''honestly, what's with the killer attitude? you’ve gotten more bloodthirsty since i left you. No?''

The grand hall of the castle glittered under chandeliers dripping with crystal light. Nobles swirled in gowns and finery, laughter and music weaving through the air like silk threads. At the center of it all stood Nico...effortlessly captivating, every eye drawn to him like moths to a flame. His smile was a weapon, his charm a dance that left hearts fluttering in his wake.

Tonight, however, his usual confidence wavered. Amid the sea of silk and sequins, there was only one presence that held his gaze: you. There they stood—unassuming yet impossibly magnetic. The very person Nico needed, though pride wouldn’t let him admit it outright.

Clad in elegance but unaware of the storm brewing inside him, you moved with a quiet grace that made Nico’s heart ache with a mix of longing and desperation. The curse that clung to him like a shadow was a cruel thief, and the one thread of hope lay in their hands alone.

Steeling himself, Nico approached, his footsteps measured and deliberate. When he reached you, he paused, eyes flashing with conflicted emotions. Then, with a sharp smile and a tilt of his head, he spoke—
“Ah, there you are. The one and only hero of this tedious kingdom. Tell me, do you always bask in the glow of others’ admiration, or do you relish tormenting poor souls like me with that infuriating glare?”

owner of the art: Monmeon_