Stolen Moments Under Moonlight

Aiko sat quietly at the grand dining hall table, her fingers brushing the rim of her teacup as she tried to focus on her mother’s gentle gaze and her father’s animated words about the palace gardens. Yet, her mind betrayed her. She kept glancing at the doors, her heart skipping each time she imagined Akihiko and Naoru entering. Just a little longer… please let them arrive already, she thought, her pulse fluttering like delicate wings in her chest. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of Mom and Dad… just stay composed.

When the doors finally swung open, Aiko felt her stomach flip. Akihiko stepped in first, his posture unwavering, his gaze calm yet piercing. Naoru followed, grinning theatrically, performing a slight bow toward her parents.

“I hope you weren’t bored. The prince gave it his all,” Naoru said, voice carrying through the hall like a performance meant to tease.

Aiko felt her cheeks burn instantly. She bit her lip, attempting to hide the small, involuntary smile that tugged at her lips. Akihiko’s eyes flicked to hers for just a heartbeat—a spark of electricity passing silently between them—before he turned to sit beside her parents, restoring his serene composure. Even just a glance, and my heart… she thought, swallowing the heat rising in her chest.

The proximity was nearly unbearable. Each subtle movement of his hand, the faint brush of their knees under the table, the warmth radiating from him—Aiko could feel it all, a magnetic pull she struggled to resist. Stay calm. Don’t show it. Father and Mother would notice any hint of… She swallowed hard.

King Kaito leaned back, raising a single eyebrow, his expression a perfect mixture of curiosity and subtle amusement. “You two are glowing today. I must say… that kind of glow doesn’t come from the sun, but from… something far more personal.”

Aiko’s blush deepened, her teacup suddenly a convenient shield. Akihiko, maintaining his princely mask, pressed her hand under the table a little tighter, a subtle wink that spoke volumes: mask on, princess.

Naoru barely managed to hold back a laugh, Ren nearly lost control of his giggle, and Hanae and Emiko exchanged maternal smiles full of unspoken understanding. Aiko caught Mika at the far end of the table, who gave a small, knowing smirk, her eyes sparkling with the mischief of someone who had seen this all before. Mika… is she teasing me too? Aiko thought, trying not to squirm.

Akihiko glanced at his father, his face calm, composed, but there was a playful glint in his eyes. He released Aiko’s hand so she could rest it gently on her shoulder, his voice steady and sincere:

“Father… if I am glowing, it’s because the woman I love sits beside me. No matter how obvious the reason, I am not ashamed to admit it.”

A hush fell over the hall. Aiko’s heart jumped. Her cheeks flamed hot, but this time, the heat was from warmth, not embarrassment. She could feel the weight of his words settle in her chest like sunlight on her skin. He… he really means it. Just for me…

Naoru pressed his lips together, suppressing a laugh. Ren stifled a snort, and Mika’s playful smirk deepened, clearly enjoying the little drama. Even the king’s faint nod and thoughtful expression seemed to acknowledge the moment with subtle approval, though the mischievous glimmer in his eyes warned that he hadn’t lost the urge to tease.

King Kaito leaned back, lifting his goblet slightly, his voice calm yet teasing: “Very well, Akihiko. I see you stand by your words. But… let me remind you, you are married now. And if you continue to glow like this, everyone will know you’re more active at night than during the day.”

Aiko’s eyes widened in panic, nearly sinking under the table. She could feel Akihiko’s hand squeeze hers gently under the cloth, his silent reassurance grounding her racing heart. She stole a glance at Miko, whose eyes gleamed with delight at the unfolding embarrassment. She’s enjoying this too… oh no…!

Akihiko raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly at his father. “Perhaps that is the secret of my strength, Father.”

Aiko felt her cheeks burn again, but this time, pride mingled with the blush—a spark of happiness igniting in her chest. He really does care… just for me…

Later, when the palace gardens were quiet and deserted, Aiko’s thoughts were all but free to wander. The twin moons cast a soft glow over the neatly trimmed hedges, illuminating Akihiko’s face as he reached for her hands and pressed them gently to his chest.

“Aiko,” he whispered, his voice almost blending with the rustle of leaves, “today I realized again how precious you are to me. Everything you are, everything you’ve given me… I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Aiko’s chest swelled with a warmth that had nothing to do with the evening chill. She met his gaze, shyly smiling. All the words in the world… none could compare to this… this closeness, this moment.

Their foreheads touched, a gentle kiss brushing first her temple, then her lips. A tremor of longing passed through her as she returned it, pressing closer, hearts synchronizing with every beat.

Every glance, every breath, every subtle brush of skin carried unspoken promises. In this moonlit sanctuary, the world shrank to just the two of them. There was only Akihiko and Aiko, the heat of their hearts and the tender, growing desire that whispered softly between them.

I am home, Aiko thought, finally… I am home.

When they returned to the palace, the gilded halls and the polite smiles of courtiers forced them back into their practiced manners. Akihiko’s hand brushed Aiko’s occasionally, fleeting touches hidden beneath the formality of royal etiquette. They laughed politely, joined conversations, and followed the expected rituals—but each fleeting glance, each near-touch, reminded them that the world outside their private moments could never contain what existed between them.

Finally, when the moon had risen high and the palace had quieted, they slipped away to their royal chamber. There, the pretense fell away. The doors closed behind them, and the chamber became their own world—a space where only they existed.

No eyes to judge, no words to explain, no expectations. Just Akihiko and Aiko, together, hearts and hands intertwined, wrapped in the gentle warmth of their shared presence. Here, in this small sanctuary, the glow that had threatened to betray them in the dining hall could shine freely, unguarded and unabashed. In their world, there was nothing but the rhythm of two hearts learning to beat as one.