If he doesn't
Love's unexpected turns
The night was unusually quiet in the palace. The grand halls, always teeming with activity, now seemed to hold their breath as the royal family prepared for the engagement the next day. Prince Nani sat on the balcony of his private chambers, gazing up at the starry sky. The cool breeze kissed his skin, but it did little to soothe the storm raging in his heart.
Tomorrow at this time, he would be engaged to Princess Amara. The thought should have brought him joy, as it fulfilled his parentsâ wishes and strengthened alliances. Instead, it filled him with a deep, aching sadness.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. His thoughts inevitably drifted to Sky. **Sky**âthe infuriatingly goofy, impossibly kind, and maddeningly handsome bodyguard who had somehow become the center of his world.
---
Nani frowned as he traced back to when his feelings for Sky had begun. He had grown up surrounded by bodyguardsâstoic, disciplined, and professional men who performed their duties with precision. To him, they were all the same: shadows that moved alongside him, neither seen nor heard.
But Sky was different.
From the moment Sky had joined his service, he had brought an energy that was both disarming and endearing. His teasing remarks, his casual smiles, and the way he always managed to make Nani laugh even during his most stressful days were unlike anything Nani had ever experienced.
Sky treated him with the utmost respect as a prince but never let it create a wall between them. Instead, he bridged the gap with his warmth, making Nani feel seenânot as a prince, but as a person.
Nani shook his head, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "Why him?" he whispered to the stars. "Why did it have to be him?"
He knew their positions, knew the impossibility of their love. Yet, despite his best efforts to suppress his feelings, they had grown beyond his control. Sky had become a part of him, someone he couldnât imagine his life without.
---
Meanwhile, miles away from the palace, Sky sat in his childhood home, surrounded by his family. His parents were thrilled to have him back, his nephew clung to his leg, and his older brother teased him about still being single.
Sky laughed along, putting on the same carefree persona he always wore. But inside, he felt empty.
The laughter around the dinner table only amplified the ache in his chest. As his parents talked about the grandeur of Prince Nani's engagement and the national holiday declared in its honor, Sky felt his appetite vanish.
"Youâre not eating, Sky?" his mother asked, concern evident in her voice.
Sky forced a smile. "Guess Iâm just not that hungry tonight, Ma."
His family exchanged puzzled glances. Sky was known for his hearty appetite and his love for family meals. For him to leave his plate untouched was almost unheard of.
Excusing himself, Sky stepped outside, leaning against the porch railing as he stared into the night. The air was crisp, the stars above twinkling brightly, but all he could think about was Nani.
He imagined bringing Nani here to meet his family, showing him the life heâd lived before becoming his bodyguard. He imagined them walking hand in hand through the fields, laughing and sharing stories.
The thought was both beautiful and torturous. Sky clenched his fists, his mind racing.
**What if I just take him?**
The idea was absurd, reckless, and dangerous. Kidnapping a prince was not only a national offenseâit was treason. If he acted on it, he would lose everything, including his life.
But the idea refused to leave his mind. He wanted Nani to himself, free from the constraints of royal duty and societal expectations. He wanted a world where they could just...be.
Sky shook his head, trying to banish the thought. "Get a grip," he muttered to himself. "This isnât some fairy tale."
---
Back in the palace, Nani stood up from the balcony, the cool breeze ruffling his hair. His gaze fell on the ceremonial attire laid out for the engagementâa masterpiece of gold and white silk, designed to showcase his status as a prince.
But to him, it was nothing more than a costume for a role he didnât want to play.
He walked over to his desk, where a small, ornate knife restedâa ceremonial blade gifted to him on his 18th birthday. Its edge gleamed under the moonlight, sharp and unforgiving.
Nani picked it up, holding it carefully. The weight of the blade felt symbolic, like the weight of his responsibilities and the expectations placed on him.
His heart raced as he thought about the life ahead of himâa life without Sky. A life where he would marry a woman he didnât love, where he would bury his feelings and desires under the guise of duty.
He stepped back onto the balcony, the knife in his hand. He tilted his head upward, his eyes meeting the stars.
"If he doesnât come for me..." Nani whispered, his voice trembling. His grip on the knife tightened as tears welled in his eyes. "If he doesnât come for me, I know what I have to do."
The cool night air wrapped around him as he stood there, his heart heavy with a decision he wasnât sure he was ready to make.
---
As the night deepened, both Nani and Sky found themselves staring at the same sky, their hearts yearning for each other, their minds battling the constraints of their roles.
Sky clenched his fists, forcing himself to accept the reality of the situation. "Itâs for the best," he told himself, but the words felt hollow.
Nani, on the other hand, stood frozen on the balcony, the blade glinting in his hand, the weight of his love and despair threatening to consume him.
The stars bore silent witness to their pain, holding secrets that neither of them dared to share.
And so, the night stretched on, leaving their fates hanging by a threadâa thread woven with love, longing, and the cruel hand of destiny.