Archive of Our Own ^beta

On the outskirts of Japan lay a small kingdom, too modest to be considered one. It had an unremarkable castle and a laid-back population focused primarily on farming. Rumors spread easily among its people, especially those concerning the royal family.

Adachi Kiyoshi was the crown prince of this kingdom, and he wasn't known for the best reasons. He never considered himself princely; he was awkward, shy, and bad at social interactions. The people simply preferred to ignore the young man's existence. It wasn't as if they saw him much; Adachi only appeared in public when there was an important event.

However, the situation went from bad to worse for the prince when his eighteenth birthday arrived. Upon waking that day, he discovered an unexpected power: he could read people's minds simply by touching them. Obviously, this terrified him at first. He was alone that morning when a castle servant brushed against his arm while serving him breakfast, and he clearly heard, "Was there a celebration today?...Nah, I don't think so." Adachi quickly turned to look at the servant, but his lips didn't move. This situation repeated itself several times throughout the day until he understood what was happening.

He had no choice but to inform his clueless parents of the situation. They quickly became worried and took him to the nearest mage to find out what was wrong with their son. After some spells cast by the mage, a conclusion was reached: Adachi had been cursed with the gift of mind-reading. All was not lost; curses could be broken. But since the universe seemed to enjoy mocking the prince—or at least that's how Adachi saw it—the only way to break his curse was by losing his virginity.

This wouldn't happen anytime soon. Adachi barely socialized, and besides, he was a prince. He couldn't sleep with just anyone; he would have to find a suitable romantic prospect: a duke, an earl, or, if he was very lucky, another prince.

His parents promised to find a suitable candidate for Adachi. It was a complicated task, considering their kingdom was small and didn't have much to offer other monarchies. This only worsened when rumors began circulating in the village that the prince was a magician who could read people's minds. First, they said his power worked through touch, then that he could read your thoughts just by looking at you, and then that simply being anywhere near the prince would allow him to know all your secrets.

The villagers began to repel their own prince; they wouldn't even go near him. The servants in charge of Adachi did the bare minimum for him and then fled as quickly as possible. Adachi tried to explain the situation a few times, but his voice was so weak that no one bothered to listen.

Over time, he became more self-taught by the standards of a prince. He woke up on his own, dressed, and combed his hair himself, which was noticeable because his appearance was somewhat disheveled. He ate alone most of the time, and his private lessons were temporarily canceled because even his instructors didn't want to go near him. Adachi began exploring hobbies on his own to fill his days. He learned about gardening, started painting, and spent many hours in his small library reading. He read all the books in just a few months; he even had his favorite saga, Ragna Crimson.

He also realized that an author who sent books to his library every few months... it didn't take him long to discover that Masato Tsuge, the writer, lived in his kingdom. What began as a thank-you letter for writing so many books blossomed into a pen-mail friendship. Adachi had never met Tsuge in person and was certain that Tsuge had no idea his pen pal was the Wizard Prince everyone was running from, and that was fine. Adachi didn't want to lose the only friend he had made.

Years passed, and with them, Adachi's loneliness only grew. He could go days without seeing anyone. The servants were only responsible for leaving his things ready for him, like his clean clothes in the wardrobe or his food on the table. He didn't see his parents much either; he knew they were busy managing the kingdom and searching for a fiancé for Adachi, a prince with a terrible reputation.

He was twenty-four years old when his parents finally appeared in his chambers with good news.

“Adachi! We did it, you’re engaged now!” his mother exclaimed as she stared at him intensely.

“And not only that—your fiancé is Prince Kurosawa. He comes from a great kingdom in central Japan, he’s even your age, and he’s known for being an exemplary young man. He accepted the marriage and the proposal to unite both kingdoms,” his father said with great pride.

Wow. This was more than Adachi had ever imagined. In fact, it was too good to be true. He had expected—if he were lucky—to find some not-too-old noble with a tolerable personality. But a charming prince his own age? How had his parents convinced such a large kingdom to accept their proposal?

He finally decided to speak. “This is incredible, but… how did this prince agree?” The question came out timidly; Adachi just wanted to make sure his suspicions weren’t true.

“Well, sweetheart, the truth is that the kings of that kingdom were very interested in your ability to read minds. They believe it’s a good tactic to protect their castle from traitors,” his mother explained. “At last, your power will bring us something good.”

“But… my power is a curse. If everything goes well, after the wedding I’ll lose this ability once and for all.”

“Adachi! The kings don’t need to know that!” his mother exclaimed excitedly. “Just focus on getting married. We’ll finally make this little town prosper! Fulfill your duties as a prince just this once.”

With that said, Adachi prepared himself for this new challenge. Not only was he nervous about getting married, now he also had to keep the secret that his ability wouldn’t last forever. His parents had never tried to use his power for their own benefit the way the other kings planned to. They loved him in their own way, even if physical contact was limited. He understood—no one wanted their thoughts read without permission.

Still, he would be lying if he said he didn’t wish for a hug every once in a while.

Only a month passed before Prince Kurosawa summoned him to his kingdom.

He packed all the things he wanted to keep in what would become his new home: his favorite outfits, a few books, and his art supplies. The journey to Prince Kurosawa’s kingdom took a full day by carriage. Adachi traveled alongside two of his servants, though they spent most of the trip riding outside the carriage with anxious expressions, likely intimidated by Adachi’s ability.

When they finally arrived, Adachi was left speechless by what stood before him. The castle was enormous, luxurious, and dazzling—so bright it looked as if it were polished every single day. It also had countless beautiful gardens. Without a doubt, this was a respected kingdom.

Adachi couldn’t help but think that his own home felt tiny in comparison. All of its land could fit into this castle’s backyard garden, with room to spare for a grand ballroom.

As soon as he stepped out of the carriage, several castle workers greeted him and explained how everything would work. The wedding would take place in two weeks. Every day, he would have fittings with the tailors to adjust the details of his outfit, as well as rehearsal lessons for his entrance at the altar. In the meantime, he would have full access to the east wing of the castle. He would be attended by servants there and would be free to walk around that area during his leisure time.

He was forbidden from seeing Prince Kurosawa until the wedding day and would need to keep his distance.

Adachi wasn’t sure whether this was a common protocol in arranged marriages or if they simply wanted to keep him far away to stay safe from his powers.

Once everything was explained, Adachi was given a brief tour of that area of the castle. Finally, he was led to his room and allowed to rest. Tomorrow, his wedding preparations would begin—and all he could think about was how nervous and overwhelmed he felt.

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Prince Kurosawa was the very image of perfection—or at least, on the surface. He was handsome, polite, good at everything he did, and had a natural gift with words. Everyone who spoke with him found themselves utterly charmed.

However, on the inside, he always felt a constant pressure. Many times, he simply ran on autopilot, doing whatever he could to relieve his stress whenever no one was watching. Right now, Kurosawa felt suffocated. He himself had proposed the idea of marrying Prince Adachi after his parents insisted it was time for him to settle down. He had chosen Adachi out of sheer curiosity—everything he knew about him came from rumors, rumors far too ridiculous to be true. Things like: “Prince Adachi casts evil spells on all his servants,” “Prince Adachi enjoys tormenting the citizens,” “Prince Adachi can make your head explode if he looks you straight in the eyes.”

All of it sounded like nonsense. People shouldn’t believe everything they hear. He himself knew that Adachi came from a humble kingdom, but one with one of the best governments—safe and peaceful. If Adachi truly did all the things people claimed, its citizens would be fleeing in terror.

