Morning light slipped through the cracks of the king's chamber curtains, soft and warm like the whisper of a new day. Birds began to sing faintly in the distance, while the morning breeze gently brushed against the hanging drapes.
On the grand canopy bed, a girl stirred awake, her brows furrowed.
Hana blinked, her eyelids still heavy. But the moment she saw the tall ceiling and the golden carvings surrounding her… her head shot up.
And—
"KYAAAA!"
Her shriek shattered the morning calm.
Right in front of her—just inches away—was Mathien's face, resting in the most relaxed position imaginable. His body lay on its side, one arm propping up his head, his gaze far too calm for someone who had just spent the night sharing his bed with another person.
Hana nearly toppled backward, but Mathien's hand shot out, gripping her wrist firmly.
"Easy," he muttered lazily. "You're not a corpse. No need to scream like that."
