The garden at their estate did not allow white roses, but here, in this secret, abandoned palace – there was an abundance of them. She imagined countless times walking through a white rose garden like this, and she was right. Walking amongst them was like walking through heaven. Aria’s white hair gently flowed behind her as she made her way through the rows of white rose bushes, and with her hands stretched beyond on both sides, she touched each white rose she passed.

Aria thought it was odd that a random garden was located here, and unexpectedly, in a ruined palace. She turned around to look at the white rose garden and took in the heavenly scene again – the garden was so well taken care of, and yet the palace was…completely destroyed.

It wouldn’t hurt to take a few roses home, right?

After contemplating for a short while, Aria reached under her sky-blue dress. Soon the sound of her under skirt tearing echoed into the night sky. She wrapped the piece of fabric in one hand and prepped herself to pluck some roses. She did not have any cutters with her, so she resorted to bending the rose stem back and forth until it broke. 

After repeating this a few times, and with a few cuts and scratches on her palms from the thorns, Aria was able to gather five roses. She was proud of herself, but knew it was wrong to steal from the imperial palace and planned to leave a few gold coins behind.

As Aria continue to investigate the surroundings to find a spot to leave her coins, she noticed something bright red at the corner of her eye. 

Deep into the garden, surrounded by numerous white rose bushes, she spotted an old, wooden gazebo – its’ white paint faded with time. And right under there was a man with fiery red hair. He was seated comfortably, with half his long, muscular body leaning against one wooden pillar. His closed, unbothered eyes indicated he was in a deep in slumber. 

Although his presence scared Aria at first, his red hair was a such deep contrast to the surrounding white roses that somehow it felt pleasing. She smiled slightly. 

Who is this man…?

Aria slowly approached him, curious to get a better look at his face. Eventually, she was close enough to see him, and suddenly his eyes opened. 

Gasp!

Cold panic sliced through her – dark, cold grey eyes glared back at her. Aria reached for her mouth to prevent herself from screaming, but she was too slow. His large hand had already grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward. 

A loud thump echoed as she fell onto the creaking, old wooden floors. 

Half her body was on top of his long, strong legs, and her other free hand grabbed onto his broad muscular shoulders to prevent herself from completely falling onto him. She could feel his breath right above her head. 

Aria froze in place, and lowered her head, unsure of what to do next – but then quickly blushed when she saw his bare chest through his open white-collar shirt. It was wide, with soft shapes that outlined his muscles, and long blue veins that reached his neck, to his prominent adam’s-apple. 

Suddenly the grip on her wrist tightened, forcing Aria to lift her face.

Aria’s lips trembled. 

His sharp nose, to his chin, and harden lips stood still in her blue eyes. She gulped and tried to look away, but his dark, piercing cold eyes caught her, again. Aria could feel her entire body trembling as she noticed the light from the moonlight reflected in his eyes, making them glimmer – diamonds?

“What is this?” the man questioned and leaned in closer. His voice was so deep and almost enchanting.

Aria tried to pull away, but with his other hand, he gripped her chin, forcing her to stay still. 

“Are you a spy?” he asked again, this time harsher. His grip tightened in both hands. “Answer me.” 

The pain she felt from his strong callous hands also reached her neck, as if he had his grip there too. Aria shook her head, unable to say anything. Her blue eyes trembled under his cold gaze. And now her body heat was also increasing the longer she looked into his grey eyes. It was almost painful.

“Talk...” he said in a lower tone that felt even more threatening. Aria continued to stay quiet, so he pulled her closer. Now their noses were inches away from each other, and she could feel his hot breath on hers.

“P-Please s-stop!!” Aria shouted and used all her strength to fling away from him. He let go from the sudden force, but it was too late. Her hands had accidently smacked him in the face, and he immediately pushed her away.

Aria fell flat on her bottom, and pain quickly circulated there. 

“You…” 

The man slowly got up. He smoothed out his clothes and looked down at her. He stood tall, and intimating. His long legs stretched out, and his white-collared shirt rustled in the cold breeze. He gazed over her trembling body, up and down, and sighed heavily. 

Aria gasp and covered her mouth.  Her bloody palms, from the rose thorns, had left red marks all over his left cheek. It made him look even more frightening now that he was towering above her. 

“Why is a highborn lady like you sneaking around the imperial palace, and stealing white roses?” he questioned, then tapped his shoe beside the pile of white roses next to her. Aria lowered her head in embarrassment. The fact that he did not sound even irritated or angry at her, made her even more ashamed. 

Wait…stealing?

Aria suddenly raised her head. She could feel her cheeks growing hot but continued to stare back at him. 

“I didn’t steal them.” she answered, and quickly reached over to collect her roses. “I was going to pay for them.”

His eyebrows arched.

“Pay for them?” he asked and then notice the few gold coins scattered around the wooden floors next to her.

“Interesting.” he mumbled and continue to stare, emotionless.

Aria watched him closely, like a prey observing its predator for the next move. She noticed his eyes gazing down below her face, and then she realized the sight of her disheveled appearance.

Aria immediately flushed, and she quickly gathered her dress to cover her bare legs that was exposed. After calming herself down, and still noticing the man had not left yet, Aria finally forced herself to stand up. But to her surprise, her legs gave out and she fell again. 

She could hear the man mumbled something, and her face grew hot. 

“What kind of gentlemen doesn’t help a lady?”  she said in a normal cool tone to disguise her growing hot face. Aria has never dealt with the opposite sex before, other than those in her family, but she knew in her current situation that she was also not being a lady herself. The shame, and embarrassment made her lower her face once again.

But soon she felt her body being swiftly pulled up, and something warm embraced her front. She was leaning against his large frame and could feel every morsal of muscle on his chest. She looked up at those cold grey eyes, again. 

“Am I a gentleman now?” he asked and leaned in closer. Her face was practically on fire now, and she swore he laughed at her. Aria struggled to pull away, but his grip on her waist was tight. She barely moved. 

How strong is he?

After she gave up, and a long time had passed, he finally let go and took a step back. The cold air replaced the heat she felt on her body just a second ago, and she trembled.

“You aren’t one.” she defiantly answered. “You’re not a gentleman at all.”

The man did not say another word and just looked at her emotionless again. Now that Aria took a closer look at him, he was arrogantly handsome. And looked very familiar as well. Especially those…

 He ran his hand through his red hair, and then wiped the blood marks she left on his face. 

Aria’s eyes widen at the realization. He was the crown prince. Her soon-to-be fiancé. Without doubt, that fiery red hair, and intimating aura reminded her of the emperor she saw earlier in the day.

She gulped slowly, and continued to observe him, secretly hoping he did not recognize her. The man smirked slightly at her odd behavior and finally turned around to leave. 

Once the man disappeared into the dark night, Aria quickly gathered her roses and ran out of the white rose garden. Right before turning the corner, she looked back once again to the heavenly garden, and she felt a tinged of sadness.

“Did I grab his back too when I fell down him?” She mumbled to herself after she remembered a few red stains on the back of his white shirt as he was leaving. Aria immediately shook her head as the flash backs of her on top of him kept resurfacing, and that made her grow hot again. 

It’s okay. He won’t remember me.

“It was quite dark...” Aria reassured herself and continue her way to the main palace.