He had convinced his parents to let him marry Adachi by telling them that his mind-reading ability would be useful for the kingdom, and they had agreed.

The truth was that Kurosawa had come to the conclusion that he and Adachi might actually get along. He understood what it felt like for people to make assumptions about you. The public assumed Kurosawa was perfect in every way—when he wasn’t. It was probably the same with Adachi: everyone assumed he was evil without ever knowing him.

Or perhaps all the rumors were true, and Kurosawa was engaged to a twisted mage prince who would blow his head off without hesitation.

Kurosawa felt deeply unsettled. He had been informed that Adachi had arrived in the kingdom the day before and would be staying in the west wing for the next two weeks. Kurosawa simply had to stay away from that area until the wedding day, when he would finally meet his fiancé.

There was just one small problem.

The latest volume of Ragna Crimson had recently arrived in his personal library, and by pure coincidence, that library was located in the west wing. Kurosawa should have taken the book out of there when he had the chance. He couldn’t ask any of the servants for help—no one in the castle knew that the prince had a taste for such books. It would ruin his perfect image.

There was no other option. He would have to sneak into the library as quickly as possible.

The first thing he did was stop by the armory. It would be easier to enter the library wearing simple armor—it would help him go unnoticed. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but he needed to calm his emotions. Reading that book would be his best method of stress relief. Not wanting to be discovered, he put on a helmet to hide his identity and set off toward his destination.

══════ • ♥ • ═══════

Adachi had already finished his tasks for the day. He had gone to the tailors to have his measurements taken; they looked a little frightened, but he was already used to people staring at him that way. He unintentionally heard a few thoughts—things like numbers and random rambling, nothing relevant.

The rehearsal was only an introduction to the wedding. They handed him a script with what he would have to say and asked him to try memorizing the first part for now.

Since he had nothing else to do, it occurred to him that he could explore the castle more thoroughly. He felt his clothes were far too formal. He had brought his finest outfits to make a good impression, but it didn’t take long for him to realize that no one would really see him here—only a few servants. So Adachi changed into something more comfortable: earth-toned pants and a white shirt with ruffles.

This short moment helped him organize his thoughts. He felt nervous, yes, but he also wanted to give it his all. He was going to make an effort to ensure this marriage worked. He wanted the best for his kingdom, and that meant stopping being a fearful prince and starting to have more confidence in himself.

He had even asked his friend Tsuge for advice before coming here. He asked how he could be more likable, how he could make people less afraid to approach him. Of course, Adachi had made up an excuse to ask—he didn’t tell him about his impending curse. Tsuge advised him to use his voice more, to speak more often with people. That way, they would truly get to know him and realize he wasn’t intimidating at all.

Adachi believed his friend was right and was determined to put that advice into practice.

Eventually, he found his way to the castle library. It was a blessing that he was allowed to wander around here—it was a dream come true for Adachi. He began to explore, picking up books that caught his interest. It was such a large place that he didn’t even know where to start.

On one of the shelves, he spotted some familiar covers. It was the Ragna Crimson saga! Adachi felt a surge of excitement and quickly moved closer. It was his favorite series—he could reread it without any problem. As he inspected the shelf more closely, he realized something even better: there was a new book. Today was his lucky day. Normally, he had to wait months for a new volume to arrive in his kingdom.

He took the new book enthusiastically and headed toward the center of the library to read. There were many sofas arranged in the central area, all of them looking comfortable. He settled into one and began to read.

Meanwhile, Kurosawa arrived at the library and entered very carefully. He didn’t want to make any noise—much less run into his fiancé.

It didn’t take him long to reach the main area when, to his dismay, he realized someone was already there. It was a man he had never seen before, wearing a loose white shirt that looked a bit too big for him, his black hair slightly messy. Kurosawa found that last detail endearing.

Clearly, this wasn’t a prince. He looked hunched over and clumsy, and besides, Prince Adachi was supposed to be able to read minds from a distance. If this were him, he would have already noticed Kurosawa’s presence. Well, it didn’t matter. He just had to grab his book and leave—at least, that was the plan until he noticed the stranger was reading Ragna Crimson.

He had already come this far, and he really wanted to read the new book. The best option would be to ask the stranger for it. With any luck, he would hand it over and Kurosawa could run out of this part of the castle.

He approached carefully, and when he was close enough, he greeted him.

“Good afternoon! I was passing by and couldn’t help but notice that you’re reading the latest book of—”

Kurosawa hadn’t finished speaking when the man let out a small yelp and turned to look at him in fright; the greeting had caught him completely off guard. That was when Kurosawa noticed two things. First, the man was quite handsome up close, even if his messy hair partially covered his blue eyes. Second, it looked like he had only just started reading the book.

Adachi could only see what appeared to be a knight wearing a helmet greeting him. Once the initial shock wore off, he felt a spark of excitement—someone had come to talk to him! And he didn’t seem afraid of Adachi. This was his chance. If he managed to get along with this knight, he could slowly start cleaning up his image as an “evil prince.”

“H-hello, g-good afternoon,” Adachi said. Making casual conversation was so difficult. “I just arrived here, and I was very impressed by the library.” He tried not to look too nervous; socializing had never been one of his strengths.

That’s when it clicked for Kurosawa. That was why he didn’t recognize this man—he must be one of Prince Adachi’s servants.

“I’m glad you like it. Does that mean you’re one of Prince Adachi’s servants?”

The black-haired prince paused for a moment. So this knight had no idea who he was—that explained why he had approached him so calmly. Adachi should tell him the truth, but then he would lose his chance to make a friend. It would be better to play along, and once the wedding was over, the first thing he would do would be to apologize to this knight.

“Y-yes… I’m a servant of Prince Adachi. I’m currently on break. The prince asked that we not disturb him while he’s in his room.”

Kurosawa felt himself relax. He hadn’t ruined everything—his fiancé wasn’t nearby. He was about to ask for the book when the other man spoke again.

“Do you also like Ragna Crimson, sir knight?” There was a hint of excitement in his voice, and Kurosawa had never talked to anyone else about his favorite series. It wouldn’t hurt to stay and talk for a bit. Adachi wouldn’t appear anytime soon, and he could even ask this servant for information about his fiancé—someone who knew Prince Adachi firsthand. He would just need to keep his own identity a secret. Kurosawa wasn’t allowed to be there.

“I enjoy that series very much. I was hoping I could read the book you’re holding.”

The black-haired man looked at him for a moment, then lowered his gaze to the book, appearing thoughtful.

“We can read it together, if you’d like…” Adachi replied, a little embarrassed. He really wanted to make friends, especially in this place that would soon become his new home. He tried to smile at the knight.

Kurosawa analyzed his companion for a moment. This servant seemed quite pleasant—almost cute—and he would be gone in two weeks, once the wedding was over.

He removed his helmet and moved closer to sit beside the cute servant. There wasn’t much of a reaction from the black-haired man upon seeing him; Kurosawa’s face wasn’t well known outside his own kingdom.

“Of course, we can read it together. It’s nice to meet someone else who likes Ragna Crimson.” Kurosawa tried to move closer to the man, but he reacted warily, stepping back slightly to avoid touching him. “What’s your name?”

Adachi had already gone further than he expected. Seeing the knight’s face surprised him a little—he was very handsome and wore a flirtatious smile. Adachi knew his fiancé was considered the most attractive man in the kingdom, but with knights like this around… Prince Kurosawa must look like a god.

He hadn’t thought about having to give a fake name, so he just said the first thing that came to mind.

