“You’re late again.”
“I had things to take care of,” she replied.
He sighed.
“You always surprise me. I have an entire kingdom to manage, yet you’re the one who’s always late.”
Vanessa scoffed.
“Well, technically, I also have an entire household to manage. And you are not alone, you have your ministers. And your father.”
She paused.
“I have… no one.”
The air became softer.
Then—
“You’re right,” he said softly.
He looked up at the sky for a moment.
“Do you know what day it is today?”
She was slightly confused . “I am afraid it isn’t quite an important one.”
He smiled faintly.
“It’s the day we first met.”
“…At the market?”
“Yes.”
He smiled and looked into her eyes.
Then his expression softened.
Vanessa looked at him.
“You remembered?”
“I always remember,” he said quietly. “When it comes to you.”
After a quiet while—
Besides,” she said, a small smile forming, “even if we get separated in this lifetime… we’ll meet again in another, right?”
He didn’t smile.
“Or,” he said quietly, “we could just stay together in this one.”
No reply.
“How do you even manage all this?” she asked. “These meetings?”
“What kind of lies do you say?”
“I say I’m walking through the kingdom,” he replied. “Understanding my people.”
She laughed.
“And this isn’t entirely wrong,” he added. “You are one of my people.”
He stepped closer.
“In fact… closer than most.”
She looked away.
“I’m just understanding you better.”
“Tell me what’s wrong in that.”
Vanessa let out a quiet breath.
“What’s wrong?” she repeated.
“You’re a prince.”
She looked at him again, more serious now.
“You’re destined to marry some princess from another kingdom. Build alliances. Strengthen your rule. Maybe expand your empire.”
Her voice softened.
“Not… meet me like this.”
His expression changed.
“Don’t speak about yourself like that,” he said.
“You are not just some commoner.”
“I hate that word.”
He held her gaze.
“I believe everyone is equal.”
Vanessa smiled faintly.
“But Your Highness—”
“Vanessa,” he cut in.
“Stop calling me that.”
She tilted her head, a mischievous glint returning.
“Fine,” she said.
“I’ll try.”
A pause.
Then softly—
“I’ll try, Your Highness.”
He sighed.
Vanessa took a small step back.
“Anyway,” she said casually, “it doesn’t matter.”
“I’ve been getting some suitors lately.”
Silence.
“…You’ve been getting what?”
She smiled , acting innocent.
Then—
“Time is running short .”
She turned.
“Vanessa—”
Too late.
She had already started walking away.
“Vanessa, come back here.”
No response. This time she walked faster and he started following her.
“You’ve been getting WHAT?”
For a moment—
it felt like time had slowed.
Like the world had decided to pause—
just for them.
And neither of them knew—
how little time they actually had.
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