Flashback – Velaris Garden, Many Years Ago
The sky over Velaris was painted in hues of lavender and amber as twilight slowly descended upon the kingdom. The air was still damp from the afternoon rain, and the fragrance of wet earth lingered heavily. Tiny droplets sparkled on the leaves, reflecting the last rays of the sun like scattered diamonds.
Two children ran once again along the stone pathways of the royal gardens, their voices carrying joy across the otherwise quiet estate.
"Lyra, just watch—this time I'll win!" Kaelrin shouted, his boyish grin wide as he sprinted ahead. His dark hair clung to his forehead, damp with mist.
"Absolutely not! You always cheat!" Lyra huffed, clutching her skirts as she tried to keep up, her silver hair gleaming in the fading light.
She tripped over a small stone but managed to steady herself, laughing as she did. "See? Even when I fall, I don't stop!"
Kaelrin skidded to a halt and ran back towards her, his expression tightening with worry before softening in relief. "Why are you always so careless? What if you had gotten hurt?"
Lyra stuck out her tongue at him. "I'm strong. Nothing happens to me."
"You're not strong," he muttered, crossing his arms. "Just stubborn."
She tilted her head, then burst into giggles. "And you're always serious—just like your father. But I don't like that face of yours."
Kaelrin quickly turned away, trying to hide the faint blush that crept across his cheeks.
The two of them continued walking until they reached the familiar old oak tree at the center of the garden. Its bark still bore the carving from the day before: L & K – Forever. Lyra's small fingers traced the letters proudly.
"Look, this writing will never fade," she said. "Even when we grow up, it'll still be here."
Kaelrin crouched down beside her, pressing his palm against the rough carving. "And what if it does fade?"
Lyra shook her head firmly, her silver braids swaying. "It won't. And if it does… we'll carve it again."
A rare smile curved across Kaelrin's lips. He never smiled easily, but with Lyra, it came naturally.
---
The Secret Game
That evening, after tiring themselves with running and laughter, they sat beneath the oak tree, sharing a small pouch of candied nuts Lyra had stolen from the kitchens.
"Lyra! You stole these?" Kaelrin's eyes widened in shock.
"Shh!" she giggled, pressing a finger to his lips. "If you tell anyone, I'll never speak to you again."
He froze at her touch, his face heating up before he quickly shoved her hand away. "Fine, I won't tell anyone…" He hesitated, then added, "But only on one condition."
"Condition?" she tilted her head curiously.
"You have to share a secret with me."
Lyra's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Alright. But then you have to share one too."
The two leaned closer, whispering as though the trees themselves might be eavesdropping.
"My secret…" Lyra began, lowering her voice, "sometimes at night, I sneak into the garden and talk to the statues." She pointed to the marble figures that stood elegantly across the lawn.
Kaelrin stared at her as though she'd gone mad. "You… talk to statues?"
She nodded proudly. "Yes! I think they listen. And sometimes… they even answer—through their eyes."
Kaelrin groaned, covering his face with his hand. "You're completely insane."
"Shhh! Now your secret?"
The boy hesitated, biting his lip. He rarely spoke of the things in his heart. But Lyra waited patiently, her silver eyes glowing with expectation.
At last, he whispered, "Sometimes at night… I get scared. Scared that everyone will leave me. My father always says I must be strong, that one day I'll be greater than everyone else. But deep down… I think I'll just end up alone."
The silence that followed was heavy, almost sacred. Then Lyra reached out and took his hand firmly. "I'll never leave you."
The simplicity of her words wrapped around him more tightly than any promise he had ever heard.
"Really?" His voice trembled.
"Really." She raised her little finger. "Come on—pinky promise."
And under the canopy of stars just beginning to pierce the twilight sky, the two sealed their childish oath with entwined fingers.
Unbeknownst to them, that secret game of whispered fears and promises would one day return to haunt them in ways neither could have imagined.
---
Present Day – The Ballroom Continues
The vision of childhood faded like mist, replaced once again by the grandeur of Velaris Palace.
Lady Lyra stood amidst a crowd of nobles, her laughter polite though her heart was restless. That boy from her memories—the one who had once confessed his fears beneath the oak—was now standing only a few steps away, cloaked in an aura of cold distance.
Duke Kaelrin conversed with other lords, his tone clipped, his expressions perfectly formal. But his gaze strayed more often than he allowed himself to admit. Each time their eyes met across the ballroom, something unspoken stirred between them.
Lyra's thoughts whispered: You're still the same, Kaelrin… still lonely inside. Do you remember the secret you once shared with me?
The music shifted to a slower tune. Couples began to pair off for the waltz. A duke could not be seen without a partner.
Kaelrin stepped forward, every inch the composed nobleman. But when his eyes locked onto hers, his mask faltered—just slightly.
"Lady Lyra," he said, his voice smooth yet weighted with a depth only she could hear, "may I have the honor of this dance?"
Her heart skipped. Formal words, yes. But hidden within them was the echo of a promise carved long ago beneath an oak tree.q