“My name is Tsuge.” Clever, Adachi—he would win first place in a fool’s competition. But it was the only believable name he could think of. Mentally, he thanked his friend for saving him from this embarrassing situation with his name. “And yours?”

“I’m Minato,” Kurosawa replied. Minato was a young prodigy dancer; he couldn’t think of a better idea than using his name for now. Later, he would be meeting with him—despite being younger than Kurosawa himself, Minato had been chosen as his waltz instructor.

The two princes looked into each other’s eyes and shared a smile. Both knew it was wrong to use false identities for their own benefit. Still, they were just two young men curious about what fate had in store for them. This was just a harmless lie.

“Here, take the book. We can read it together—I’ll sit right here beside you…” He took the book the servant handed him, opened the first page, and moved as close as he could so they could both see properly. The black-haired man immediately pulled away again.
“Don’t worry about getting closer—I can read from here.”

This servant was being far too shy. If they wanted to read the book together, they needed to be closer. Kurosawa leaned toward him again, their arms and legs brushing against each other.

“From there you won’t be able to see anything. Relax—I don’t bite,” he exclaimed, unable to keep the teasing tone out of his voice. This servant was pleasant to look at, Kurosawa thought.

Adachi caught that last thought from the knight and blushed slightly. Well, at least he seemed comfortable around him. The next thoughts Adachi heard from his companion were the words of Ragna Crimson itself. Before Kurosawa arrived, Adachi had barely made it through the first few pages of the book. He didn’t mind starting over—in fact, he didn’t even need to read. The knight’s thoughts were so calm and precise that Adachi felt as though he were listening to a narration.

A very good narration, delivered by an incredible voice. Surely Minato sang beautifully. The name didn’t quite suit the man sitting beside him, but Adachi wasn’t about to be picky with his new friend—especially with how pleasant his reading was. Adachi felt himself relax more and more.

He wasn’t used to physical contact and had instinctively pulled away during the first interactions with the knight, but he supposed this was fine. They were just reading a book. In theory, these weren’t even the man’s own thoughts.

They finished the book relatively quickly. When they were done, Adachi pulled away from the knight again—just enough so they wouldn’t touch. They talked for a bit about the book, both expressing how exciting it had been and how eager they were for the next volume to be released.

Their time together was going wonderfully. They laughed at each other’s jokes and were genuinely happy to be spending a pleasant moment chatting. Now they sat in a comfortable silence, Adachi wondering what other topic he could bring up to keep spending time with this royal knight.

“What is it like to serve Prince Adachi? Are all the rumors about him true?” Kurosawa suddenly remembered his main purpose—he needed to know more about his future husband. The servant, who until now had been smiling happily, suddenly went pale. Kurosawa instantly regretted his words; he just wanted to see that man smile again.
“Sorry for my indiscretion…”

Adachi was surprised by the question. This was his chance to calm the rumors surrounding him. Speaking in the third person felt uncomfortable, but he had no other choice.

“The rumors aren’t true. Prince Adachi is not an evil mage like people think,” he replied firmly. He had to defend his image once and for all. “He isn’t even close to being a mage. He can’t cast spells or incantations at all.”

There. Adachi had disproven the rumors—at least for this knight. It felt like a huge step forward.

Kurosawa let out a relieved sigh upon hearing the servant’s answer, but… if his fiancé wasn’t a mage, how was he capable of reading people’s minds?

“I understand, but that doesn’t explain how Prince Adachi is able to read minds.”

Here, Adachi hesitated over his next response. He couldn’t go around revealing the details of his curse, but something in the knight’s gentle gaze made him want to trust him. Once again, Adachi would win a fool’s competition just by showing up.

“I’ll tell you, but you have to promise you won’t tell anyone.” Kurosawa nodded and offered the most sincere “I promise” he had ever said in his life. “O-okay. The truth is that the prince has a curse. On his eighteenth birthday, he gained the power to read people’s minds through physical contact.”

“Only when he touches someone?” Kurosawa couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“That’s right. After receiving the curse, the prince avoided touching anyone around him.” Adachi was finally talking about the problem that had haunted him for years. It had also been a long time since he’d had such a long conversation with someone. This new kingdom inspired him to give his best—if he always had this pleasant knight by his side, maybe he wouldn’t feel completely alone anymore.“Then the rumors started. The prince was never someone with a strong presence, and when the people learned about his new power, they did nothing but speak ill of their own prince.”

Kurosawa couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His gut feeling had been right—Adachi was just a misunderstood man. Only one question remained.

“All of that sounds horrible. The prince must have suffered greatly,” Kurosawa said, feeling deep empathy for his future husband. “Is there any way for Prince Adachi to lose that curse?”

“N-no, I don’t know. I don’t have that information,” Adachi said. Of course he did know—but he wasn’t foolish enough to reveal such an embarrassing solution. Needing to lose his virginity to break the curse sounded like a terrible joke.

Kurosawa felt a bit disappointed, but he was noticeably more relaxed. This sweet servant had been such a great help; maybe sneaking into the library hadn’t been such a bad idea after all.

“What is it like to be a royal knight?” Adachi didn’t want to keep talking about himself. It would be better if the other man guided the conversation from now on.

“It’s a lot of pressure all the time—every hour, every day. People expect so much from you, and all you can think about is not wanting to disappoint anyone. You have to be perfect.”

The knight sounded genuinely sad while speaking about it. Adachi didn’t really know what a knight’s duties were like, but it was clearly a demanding role. The other man continued.

“I like being useful and giving my best effort, but sometimes I feel like everything I do still isn’t enough…” Kurosawa had never spoken about this with anyone before, but he allowed himself this indulgence with the servant. After all, he wouldn’t see him again after the wedding. That last thought made him feel a little ashamed.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s clear you’ve come very far with all the effort you’ve put in so far,” Adachi said. He didn’t really know how to comfort people, but he didn’t like seeing his new friend feeling down. Only one idea came to mind. “You can keep telling me about it later. I’ll be here every day at the same time—it’s when I don’t have to attend Prince Adachi.”

Kurosawa knew it was wrong to accept the offer, but there were several things in its favor. It guaranteed that his fiancé wouldn’t be nearby, he could speak freely with someone about his feelings, and on top of that, he would get to see this man’s lovely face again.

“That sounds good. I’ll be right here tomorrow.”

Kurosawa took the servant’s hand and shook it while thinking, I already want to see him again. The black-haired man smiled back with a faint blush and said goodbye, explaining that his break was over. Kurosawa simply watched him hurry away.

Prince Kurosawa felt excited. He put his helmet back on and left the library, unsure of what had been better—the new Ragna Crimson book, or the beautiful man he had just met.

Adachi, on the other hand, hurried back to his room. It had been too many emotions for a single day. He felt mentally exhausted. He only wanted to do what was best for his kingdom, and he hoped that today’s efforts had been worth it.

After all, he had even made a new friend. He fell asleep with that comforting thought.

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The next day, Adachi still felt out of place. The servants didn’t approach him much here either, although he was better attended than back home. It was strange—he was already used to doing almost everything on his own.

By the afternoon, Adachi had finished his tasks and headed to the library, just like the day before.

Talking to people in person, instead of through letters, was as complicated as it was exciting.

When he arrived at his destination, he realized the knight was already there. Adachi walked over and sat beside him, greeting him shyly while keeping a respectful distance.

Kurosawa’s legs had moved on their own, and he had ended up in the library a bit early. He wanted to know more about his fiancé, but he didn’t want to seem too obvious. Besides, the servant might suspect that he needed the information for something bad.

