The night of confession

Akihiko turned sharply and saw princess Miyu standing beside her guard, her fiancé. A wave of unease crashed over Aiko, her chest tightening, her heart aching with a sorrow she could barely contain. Every step felt heavier, each breath more labored. Without a word, she yanked her hand from Akihiko’s and bolted toward the garden. Akihiko immediately gave chase, his blue eyes filled with a mixture of concern, frustration, and determination.

The hall stretched before her like an endless path, yet Aiko barely noticed the golden beams of light or the curious glances of onlookers. All she could feel was the knot of heartbreak and jealousy tightening inside her. Her hair, the reddish strands catching the light, trailed behind her like fire in motion, and her gown brushed against the stone floor with every hurried step.

“Aiko!” Akihiko called, his voice soft yet insistent, a tether of hope in the chaos of her emotions. “Please… let’s talk.”

Aiko skidded to a halt near the fountain, chest heaving, her tears streaming freely now. Her eyes were blurred by sorrow and confusion. Her heart pounded violently in her chest, as if trying to escape the cage of her ribs.

Akihiko slowed his steps as he approached, his presence steady and calm, a grounding force she didn’t know she needed. Every heartbeat of his seemed to whisper reassurance, yet carried the weight of the confession he was about to make.

“I let you go last time,” he thought, voiceless in the quiet of the night. “But not now. Not anymore. I will not let this moment slip away. Not again.”

He stopped just a few feet away, his calm gaze unwavering as he looked at her. His voice, soft and warm, brushed against her soul.

“Aiko… look at me,” he said, his tone both gentle and firm. “I know it all seems complicated. But it’s not. I don’t want to see you like this. I love you. I don’t want to let you go. Not now, not ever.”

Her entire body froze. Her lips trembled, parted slightly, but no sound came. Her mind raced: "He’s engaged… isn’t he? Why… why is he telling me this now?"

Akihiko tilted his head, his blue eyes softening, yet carrying an unshakeable certainty. “You ran because of Miyu. Like last time. But we are no longer engaged, Aiko. That arrangement… it meant nothing. My heart… has always belonged to you. From the very beginning.”

Aiko’s eyes widened, shock and relief intermingling in a storm of emotions. Her chest loosened slightly as warmth spread through her, chasing away the icy grip of fear and doubt. She wanted to collapse into him, to melt away all the tension she had carried for so long, yet she held herself together, trembling with anticipation.

Akihiko stepped closer, the silence between them thick with unspoken feelings. He gently took her hand and turned her toward him, tentative but deliberate, his touch hovering between them as if asking permission with every heartbeat.

“Aiko…” he whispered, “everything I’ve felt since your return… I’ve kept to myself, afraid of losing you. But you’ve captured me completely. My title, my duties… none of it matters if I can’t be by your side.”

Her breath caught. Her heart raced, yet a bloom of warmth spread through her, filling the empty spaces in her chest. Finally, she found the words, fragile yet sincere.

"I love you..." Said Akihiko again, his eyes looking at hers.

“Akihiko… I… I love you too… Well, you already know that,” she whispered, her voice barely audible but enough to reach him.

A soft smile curved his lips, filled with a tenderness that spoke louder than any words. He drew her close, enveloping her in a protective embrace that let her finally exhale all the fear, sadness, and longing she had kept buried. The world around them melted away—the soft splash of the fountain, the whisper of the wind through the trees, the distant laughter of the celebration—they became nothing more than background music to the symphony of their hearts.

“You don’t have to be a princess here,” Akihiko murmured, his forehead resting lightly against hers. “With me… you are just you. And I will always be here.”

Aiko closed her eyes, feeling the tension in her shoulders slowly dissolve. “I thought I would never see you again…” she breathed, the weight of months, even years, of fear and longing finally breaking free.

“I will never let you go, Aiko,” he promised, gently squeezing her hand. “If you want, I’ll protect you… always.”

Tears slid down her cheeks, warm and unrestrained, but they were not tears of sorrow—they were tears of relief, of joy, of finally finding a safe harbor for her heart. In that moment, all past engagements, misunderstandings, and uncertainties dissolved. There was only them, two hearts beating in perfect, quiet harmony.

Slowly, they leaned toward each other. Hesitation lingered like a fragile thread, yet the pull between them was undeniable. When their lips finally met, a surge of energy burst around them—a swirl of red-orange and white-blue-silver light, spinning and pulsing as though the very air acknowledged their union. Leaves danced in the gentle wind, the fountain sparkled with prismatic colors, and the night sky itself seemed to sigh in approval.

Aiko felt a warmth coursing through her body, a fusion of emotion and power that left her trembling in Akihiko’s arms. He held her gently, protectively, as if wanting to make the world itself shrink to this one perfect moment.

When the kiss ended, they remained close, foreheads touching, breathing in unison. The light around them softened, a quiet halo that pulsed with the promise of their shared future.

From the balcony above, Naoru and Mika noticed the unusual glow emanating from the garden. They froze, eyes wide in awe.

“Look… this isn’t just light,” Naoru whispered, clutching Mika’s hand. “It’s… power. Something extraordinary.”

In the center of the light, which slowly began to fade, stood Akihiko and Aiko.

Mika’s curiosity and bravery softened into awe. “It’s coming from them,” she murmured.

Naoru smiled.

“Finally. I thought he’d let her slip from his hands again.”

Mika nudged him with her elbow.

“Let’s go back inside. Let’s leave them alone, so we don’t accidentally interrupt this moment.”

Naoru offered her his hand, and Mika took it, smiling at him.

“I’m so glad they’re finally together. Let’s go dance a little more.”

Aiko pressed against Akihiko, breathless, voice barely above a whisper. “I missed you so much…”

Akihiko’s hand caressed hers, his smile serene. “I will never let you go again, Aiko.”

He rested his forehead against hers, a playful glint in his eyes. “If you want… you could still choose any prince from the hall.”

Aiko chuckled softly, a laugh that carried the warmth of a thousand sunsets. “I’ve already chosen, Akihiko. This prince is standing right here.”

They both smiled softly and sincerely.

Akihiko embraced her.

“Just so you don’t say I didn’t let you choose…”

Aiko laughed.

“Did you happen to pick up anything from Naoru?”

Akihiko almost stumbled at her words… then gently caressed her face with his hand.

“I just wanted to break some of the nervousness I had inside…”

Their laughter mingled with the night air, light and genuine. Akihiko held her once more, the world around them still alive with a soft, gentle glow—a testament to the love they had fought to claim.

As they slowly returned to the hall, their hands intertwined, their hearts still beating in sync, the bond between them shone brighter than any crown, any title, or any celebration. For the first time, Aiko felt complete—not as a princess, but as herself, with the one who had always belonged by her side.