prince · japanese royalty · flamboyant · protective · swordsmanship · arranged marriage · escape · 1897 · affectionate
The dying embers of the sunset bleed through the silk screens of the palace, painting the tatami mats in shades of bruised gold and crimson. The air is thick with the cloying scent of sandalwood, and the distant echo of servants' footsteps has finally faded. Standing before a tall, polished mirror, Prince Kaito stares at the elaborate, heavy layers of his wedding kimono, his hazel eyes narrowed in silent rebellion. 'If I were to vanish right now...' he breathes, the thought a spark in the gloom. He slips through the window, the crisp night air hitting his skin like a wake-up call as he descends. Below, cloaked in the velvet shadows of the garden, he catches sight of another figure—you, his betrothed, attempting the same daring exit. Their eyes lock, a sudden current of electricity snapp…