Kurosawa returned the greeting with a smile and began to observe his companion. Today, he was wearing a beige shirt and a bow tie. That shirt was a little too big for him as well. Does he not have clothes in his size? That detail was starting to seem endearing.

“How have you been finding this castle?” Kurosawa asked.

“It’s incredible. I’ve never been in a place this luxurious,” Adachi said, genuinely impressed. “It’s very different from home.”

“Enjoy these days. Soon you’ll be going back to your kingdom, right?”

“Yes, you’re right…” The black-haired man began to feel sad. That last comment discouraged him—Adachi wouldn’t be returning to the place where he grew up.

Kurosawa noticed the change in the servant’s mood. Maybe he didn’t want to go back to his lands. He could offer him a job here if he liked it so much.

“I like going out for rides on my horse from time to time. Getting to know new places is always exciting,” Kurosawa said, not wanting to keep making his new companion uncomfortable.
“I also like to cook in my free time.”

Kurosawa began talking more about his love for cooking—his favorite dishes, the techniques he used most, and how he had recently been trying to learn more about baking.

Adachi enjoyed listening to the knight. He had a soft, melodic voice. Listening was easier than speaking, and the genuine way he talked about one of his passions was comforting.

The two settled into a calm atmosphere. When the knight paused from speaking, Adachi found the courage to respond.

“Your food sounds wonderful. I’m sure your desserts turn out just as good.”

Kurosawa could only focus on the man’s beautiful eyes. He wished he could move closer.

“I can bring you one sometime,” he replied almost immediately.

“I’d love that.”

“What do you like to do in your free time?” Kurosawa asked, changing the subject.

“I really enjoy reading—I do it every day. I also like drawing, and when I have extra time, I start taking inventory of the castle’s belongings.” Adachi did have quite a lot of free time, to be honest.

“Then being Prince Adachi’s servant doesn’t have to be such a demanding job,” Kurosawa said, thinking that meant the prince wasn’t capricious or difficult to deal with.

Adachi was terrible at covering his lies. It didn’t even occur to him that an ordinary servant wouldn’t have so much free time.

“Y-yes… Prince Adachi enjoys being alone most of the time.”

“Why is that?”

“He doesn’t like making people feel uncomfortable around him. He doesn’t enjoy reading other people’s thoughts.” What he said was true—Adachi preferred being alone rather than being looked at with suspicion.

Kurosawa was beginning to understand his fiancé’s situation more and more. He still believed they could get along and make things work. Besides, Adachi had a kind and empathetic servant by his side.

They continued talking for a while longer—about their hobbies, their likes, and occasionally about their emotions. Both of them were good listeners for the other.

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The days continued to pass. Kurosawa made sure not to neglect his duties as a prince or his wedding rehearsals. His priority was having his afternoons free so he could meet with Tsuge. So far, they had seen each other every single day without fail. It seemed this servant had become his new stress-relief method—being by his side felt calming and refreshing.

Over the past two days, he had gathered all the ingredients he needed for a strawberry cake recipe. He wanted to surprise him with a special dessert. Surely, it would make him smile.

He focused as much as he could and followed the recipe step by step. This cake had to be perfect, no matter what.

Now he was on his way to the library, dressed in his armor and carrying a small box with a slice of cake in one hand. Kurosawa had made sure it was perfect—he wanted to thank the servant in some way for giving him such valuable information about Adachi.

When he arrived, he realized the servant wasn’t in the central area of the library. Instead, he was organizing books here and there, like a proper librarian.

“Heeey!” Kurosawa called out, trying to get his attention. “What are you doing over there?”

Adachi stopped what he was doing and hurried over to the knight.

“I had more free time than usual today, so I took the opportunity to organize this place a bit,” he replied with a smile.

“But that’s not part of your duties.”

“It doesn’t matter. I enjoy doing something useful while I’m here.”

Kurosawa didn’t know how to feel. A servant from another kingdom had taken the time to organize his personal library—and not only that, he seemed quite comfortable doing it. This man, Tsuge, was surprising: kind, cute, empathetic, and hardworking.

“Then let me thank you for your work with this dessert.”

Adachi and Kurosawa returned to the central area and sat facing each other.

The knight handed the box, wrapped with a ribbon, to the servant. Their fingers brushed for a second.

He’s so thoughtful. That was the thought Adachi heard, and the unexpected gift—along with that mental comment—made him blush.

When he opened the box, he found a slice of strawberry cake. It looked delicious and beautiful—whoever made it had clearly paid attention to every detail. However, the journey must have been a bit rough; one of the decorative strawberries had fallen to the side. Even so, the cake still looked exquisite.

“T-thank you so much, it looks delicious. Did you make it?”

Kurosawa nearly panicked when he saw the state of the cake. That strawberry wasn’t supposed to fall off—it no longer looked perfect. He should have checked the dessert before coming.

“Y-yes… but I’m sorry. It shouldn’t have looked like this.”

Adachi didn’t understand why the knight looked so distressed. It was just a small detail—it didn’t affect the flavor.

To prove it, Adachi took the fork that came with the cake and grabbed a bite. His reaction was immediate—his eyes lit up, and he jolted in surprise. This was the most delicious cake he had ever eaten.

“W-wooow!” Adachi took another bite. “This is amazing! You’re an incredible chef.”

Kurosawa felt a bit relieved by the servant’s reaction, but he still didn’t feel entirely satisfied with himself. Presentation mattered too.

“I’m glad you like it. I’m sorry again about the presentation—I wanted it to be perfect.”

Adachi understood the knight’s issue. He himself was his own harshest critic.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Perfection doesn’t exist. The cake looked great the way you brought it—its presentation felt artistic to me,” Adachi almost shouted at him. “The flavor is incredibly good, and best of all, you made it. I feel special just eating it.”

Kurosawa felt his cheeks warm. It was a comforting affirmation. It wasn’t common for a prince to cook, and when he had started, his parents had made it very clear that it had to be perfect—it was his duty as a prince.

But with this new friend, he was lowering his defenses more and more—and Kurosawa liked that.

He made sure to smile at the man sitting across from him and thank him, feeling truly happy as he watched the servant slowly savor the rest of the cake.

══════ • ♥ • ═══════

Adachi had already spent a week in Prince Kurosawa’s castle, and although everything still felt new and unfamiliar, he was starting to grow fond of the place. Putting aside the fact that he had to keep the terms of his curse a secret, it was still a pleasant place to be.

He didn’t know much about his fiancé yet—only the basics. He was his age, a bit taller than him, very attractive, and the embodiment of everything that was considered good in the world. No pressure, Adachi. What he did know was that Prince Kurosawa had a very pleasant knight under his command: a fun, sweet, slightly flirtatious man with great taste in books and an incredible talent for cooking.

Adachi was already setting his expectations too high for the prince. He doubted Kurosawa could be better than his new friend, Minato.

Today, he thought it would be a good idea to take his art supplies out of his luggage and start drawing. He first went to the garden and painted beautiful scenes of some of the flowers he found—there was an impressive variety. He even came across a toad and decided to paint it too; it looked funny. Little by little, he began filling a sketchbook with drawings.

He was so focused on it that he didn’t even realize he had missed his agreed meeting time with the knight at the library. He ran as fast as he could to meet his friend. It took him a couple of minutes to catch his breath, and when he finally did, he noticed his shirt was completely stained with different colors of paint. He blushed in embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Kurosawa waited anxiously for his new friend. A few minutes had already passed, and he hadn’t shown up. Assuming a servant would have time to see him every day had been bold on his part. Just as he was about to feel disappointed, he heard hurried footsteps approaching until the man was standing in front of him.

