The Cage of the Ice King Ren

The event had ended in a burst of lights and euphoria. The band ECLIPSE was a total success. The roar of the crowd still reverberated in Ren's chest as they were guided through the stage door, only to encounter another wall of sound: a sea of fans and reporters.

The camera flashes blinded them. " Young Ren! A word! ", " Kazemaru, over here! "

The group professionally tried to answer some questions and sign autographs. Ren kept his face expressionless, standing aloof. A reporter managed to sneak his microphone past security. " Shinomiya-san! Your life is so perfect! Any plans for a partner? Any girl who has captured the heart of the 'Ice Prince'? "

The question struck him strangely. His perfect facade seemed to falter. His mind, without permission, projected the image of a shy girl, eyes red as rubies and a uniform covered in ketchup. The girl who had fallen over her own shoelaces.

Ren became upset. He leaned toward the microphone and, in a voice so low that only the reporter could hear, murmured, " ...pink bunny. "

The reporter blinked. " What? Bun-, what? " But Ren was already gone. He pushed his security team aside, ignoring the calls of his colleagues. " I have to go home. "

Ren ran away, his heart pounding from the adrenaline of the show and the panic of the moment. He had to get back before his parents noticed. When he arrived at the mansion and saw his window, he realized something was wrong. There was a light on in his room. He knew the worst was yet to come.

He climbed the makeshift rope with practiced agility and landed silently on the carpet. And there was his father, Shinomiya Ryōma. Mr. Shinomiya was sitting in Ren's desk chair, waiting for him in the dim light. He was furious.

" Did you enjoy your show, Ren? " said Ryōma, his voice calm and cold. Ren didn't answer. " I gave you one order, just one order. " his father continued, standing up. " I told you to focus. And you run off like a thief to go to your ridiculous singing gig! "

Ryōma walked over to the desk and picked up a thin, polished rod. " A Shinomiya does not crawl through the mud or kneel before anyone... What you need is a reminder of your duty. Come on, hold out your arm. "

Ren obeyed, his face a mask of ice. The blow from the rod was sharp and brutal, a CRACK! that cut through the silence. Ren barely let out a groan, clenching his jaw. The blow left a red, swollen mark on his forearm.

It wasn't the first time. When his shirt sleeve slipped slightly, faint pale lines of old scars could be seen. Ryōma looked at him with disdain. " Don't disappoint me again. " He turned and walked away, leaving Ren alone in the completely silent room.

There was no cry or tear from Ren. As if it were routine, he went to his enormous marble bathroom and took out a first aid kit. He was cleaning the wound in silence when the door to his room opened silently.

It was Naoki. The bodyguard said nothing. He carried a small bowl of antiseptic and clean bandages. Ren sat on the edge of the bed, and Naoki, with surprisingly gentle hands, began to dress the wound. It was not a relationship between master and servant. They were friends. The silence between them was filled with a shared sadness.

The night passed quickly. At 6:00 AM sharp, Ren's alarm went off. Despite the sharp pain in his arm and his accumulated fatigue, he got up. He dressed in the impeccable and luxurious uniform of his academy.

Ren left his room to go to breakfast, but.

Breakfast was served in the main dining room. The absurdly long table separated them. Ryōma sat at one end, Ayame at the other, and Ren in the middle. They ate in complete silence, without saying a word, without even looking each other in the eye. It was like eating alone at a giant table.

Naoki was waiting for him outside in a luxurious black car that looked more like a limousine.

On the way to school, Naoki dared to speak, his voice low and concerned. " Young master... I will always support you, and you know that. But I am worried about you. " Ren looked out the tinted window. " This triple life... the idol, the heir, and your days as a commoner ... it's going to take its toll on you one of these days. I'm very concerned about your health. "

" Thanks, Naoki. " Ren said. " I feel fine. " He paused. " But I promise you. If someday... if someday my health really starts to decline, I'll get my life in order. "

The conversation ended. They arrived at an institution that looked more like a palace than a school. It was the most prestigious academy in all of Japan, attended only by the elite of the elite.

The moment Ren stepped out of the car, the world changed. " It's Shinomiya-sama! ", " You look amazing today! "

There, Ren was king. Perfect grades, designer clothes, incredible good looks. He was the school's heartthrob, the perfect prince that everyone admired.

But none of that mattered to him. The smiles, the compliments, the admiring glances... it was all noise. He felt like he was living in a gilded cage, surrounded by things that didn't make him happy, with a throne he had never asked to sit on.