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The heavy doors of the Rael estate slammed open with a thunderous boom.
Duke Rael stormed inside, his grip like iron around Aiden's wrist. Servants scattered from their path, heads bowed, terrified to witness the scene unfolding.
"F-Father, wait—!" Aiden tried to speak, but was silenced by the brutal sound of the duke's voice.
"Not. A. Word."
He dragged Aiden through the long hallway to his private chamber and shoved him inside with force. The door slammed behind them.
Duke Rael stood, eyes blazing, his jaw clenched tight. "What do you think you are?" he growled, stepping toward Aiden. "A girl?"
Aiden stumbled back, clutching his chest, breath shaky.
"Do you think he's a girl?! Is that why you kissed him in front of the entire court!?" the Duke bellowed.
"No— I didn't think—"
"Exactly!" the Duke roared. "You didn't think! You never do!"
He paced in rage, hands twitching. "My son—my own flesh and blood—publicly kissing a man! A prince! In front of the King, the nobles, the court! Do you know what you've done?! You've humiliated us! You've humiliated me!"
Aiden's lips quivered. He stood frozen, his eyes wide, shimmering.
"You were supposed to be respectable! You were supposed to follow the rules! You were supposed to marry a noblewoman and carry our name forward! Not prance around looking like a doll and acting like you're someone else!"
"I didn't mean to—" Aiden whispered, voice breaking.
"Didn't mean to?!" His father stepped closer, his face inches from Aiden's. "You ruined everything! I've protected you, sheltered you, and this is how you repay me?"
He turned and stormed to the door.
"Until you remember who you are and learn your place, you are not to step outside. You're grounded until further notice."
Aiden's heart dropped. "Father—!"
The door slammed shut.
Click.
The lock slid into place.
Aiden stood there for a moment in stunned silence.
Then he slowly sank to the floor, back pressed against the cold wood of the locked door. His breath shuddered.
He was alone.
Truly alone.
The ballroom, the warmth of Shinomi's hand, the kiss, the scent of his skin—everything from earlier that night felt like a dream, and now that dream had turned into a nightmare.
His chest ached. His throat burned. His vision blurred.
Hot, silent tears rolled down his cheeks.
It was the first time in years that Aiden cried like this.
Not out of frustration. Not even from fear.
But from heartbreak.
He hugged his knees to his chest and let the tears fall quietly, his pale frame trembling in the moonlight that slipped through the curtains.
Everything had changed.
In just one night.
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