The servant had come in running and clearly flustered. His beige clothes were a complete mess of colors, his hair stuck to his forehead with sweat, and his face was slightly red from the effort. Kurosawa could only watch as the man lifted his head shyly and looked at him with a submissive gaze.

Inside, Kurosawa felt like he was about to explode. This image of the servant was unbearably attractive. If he had thought this man was cute before, now he seemed like the most attractive person in all of Japan. He kept those thoughts to himself and maintained a calm expression.

“I-I’m so sorry! I lost track of time and didn’t realize how late it was.”

“It’s okay, it’s no problem,” Kurosawa replied, already feeling like he could forgive this man anything.

Kurosawa could only watch this angel. He was organizing his art supplies on a nearby small table, then took out a handkerchief and tried to clean some of the pigment off his clothes. His efforts weren’t working—it only made him look even cuter.

“Were you painting?” It was an obvious question, but Kurosawa wanted to know everything.

“Yes, I painted a lot of things I saw in the garden.” They were already sitting across from each other, as they usually did, though Kurosawa thought returning to the closeness they had when they read Ragna Crimson wouldn’t be so bad. “I was so focused that I didn’t notice the time.”

“Can I see your drawings?” Adachi nodded, warning him beforehand that they weren’t anything special, and handed him the sketchbook. The brown-haired prince began flipping through it. They were truly good—warm drawings with an excellent use of light and shadow.

When he finished, he handed it back to Adachi and began examining the materials he had brought. They definitely stood out. These were expensive supplies—only the elite and the most prestigious painters used them. How could a simple servant have such materials?

“I see you have some costly paints here…” Kurosawa said casually, without accusing him of anything. Still, the servant immediately grew nervous.

Adachi felt like details like this always slipped through his fingers. He needed a quick excuse.

“Y-yes, they were a gift.” He was getting nervous—he really should have checked if there was a book in this library about how to lie successfully. “A gift from Prince Adachi.”

Kurosawa had almost forgotten—he wanted information about his fiancé, but every time he saw this servant, it became harder to think about anything other than his lovely face. If Prince Adachi had given such a generous gift to a servant, then he must be kind and considerate. That was a nice thought.

Adachi noticed how the knight seemed to smile to himself.

“It’s a lovely gesture, and your drawings are excellent,” Kurosawa said with a smile. Lately, his smiles had been genuine instead of forced. It seemed being engaged had its benefits.

They continued chatting for a bit about painting until Adachi offered to make a portrait of the knight. He wanted to thank him for the cake from the other day.

Adachi got to work immediately, starting with a sketch—his features, his hypnotizing eyes. This man was so handsome that he doubted any drawing could do him justice. Still, he gave it his all to create a portrait worthy of being framed. The knight’s torso, arms, and head stood out against a beautiful field of sunflowers. The entire piece was painted in warm colors, except for two cherries in the corner—Adachi’s signature.

When he finished, he handed it to the man and received a wide smile in return, along with a shower of compliments directed both at him and the drawing. Adachi didn’t need to touch him to know that his thoughts matched his words.

In the end, Kurosawa tried to make a portrait of the servant as well. He had no experience with drawing—his attempt was messy and shapeless—but he didn’t feel bad about it. On the contrary, he was happy seeing how the black-haired man couldn’t stop laughing, insisting that the drawing was very good.

The two parted ways with their respective portraits and clear minds. Organizing a wedding was exhausting, but having a friend by your side made it much easier to bear.

══════ • ♥ • ═══════

The days kept passing, and the two princes unknowingly saw each other every day. Nothing made them happier than spending time together, and with each passing day, they returned later and later to their respective rooms. There were only three days left until the wedding, and both of them felt like they were racing against time.

This wouldn’t have been a problem if it weren’t for the misunderstanding behind everything. Kurosawa was locked in a mental debate with his own feelings, as if an angel and a demon were whispering their opinions inside his head. He was an engaged man—he was getting married in less than a week—and yet here he was, developing feelings for a servant he had just met. He had only spoken to him in the first place to gather information about his future husband, and somehow ended up growing far too attached.

Everything this servant did left Kurosawa speechless. Watching him felt like gazing upon a fallen angel—exceptionally beautiful and extraordinary, someone who didn’t even realize how wonderful he truly was.

He felt as though he were betraying his fiancé. Kurosawa had never experienced feelings this strong before. He knew he would feel deeply sad when the servant returned to his own kingdom, but it was for the best. They couldn’t continue seeing each other after the wedding. He would enjoy these last few days, and that would be the end of it.

Adachi was in the same situation. This knight was stealing his heart. He saw him as a sincere and one-of-a-kind man; his physical attractiveness had long fallen into the background. Even if Adachi never saw him again for the rest of his life, he would still think the brown-haired man was the most beautiful person in the world.

The wedding day was approaching—meaning the day he would have to tell the truth to his new love. The last thing he wanted was for the knight to misunderstand the situation. He needed to start thinking about the right way to apologize.

══════ • ♥ • ═══════

There was only one day left before the wedding when Adachi finally saw himself in his finished outfit. The tailors were only adjusting the final details, and even so, what awaited him was astonishing.

He had never dressed like this before. A prince’s attire and a wedding outfit were two very different things. He wore a set consisting of trousers, a vest, and a jacket, all in white. The pants were straight and simple, while the vest was covered in floral embroidery and fitted tightly—Adachi didn’t remember having such a slim waist. His inner shirt was adorned with ruffles across the chest, and finally, the jacket was made of a light fabric with beautiful shoulder pieces decorated with small pompoms.

Altogether, it was a spectacular outfit. The wedding and the engagement were beginning to feel very real. Adachi stopped focusing on his reflection when he caught the thought of a tailor adjusting his jacket: I can’t wait to see the wedding dance.

No. No, no, no. How had he forgotten that detail? Every wedding had a dance like that—it was completely normal, especially among royalty.

The problem was that Adachi hadn’t stepped onto a dance floor in years. Of course, during his childhood he had taken waltz and ballroom lessons—essential knowledge for a prince—but once he turned eighteen and acquired his curse, his dance lessons stopped altogether. No one wanted to get within five meters of Adachi, much less dance with him.

Over the years, he hadn’t needed to dance. He wasn’t invited to parties, nor did he host any at his own castle. Saying he was rusty would be an understatement. Adachi barely remembered the basics, and dancing had never been his strong suit—even as a child, he struggled with it.

He would have to practice. This was his last day. It was either that or making a fool of himself in front of everyone tomorrow when he stepped on his husband’s feet.

He left the fitting room as quickly as possible and asked a servant for a crystal orb containing waltz music. These orbs stored all kinds of data and audio, so surely there would be some music. The servant handed it to him, and Adachi headed straight to the library. He knew there was a wide open space at the far end of the room where he could practice without anyone seeing him. He felt like a mediocre prince.

There was still plenty of time before his meeting with the knight, so he had enough time to practice before he arrived.

He played the first song he found in the crystal orb and began moving to the music, trying to coordinate his steps and follow the rhythm. It was difficult at first, but little by little he improved—at least now it actually looked like a ballroom waltz.

He kept going for a couple of hours until he heard footsteps approaching. He shut off the music in a jump and returned to the center of the library, trying to act normal. Still, the knight stared at him with a curious expression. Adachi focused on controlling his breathing; dancing had left him exhausted.

“Why do you look so agitated?” Kurosawa asked, amused. The servant’s face was flushed, and he looked a little distressed.

“I ran here again, that’s all.”

