneath.

  “If I hadn’t,” he said quietly, “Eva would’ve never left that room completely shattered. You saw her face.”

  Violet scoffed. “I didn’t. Someone was too busy forcing his mouth on me.”

  “You didn’t see it,” he continued, eyes darkening, “but that one kiss did everything. She’ll never come to Eyan now.”

  His lips curved—just slightly. “That means she’ll return to Kyel.”

  Violet watched him for a moment, then sighed.

  “Well then,” she said dryly, “congratulations on getting your wife back.”

  Eyan smiled.

  And then—

  Knock. Knock

  Violet turned sharply toward the sound.

  Eyan, still bent over the basin, waved a dismissive hand without lifting his head. “Go see who it is.”

  Violet glanced back at him. “And you?”

  “I’m coming,” he muttered, gargling violently. “After I clean my mouth a little more—”

  She frowned but turned away, opening the chamber door.

  A knight stood outside, pale as death, armor trembling with him.

  “Y-Your Highness,” he stammered, bowing hastily. “You’re here… then—then where is His Majesty?”

  Violet opened her mouth. “His Majesty is—”

  Grrshhh… glrk—

  A loud mouth-rinsing sound echoed from inside.

  Violet tilted her head slightly. “You hear him. He’s here. Wait.”

  The knight swallowed hard. “Your Highness, please—please call His Majesty. It’s urgent.”

  Violet sighed once, sharply, then turned back inside.

  She stormed into the bathroom, grabbed Eyan by the back of his collar, and dragged him out.

  “Violet—wait—” Eyan protested. “I haven’t finished cleansing my mouth yet!”

  “Your knight is here,” she snapped. “He says it’s urgent.”

  That wiped the humor from Eyan’s face instantly. He straightened, eyes sharpening, and strode toward the knight.

  “What happened?” Eyan demanded.

  The knight dropped to one knee, voice shaking. “Your Majesty… something tragic occurred just now.”

  Eyan’s jaw tightened. “Tragic? What happened—say it.”

  The knight’s hands trembled against the floor. “Someone… someone fell into the execution pool.”

  Eyan froze. “What?” His voice turned cold. “How did that happen? What were the knights stationed there doing? How did anyone get close to the pool?”

  The knight shook his head violently. “Y-Your Majesty… it wasn’t a fall.”

  Eyan’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

  The knight swallowed. “It was a jump.”

  Silence crashed down.

  “Jump?” Eyan repeated slowly.

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” the knight whispered. “Someone jumped into the pool—from the top of the royal palace.”

  Shock flickered across Eyan’s face. “Who was it? You didn’t see them?”

  The knight’s voice broke. “It was a lady, Your Majesty.”

  Eyan stepped forward. “Did you see her face?”

  “No,” the knight cried. “We were stationed with our backs toward the pool. Then we heard a loud—SPLASH—

  Violet stiffened.

  “When I turned,” the knight continued, tears spilling freely now, “she was already being dragged under. All I could see was her dress. I tried to grab it—but the force from below was too strong.”

  His shoulders shook.

  “I couldn’t save her.”

  Violet staggered back a step. “That sound…” she whispered. “That SPLASH

  She looked at Eyan, panic flooding her eyes. “Eyan. I heard that sound. You didn't heard it.”

  She grabbed his arm. “Save her. You can still save her.”

  Eyan’s face went rigid.

  “No,” he said quietly. “There’s no point now.”

  Violet stared at him in disbelief.

  “It’s too late,” he continued, voice flat. “She’s probably already dead.”

  Violet’s knees gave out. She collapsed onto the floor, sobbing.

  The knight bowed deeply, forehead pressing to the ground.

  “Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I failed.”

  Eyan exhaled sharply. “It’s not your fau—”

  Violet suddenly lifted her head, eyes locked onto the knight.

  “What is that,” she whispered, pointing with a trembling finger, “in your pocket?”

  The knight looked down, startled.

  “This?” he said weakly. “It belonged to that lady. When I grabbed her dress… it tore. This was all that remained in my hand.”

  Violet crawled toward him, breath shaking, hands trembling as she reached into his pocket.

  She pulled out the cloth.

  Just a piece.

  Soft.

  Familiar.

  Her throat closed.

  “Eyan,” she whispered.

  He looked at her. “Hmm?”

  “RUN,” she said.

  Eyan frowned. “Run where?”

  Violet held the cloth out toward him, tears spilling freely now, her hand shaking so badly she could hardly hold it.

  “That,” Violet whispered, voice breaking completely, “is Eva’s dress.”

  Eyan’s mind went blank.

  A sharp ringing exploded in his ears, drowning out every sound—voices, footsteps, even his own breathing. For a moment, he couldn’t tell if he was standing or falling.

  He took one step forward.

  His legs gave out. He shoved himself up with his hands, staggering, then broke into a run.

  Fear drove him.

  He ran so fast he forgot how to breathe, lungs screaming as air tore in and out of his chest. The palace corridors blurred around him—pillars, torches, shocked faces—none of it mattered.

  He burst into the banquet hall.

  Gasps erupted as he shoved nobles aside without apology, without seeing them.

  “Your Majesty—!”

  “Eyan!”

  From the front, Luca’s voice cut through the chaos, tight with panic.

  “Eyan! I can’t find Lady Eva!”

  Eyan didn’t slow.

  He ran past him like a man who hadn’t heard a single word.

  Then he saw it.

  The execution pool.

  Dark.

  Still.

  Endless.

  His breath hitched violently. His heart slammed so hard it hurt.

  And then he jumped.

  “Your Majesty—!”

  The knights shouted, boots pounding toward the edge, but it was too late.

  Cold water swallowed him whole.

  The impact knocked the breath from his lungs as darkness closed around him instantly. The water was far colder than he expected, shock seizing his muscles, his body screaming in protest.

  It was pitch black.

  So dark he couldn’t even see his own hands.

  Still, he drove himself downward.

  His arms thrashed through the water, fingers clawing at nothing. The pressure grew heavier the deeper he went, crushing against his chest, squeezing his lungs until they burned.

  His movements grew frantic, panic tightening around his heart like a vice. His vision swam, spots dancing before his eyes as the lack of air began to take its toll.

  His lungs felt like they were tearing apart.

  He kicked upward, bursting back to the surface with a violent gasp, air ripping into his chest like knives.

  He barely gave himself a second.

  One breath.

  Then he plunged back down.

  The water closed over his head again, darker, heavier, colder.

  His hands scraped along stone, along nothing, along emptiness. His fingers trembled as panic threatened to overwhelm him.

  His chest tightened painfully. His movements slowed, exhaustion creeping into his limbs.

  His fingers brushed something.

  Soft.

  Not stone.

  Not fabric.

  Skin.

  His heart slammed violently against his ribs.

  Eyan twisted desperately, grabbing hold.

  A hand.

  Small.

  Limp.

  “EVA—!”

  The name tore from his chest, swallowed by the water.

  He pulled her toward him, wrapping an arm around her instinctively, crushing her against his chest.

  Her body was frighteningly still.

  Cold.

  Too light.

  He kicked upward with everything he had left, legs burning, vision narrowing, darkness pressing in from all sides. His lungs screamed, his head pounding violently as the surface seemed impossibly far away.

  Just—

  A little—

  More—

  They broke the surface together.

  To be continued—