Callisto hadn't seen the girl since she left after the time they unexpectedly met, and days went by without him even a glimpse of the princess who settled in the princess’ palace.

Though the palace was as loud as ever. His father, the emperor, believed his son was not yet ready to rule the empire. Indeed, at such an age, he could inherit the throne, but his son was not ready.

He also said that he will send him off to the frontier, the battlefield to the west, and fight off monsters in expeditions to harness him for the future.

It was the only reason they had to spend an hour of time in the conference room. So, while everyone's busy, the crown prince left without notice and went to where his feet could lead him.

Callisto is the only child of the emperor and the empress, but he was also a child that was robbed from his freedom of choice. He has no freedom to feel for himself, nor does he have the rights to be interested in others. His life had been a big nightmare since he was born, but he didn’t have a choice.

It was not passion nor desire; it was a duty that pushes him to do this despite his defiance of fate.

Yet he seems curious about the princess who he just met by accident. 

"Crown Prince!"

It looks like his highness was spotted. He wasn't approved to leave, so the emperor appointed knights to spy on him whenever he misbehaved.

"That is at least 30 minutes late, Sir Larkade," he said, counting the time he left his office, and the time he caught him.

He shook his head. "Please go back, your highness, the emperor is looking for you!"

Callisto looks at him, then he smirks. "I don't need to be here since my opinion is believed to be unnecessary," he uttered, and then he continued walking.

"Your highness!"

He ran towards an exit to the garden and hid in the bushes to avoid the servants to notice him. They were in search of him, vociferating for his return, yet Callisto was disinclined to re-enter the frigid chamber.

He didn't think they needed him there and his presence was like thin air.

The silence was so loud, even though the only thing he could hear was the maid’s voice and the wind that blew. It was that very moment when he inhaled a scent that was very much familiar to him.

He tilted his head, and then there the garden of the palace appeared by his eyes. “Such a thing exists?” When he shifted from that familiar voice, he was startled by the appearance of a beautiful woman with dazzling silver hair in front of him.

The girl—no, she is the princess of the Solen Kingdom. Though he concedes, she looks so young; he was astonished by how she looks as beautiful as the Ventis Tree in front of her was.

He quietly approached her, and he looked at the tree. “This tree was named as Ventis, the God of Unrequited love. He is a legend to many of us in this empire. It represents how the rulers should behave.”

Selena rapidly turned around after she heard that voice. Then she breathed out, looking at the man behind her. “Sir?” she asked the knight who he claims to be.

It was not a surprise to see a woman who came from a country who prioritizes military discipline to train their knights to battle beasts to be careful of him. Her reaction was reasonable, though he felt bitter knowing about the truth.

“I am a knight under the duty of day and night shift, so I do patrol this area to tighten the security at the palace,” he explained.

She looked at him before her mind debated whether to let it slide. “I am sorry, you seem suspicious,” she mumbled, and he looked at her as he chuckled.

“Much likely, the palace has always been surrounded by assassins who want to take the prince's life. It is not a wonder if they want to get rid of you as well, besides you are the future bride of his highness and everyone was eyeing on that position. It will be best to always be on guard.”

That’s right, the princess came from a foreign land, who would be happy for her as the empress of the empire. The only reason people do not talk about it is because Solen Kingdom is a powerful small country which or where most of magical weapons have come from.

It will be best not to talk about her being a foreigner from this empire. Chosen by his majesty, who could resist? Those nobles who were trying to eye on the position had to settle down for now.

What of the future? He fears that may happen. “I know,” she mumbled, and he looked at her. “I must survive even without the support of his highness, the Crown Prince.”

The bond of his heart started bursting. The moment he closed his eyes, everything went dark so quickly he couldn’t twitch. A voice echoed through his mind like a puzzle of narration, and every word he spoke felt like a stabbing knife.

When he looked back, it seemed as if he was back to his consciousness. The darkness vanished, and his mind was completely lost. He was thought to be aware of his curse. The boundary he can keep shall remain at stead.

But a man can love whomever they pleases. He can just ignore his curse and continue this lasting happiness. That’s right, happiness without the restraint of loving someone. Can he think that way?

He held her hand as they walked through the crowded, spacious street, forcing her to stop. “May I ask you something?”

Though they held hands as followed from the heavy street, they ended up moving. Selena nodded at his request and he happily let go of her hand.

“I want to ask, if I don’t intrude, do you hate the prince? Please tell me. I will never report this to him.”

She looked at him, and she shook her head. “I do not hate him,” she mumbled and smiled. “We are in the same position to marry someone we barely meet, and become trapped by that rule. I don’t hate him. He just honestly didn’t give me a good first impression.”

At that sudden moment, a wind blew so heavily in her way that it messed her hair. She carefully carries it to the back of her ears. “I wouldn’t dare hate someone who is in the same situation as I do,” she added.

“I see,” said Callisto as he hissed. “Then you don’t want to marry him?”

“I want to try it, but if things don’t work out. Maybe I can just divorce him. I don’t think it is a bad idea either.”

There was silence. Selena deliberately looked at him as he gave off such a hasty remark. Is it painful? Or is it desire?

The day soon long passed, the dusk was about to fall, and Selena was satisfied with her first outing. Maybe it was right to allow her to go out, even though the Crown Prince cannot go out because of his responsibilities, he still wishes his fiance would still enjoy this kind of happiness in her life.

Maybe, if he can support her to do what she wants, she might not leave him.

“Did you have fun?”

"Of course!" she happily replied.

“Next time, I will find your as me—”

The air has changed abruptly, following with a silence after such a response. However, something was not right. He turned around, but nobody was there as if the princess vanished like thin air.

He didn't notice that something was strange. He couldn't even detect that someone was after them—he couldn't detect it? The Crown Prince? A genius magician? Could someone use anti-detection magic?

He bit his lips, and he stood there for a second before he blew the chilly wind that was shivering in the air. "Come out," he commanded.

As he summoned an entire platoon, the sky grew pallid and dark. A magic circle materialized before him, from which emerged a fully armored man ready for battle.

"We arrive to answer your call, master!"

The ferocious eyes of his gaze were piercing through their veins. Then he looked at the commander, son of Marquis Epides, Lord Rohas, as he greeted him. 

"Find her—my fiance," he said, demanding all of his Shadow Knights before they left to recover the princess.

He should have known that threats can appear everywhere he goes. The Crown Prince is good as a cursed man walking in broad daylight. He doesn't deserve to love someone other than himself alone. 

The emperor's bloodline is not what it seems. It is a deceitful blood that had been cursed for a long time.

Freedom is a blissful attention that is deemed foolish. While interest can become a massive illusion, and happiness is something they have to avoid.

Still, the pleasure of feeling these emotions was indeed fun, but it was limited and scary. 

Marquis Rohas kneeled, waiting for his separate order. “Your highness,” he said.

“I want you to erase her memories once we find her, all of her memories meeting me.”

Sir Rohas swallowed, and he looked at him. “Your highness, I cannot adjust the dosage of my magic. It may harm her in any way possible.”

“It doesn’t matter, just do what I ask of you,” he stubbornly said, but Rohas once again warned him.

“I am sorry, your highness, but I cannot do as you ask,” he said, making the prince look at him coldly.

Callisto carefully held his shoulders. “Rohas, should I repeat what I said?” he asked, then he gripped Rohas shoulder as hard as he could and it made the young man look at the ground.

“No, I will do as you commanded.”

That’s right, he cannot disobey his master, nor can he do so. The only thing he can do is to follow, and do what has been told of him.

Because the word of the prince is an absolute to all of his Shadow Knights.