“Then why was there music playing?” Kurosawa added. He was sure he had heard ballroom music just before entering the library.

Adachi sighed and decided it would be best to be honest with this knight straight out of a fairytale.

“Well… I was actually trying to dance on my own.” Admitting it made him feel embarrassed. “I’m not very good, and I’m supposed to dance at the wedding.”

It made sense that Prince Adachi’s servants would attend the wedding as chaperones. What Kurosawa hadn’t expected was that his new friend cared so much about dancing—it looked like he had been practicing for hours.

“I could help you with that. It takes two people to dance a waltz,” Kurosawa said, winking.

Adachi looked at him, his cheeks burning. Letting the knight teach him meant physical contact—a lot of it—and that still made him nervous. But after thinking it through, he realized he had no other choice. He needed to dance properly for his wedding; it was expected of him.

“Y-yes… that would really help,” Adachi replied, feeling anxious.

They walked to the back of the library. Adachi played the music again and stepped closer to the knight, relieved that Kurosawa took the lead. Kurosawa placed one hand on Adachi’s waist and took his hand with the other. Adachi quickly assumed the proper position, resting his free hand on Kurosawa’s shoulder. They were officially touching.

I’m dreaming. I’m going to dance with an angel was the thought that reached Adachi in less than a second. Then he felt himself being guided across the floor, Kurosawa leading him smoothly while softly humming along to the melody.

This new dance partner refreshed Adachi’s memory. He began moving by following Kurosawa’s steps, and it was much easier than dancing alone. He was even having fun. It felt as though his new friend had a natural talent for dancing, and somehow Adachi felt like they fit together perfectly.

They looked into each other’s eyes, and the thoughts reaching Adachi were so sweet that he felt like he might melt. I like you so much, Your beauty can’t be compared to anything, I wish I could write a poem about how much I love your eyes. There were countless thoughts like that, and Adachi could feel his face burning red.

Adachi felt warmth bloom in his chest. He truly felt loved by this knight. It was a shame he had obligations to fulfill. What he would miss most after the wedding was spending time with him.

Deep down, he only hoped Kurosawa could forgive him for everything.

They had mastered the dance by then. They hadn’t separated for over an hour, and Adachi felt relieved—he wouldn’t be a laughingstock at his wedding tomorrow.

Now only feelings of emptiness remained. This beautiful bond they were forming would end today, and the knight might hate him once he learned the truth.

“You look a little sad,” Kurosawa said softly. “Is something wrong?”

Adachi stepped out of the knight’s arms. He couldn’t keep listening to his thoughts—it hurt too much. He had to clear things up, at least as much as he could for now.

“After today… we won’t be able to see each other anymore,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

Kurosawa had been so lost in his feelings that he almost forgot—tomorrow was the wedding. He had duties to fulfill, and this lovely servant wasn’t part of those plans. The servant would return to his kingdom, and Kurosawa had to accept that. These past two weeks would remain only as a sweet memory.

“Oh… you’re right. Tomorrow is the royal wedding, and after that you’ll return to your homeland.” Kurosawa noticed the dark-haired man nod nervously, clearly conflicted. “Do you think Prince Adachi will be happy with the marriage?”

It was the last piece of information he could ask for, though at this point, anything from the servant mattered more than thousands of facts about his fiancé.

The dark-haired man took his time thinking. Kurosawa waited patiently.

Finally, he spoke.

“I think if Prince Kurosawa is a tenth of what you are… he'll be fine” He said while giving her the most sincere smile he had ever seen.

That was the final blow. Kurosawa had officially fallen in love with a servant. He couldn’t stop himself from hugging him. He felt warm and comforting. The dark-haired man startled at first, then relaxed into the embrace, wrapping his arms around Kurosawa’s shoulders and letting all those loving feelings wash over him. He had missed hugs.

══════ • ♥ • ═══════

Today was the wedding day, and saying Kurosawa was nervous would be an understatement. There were too many emotions racing through his head, and it was hard for him to concentrate. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was the face of the beautiful dark-haired servant. Today, he had to return to a life of appearances and look flawless, with no room for mistakes. He suppressed his feelings and got out of bed.

The ceremony at the church was scheduled for one in the afternoon. As soon as he gave the order, several servants entered his room to prepare him. First, they served him a light breakfast; the real banquet would take place later in the day.

Then came a thorough bath in his tub. Every inch of his body was scrubbed and cleaned with extreme care. His hair received special treatment as well—different shampoos, oils, and creams to make it impeccable. His wedding suit waited nearby, perfectly pressed, without a single wrinkle.

After the bath, they dressed him. His outfit was completely white, except for some navy-blue details: plain trousers, a buttoned shirt, a navy-blue vest, and a white jacket hand-embroidered with hundreds of flowers in the same shade of blue. His shoulder pieces matched the vest. Altogether, the look gave him an almost celestial air. Kurosawa worried about his appearance every day and always tried to look his best, but today he went beyond that—it was like looking at a display doll. The ideal prince for a powerful kingdom.

Kurosawa couldn’t help wondering if he would see the dark-haired man again at the wedding. It would be a massive event, and he wouldn’t have time to search for him among all the guests. Still, if fate were kind enough, perhaps they would meet again—maybe even share another dance.

Adachi, on the other hand, couldn’t stop sweating. Too many things had happened in such a short time. He wasn’t someone who adapted easily to change; quite the opposite. He liked staying in his comfort zone, which was why he always ended up eating the same meal—double-mayo rice balls. He had specifically asked his attendants to bring him that for breakfast today; a familiar flavor would help calm his nerves.

He still couldn’t believe that today he was getting married. At last, he would help his kingdom prosper. He needed to focus on his purpose: serving his people and hiding the terms of his curse for as long as possible. Unfortunately, his thoughts kept drifting elsewhere—to the sincere knight who had shown him what love felt like. Today, he would have to explain everything, and with a bit of luck, they might still be friends afterward.

The servants approached Adachi with great care and began preparing him. No matter how much he asked to bathe alone, they ignored him. He received a full spa treatment—hair and skin care included. Their task was to make the future spouse of Prince Kurosawa look spectacular.

They dressed him in his wedding attire and styled his hair properly. That last part took a while, but it worked. Adachi ended up looking like an impeccable prince, ready to walk down the aisle.

When the time for the ceremony finally arrived, Adachi was led to the entrance of the church. The building was also part of the castle grounds—just as large, luxurious, and breathtaking as everything else he had seen so far. He stood up straight as the music began to play. An attendant signaled for him to enter as the doors slowly opened.

Adachi immediately realized how long and wide the aisle was. There were countless guests, all eyes fixed on him. He walked forward with steady, confident steps. His head stayed facing forward, but he occasionally glanced to the sides, searching for familiar faces. Among them were his parents, who had arrived that morning. He gave them a small smile and continued on.

He still couldn’t clearly see Prince Kurosawa’s face. His figure stood silhouetted against the large window behind the altar. What Adachi could see was his white outfit, similar to his own but accented with blue details. His build was athletic, and Adachi briefly thought that this must be how the knight looked beneath his armor. He quickly pushed the thought aside as he reached his fiancé and finally lifted his gaze to his face—only to freeze.

His legs trembled, and his heart began to race. He pulled himself together as quickly as he could and returned to a firm posture.

The man standing before him was the very same knight he had spent the last two weeks with. There was no doubt about it—it was him. How was this even possible? Was this some kind of joke? Adachi’s mind spun, unable to process anything, while the knight—prince, whatever he was—looked at him with shining eyes and a small smile.

Adachi tried to smile back. Even if he didn’t understand what was happening, he still had a role to play. The priest began to speak and referred to the man in front of him as Prince Kurosawa. That was it—Adachi was completely lost. At first, he thought he would need to apologize to a simple knight, but now the situation was far worse. He had spent two weeks lying to his own fiancé. He had even told him about his curse. Today was going to be a very long day.

Kurosawa, meanwhile, felt as though he were floating. Half an hour earlier, when he had been led to his place at the altar to wait for his future husband, he had felt calm—slightly melancholic, but ready to fulfill his duty as a prince.

The music began to play, and the church doors opened. He stood as straight as he could, his gaze fixed on his fiancé. At first, all he could see was a white outfit and black hair, but as the figure drew closer, everything clicked into place.

The beautiful man walking toward him was none other than his angel—the person he had fallen hopelessly in love with. Kurosawa couldn’t hide his happiness. He began smiling like a fool as emotion flooded his chest. Without a doubt, he was God’s favorite.

There was still the question of why Adachi had pretended to be a servant all this time, but Kurosawa didn’t care right now. All he could think about was how stunning the dark-haired man looked. His hair was styled with precision, his face looked fresh and softly flushed, and his wedding suit left Kurosawa speechless. It fit him perfectly, tailored to his body, accentuating his waist and shoulders. He hadn’t noticed before, hidden beneath those loose clothes, but now it was an irresistible detail.

Kurosawa felt incredibly foolish for having assumed during their first meeting that the man in front of him wasn’t a prince. Seeing him now, his fiancé carried himself with undeniable royal grace—he was, and always had been, Prince Adachi. Now that he knew he was his future husband, the only thing Kurosawa wanted to do was cover his face in kisses.

When the two of them stood face to face, Kurosawa noticed how dazed Adachi seemed. The brown-haired prince offered him a gentle smile to help him relax. It seemed to work, and Adachi came back to himself with a faint blush spreading across his cheeks.

The ceremony continued as planned. The priest delivered his speech, and when the time came, Adachi and Kurosawa prepared to accept the marriage.

“Prince Kurosawa Kuichi, do you accept Prince Adachi Kiyoshi as your lawful husband?” the priest asked.

“Yes, I do,” he answered immediately. Fairy tales claimed that the happiest day of one’s life would be their wedding day—a childish thought for a prince—but in this moment, Kurosawa couldn’t agree with those childhood stories more.

“Prince Adachi Kiyoshi, do you accept Prince Kurosawa as your lawful husband?”

All eyes turned to Adachi. He meant to say yes, but the words caught in his throat. He wasn’t going to be hated by a royal knight—he would be hated by his own husband for hiding the truth from him.

“Y-yes, I do,” he replied softly, but it was enough for the priest to nod in approval.

“You may kiss.”

That was the last thing Adachi heard. He knew what he had to do.

Both princes closed the distance between them and shared a kiss. It didn’t last long, but their lips fit together perfectly. They were both nervous. I’m the luckiest man alive was the thought that reached Adachi from his husband. He didn’t know how to interpret it just yet. They pulled apart and looked at each other for a moment, smiling. Kurosawa gently nudged his arm, and together they prepared to leave the church, the guests quickly following behind them.

The next step was the celebration.

They now stood in the castle’s main ballroom. Adachi hadn’t had the chance to visit this place before, and he thought it might be the most beautiful space in the entire castle. It featured finely placed textures, towering pillars supporting the structure, and a gleaming floor. On top of that, the room had been decorated for the occasion—every table and chair had a unique baroque style. At the far end, he could spot their wedding cake. It was enormous, probably as tall as he was.

Neither prince had had time to speak to the other. Both were surrounded by countless members of the nobility they had to greet. The plan was to meet again at the end of the celebration for their dance and the toast. Until then, they were expected to enjoy the party. Since Adachi didn’t know many people, he headed toward his parents.

They were seated at one of the main tables and smiled when they saw him. His mother even stood up to give him a quick hug. They were dressed elegantly for the occasion.

“Adachi! You look so handsome, sweetheart,” his mother said, practically bouncing with joy.

“It was a beautiful ceremony,” his father commented, looking just as pleased. Adachi wanted to believe that happiness was for him—and not for all the political benefits they had gained.

“How did I do?” Adachi asked shyly. He knew everyone was watching him. Adachi was something of a mystery—a magical prince from a small, distant kingdom. Everyone was curious about him.

His parents reassured him with kind words, commenting on how lovely the castle was. Soon enough, Adachi found himself surrounded by nobles questioning him as if he were a celebrity. He tried to answer everything he could.

Time passed quickly. Kurosawa was eventually led to the dance floor along with Adachi. The brown-haired prince felt anxious—he disliked maintaining his perfect image in front of so many people, especially with guests who only asked shallow questions. Some even commented that he was brave for choosing to marry Adachi. How ignorant they were. His husband was an angel, and he couldn’t wait to dance with him again.

The music began to play, and Kurosawa wrapped his arms around his shy husband.

“Let’s do it just like yesterday. Do you remember?” Kurosawa whispered into the dark-haired man’s ear, making his voice as gentle as possible. He suspected his partner felt overwhelmed being surrounded by so many people.

Adachi nodded and gave him a small smile, adjusting his arms as he prepared to dance. The best thing he could do was focus on the eyes of his now-husband. He felt like his legs might betray him at any moment—he was incredibly nervous. Luckily, Kurosawa’s touch was gentle and made him feel safe. Don’t get nervous, you’re doing great. Right—he almost forgot that Kurosawa understood how his curse worked. Even so, Adachi still felt tense. He still had to explain everything to Kurosawa.

They continued dancing just as they had the night before. It felt as though they were inside a bubble where only the two of them existed—two men without chains, destined to love one another.

When the dance ended, Kurosawa didn’t let go. Adachi could feel his arms wrapped around his waist. This time, instead of thoughts, images reached him—Kurosawa imagining Adachi smiling at him in a garden full of flowers. Adachi looked so in love in those fantasies that he blushed just thinking about them.

All the guests applauded, and soon after, they began filling the dance floor. Officially, Adachi and Kurosawa were no longer required.

Kurosawa took Adachi by the hand and pulled him into another room of the castle, far enough away that the loud music wouldn’t reach them. Along the way, Kurosawa’s fantasies continued.

They arrived at what seemed to be a tea room. Kurosawa carefully sat Adachi down on a couch, sat beside him, and began hugging him frantically while repeating things like, Wow, I can’t believe it, I’m so relieved, This suit looks incredible on you, You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen, and countless other things.

Adachi felt overwhelmed and deeply flushed. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. Prince Kurosawa couldn’t have been more naïve.

The dark-haired prince suddenly pulled away, pushing Kurosawa to the side. It was obvious his husband didn’t understand the situation—otherwise, he wouldn’t be hugging him so casually.

“N-no! Please don’t touch me,” Adachi said, frightened. He didn’t want to keep reading his partner’s thoughts. “I’m so sorry—for everything!”

Adachi felt his eyes begin to fill with tears. He wanted to run away and cry. Kurosawa just stared at him, confused by the sudden change, so Adachi continued.

“I’ve been lying to you this whole time. I even read your mind without your consent…” Adachi was deeply ashamed of how everything had unfolded. “A-and I didn’t even know who you were! I never meant to use my power on you. I’m so sorry, and I hope you don’t hate me after all this…”

Adachi broke down and began to cry. He had ruined everything—his relationship with his husband, his reputation, and surely he would never be free of this stupid curse that only brought him pain. Tears streamed down his face as he kept his head lowered, sobbing. He felt guilty and humiliated.

Kurosawa panicked when he saw his angel crying. He had been so happy just moments ago that he hadn’t stopped to consider whether his husband felt the same way. There was a huge misunderstanding here, and it was his responsibility to fix it.

The brown-haired prince sat on the floor in front of Adachi and gently touched him to get his attention. Adachi slowly lifted his head, still repeating apologies. Kurosawa gave him some space and began speaking calmly, hoping to soothe him.

“No, no, no—you don’t need to worry about that. I don’t hate you or anything like that.” Adachi wiped his tears and looked into Kurosawa’s sincere eyes. He seemed to be telling the truth, but still…“Adachi, you shouldn’t feel bad for lying about your identity. I’m the one who did everything wrong here.”

Adachi stopped crying and focused on what Kurosawa was saying. He had forgotten—Kurosawa had lied too.

“I wasn’t supposed to go anywhere near the east wing of the castle. I wasn’t meant to meet anyone there. That’s why I wore knight’s armor. The truth is, I was embarrassed to admit that I only went to the library to read the new book that had come out. Then I met you, and you were so kind that I thought I could stay and talk. So I lied and told you I was a royal knight…”

“Still… I also said I was someone I wasn’t,” Adachi replied softly. He couldn’t put all the blame on Kurosawa.

“You were just being friendly. I knew I wasn’t supposed to be there, and yet I agreed to see you every day. I thought that if I talked to one of Prince Adachi’s servants, I could get to know him better,” Kurosawa said, never taking his eyes off him.

“Why would you want to know me better? As far as I was told, I was chosen as your fiancé because of my ability to read minds.”

“That was just an excuse, Adachi. I was the one who suggested that marrying you would be a good idea.”

“That doesn’t make sense. No one would think to take me into account… I don’t have the best reputation.” Adachi lowered his head again. “People have been afraid to approach me for years. No one wants their mind read… and when a knight approached me with so much confidence, I thought it was my chance to make a friend. I realized it was easier to say I was a servant than to reveal who I really was. You would’ve stayed away from me like everyone else.”

Kurosawa finally understood everything. Adachi had only lied to protect himself—and Kurosawa had completely believed it. He had played the role of a servant perfectly.

“Adachi… I chose you as my fiancé because I wanted to know more about you. All I had ever heard were ridiculous rumors. I never believed you were the way people described you. I thought we got along because we both lived under assumptions others made about us—and I was right. You’re an incredible person: kind, thoughtful, and sweet. From the moment I met you, I felt like I could tell you anything and be by your side without judgment. I’m truly sorry for lying. Being with you was so comforting that it was easy to fall for your beauty.”

It was the most honest Kurosawa had been in a very long time.

“You mean… being perfect all the time?” Kurosawa nodded. “To me, you’re so much more than simple perfection. I expected a fraction of what that charming knight was—and destiny gave me the full package.” Adachi laughed softly to himself, finally feeling relieved. Kurosawa laughed with him, and the two of them smiled once more.

Kurosawa sat back down beside Adachi and took both of his hands.

“Your ability to read minds never seemed like a problem to me. It’s just another part of who you are. I’ll admit it’s a little embarrassing knowing you could tell when I thought you looked cute—but it’s all true. Over these past weeks, I did nothing but fall in love with you. I had already assumed you would return to your kingdom, and I was prepared to hide these feelings. But now that everything is clear, I couldn’t be happier about our wedding.”
Kurosawa was blushing, and his gaze revealed nothing but pure love.

Adachi couldn’t believe his feelings were returned. Hearing this from Kurosawa filled him with joy—it felt as though his heart was bursting with happiness.

“I’m happy too, having you by my side. You’re the first friend I’ve made in a long time, and now that you’re my husband, it feels incredible,” Adachi said softly, before adding, “Because I’m in love with you too.”

They were still holding hands, and the space between them only felt like an obstacle. All they could focus on were each other’s faces and how fortunate they felt. They leaned in until their lips met in a gentle kiss—no audience, no pressure, no misunderstandings. Just the two of them.

When they pulled apart, Adachi suddenly remembered something.

“What a relief that your name isn’t Minato. It really wouldn’t suit you,” the dark-haired prince commented.

“Minato is my dance instructor, so thanks to him we did so well during the waltz,” Kurosawa replied, having forgotten he introduced himself with that name. “And where did the name Tsuge come from?”

“Tsuge is the only friend I have…” Adachi answered, a little embarrassed. But he quickly noticed Kurosawa beginning to look slightly jealous and found it amusing. “We’ve never met in person. We’re just pen pals. He doesn’t even know I’m a prince.”

“Then we should invite him over one day. Maybe he’ll get along with Minato— I think the situation would make them laugh,” Kurosawa said, his jealousy quickly fading. He didn’t like the idea of Adachi being so alone.

“Yeah, you’re right…” Adachi replied, relaxing as the tension of the past weeks finally began to leave his body.

“Sorry for asking this, but a few days ago you said your mind-reading ability comes from a curse. Is there any way to fix that?” Kurosawa asked gently, not wanting to upset his angel again. Instead, Adachi blushed.

“There is a way, yes… but it’s kind of ridiculous,” Adachi admitted. Kurosawa listened attentively—he would do anything for his beautiful husband. “To break the curse, I have to lose my virginity.”

Well, that was certainly funny, Kurosawa thought—but hardly a challenge. If kissing and holding Adachi already felt like the best thing he’d ever done, he couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to hold him fully in his arms. Still, he noticed Adachi growing nervous beside him.

“I know it’s our wedding night, but there’s no pressure to do anything,” Kurosawa said warmly, smiling as he kissed the back of Adachi’s hand. “I don’t mind if you read my thoughts until you feel ready.”

“Thank you… I’d like that,” Adachi replied with a smile, cheeks flushed. “But I don’t think we’ll need to wait very long.”

Kurosawa blushed deeply. How bold of Adachi. He found himself falling more in love every day—he wanted nothing more than to kiss him endlessly.

“That suit looks really good on you.”

“Thank you… I think you already mentioned that.”

“Your old clothes looked good too—they made you look cute. But this suit highlights all of your beauty. I could stare at you all day. I couldn’t stop smiling during the ceremony.”

Adachi was blushing far too much now. He didn’t consider himself very attractive, but when Kurosawa said it, he allowed himself the luxury of believing it.

“You don’t have to say all that. Just thinking it is enough.”

“I’ll say everything I think out loud,” Kurosawa replied softly, “so you won’t have to read my thoughts.”

It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to him. Adachi felt tears threatening to fall again. Prince Kurosawa was a million times better than he had ever imagined. Maybe his curse wasn’t so bad after all—thanks to it, he had found the love of his life. He leaned in to hug Kurosawa again and smiled at how warmly his husband welcomed him into his arms.

They talked a little longer in the tea room, exchanging kisses from time to time, until they heard the wedding music come to an end. It was quite late, and both of them were starting to feel sleepy.

Kurosawa guided Adachi to the bedroom they now shared. The darkness of the night made it hard to see clearly, but it was undoubtedly a spacious and luxurious chamber. Adachi noticed the portrait he had drawn for Kurosawa days earlier—it was framed. He felt deeply valued.

They changed into pajamas with a bit of embarrassment, still getting used to their new life as a couple.

Once they were both in bed, Kurosawa moved closer to Adachi and finally did what he had been planning all day—he began showering him with small kisses all over his face, leaving no space untouched. Adachi could only laugh and try to steal a few kisses in return.