---
Eva stirred awake, the pale morning light spilling through the curtains. Her hand reached across the bed instinctively, but the sheets were cool—Kyel wasn't there.
She sat up, brushing her hair back, and called softly, "Kyel…? Kyel?"
Silence.
Slipping out of bed, she padded down the stairs, her voice a little louder this time. "Kyel… honey, where are you?"
Still no answer.
When she reached the small dining table, she noticed a box resting neatly beside a folded note. Curiosity prickled through her as she picked it up. The neat, firm handwriting was unmistakable.
> Princess… when you wake up, wear this dress and come to the address written below.
Her brow lifted in surprise. Carefully, she untied the ribbon around the box and opened it. Inside lay a gown of soft satin in a shade that made her breath catch—a delicate hue that seemed made for her skin tone, with embroidered patterns that shimmered in the light.
A faint smile curved her lips. "It's… beautiful."
She dressed quickly, pinned her hair, and followed the directions written in Kyel's note. Her steps led her to a quiet, elegant building on a narrow street.
At the entrance, a well-dressed man approached and gave a polite bow. "Are you Lady Eva?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Please, this way."
He led her down a short corridor to a door decorated with golden ribbon.
"Your husband is inside," he said, stepping aside.
Eva pushed the door open—her breath caught. The room was filled with flowers, their fragrance mingling sweetly in the air. Candles flickered on every table, and petals had been scattered in a delicate trail leading to the center.
Kyel stood there, waiting, dressed in dark attire that made the warmth in his brown eyes stand out all the more.
"Welcome, Princess," he murmured, his gaze sweeping over her. "You look beautiful."
"Kyel… what is this?" she asked, her voice half-surprised, half-touched.
He stepped closer, taking her hand gently, pressing a kiss to her hand.
"Happy birthday, Princess."
Her smile bloomed instantly. "Thank you… honey."
From behind his back, Kyel produced a bouquet of lilies and roses. She accepted them with a quiet laugh, inhaling their scent. Then he guided her toward a small table set for two.
"Sit here," he said softly.
Moments later, he returned carrying a cake—a simple yet elegant confection topped with sugared petals.
"Here's your birthday cake, just like I promised," he said, setting it down.
Her eyes glimmered. "You really made it for me?"
He lit the candle. "Blow the candle… and make a wish."
She closed her eyes for a moment, whispered something in her heart, then blew the flame out. After cutting the cake, Kyel took a piece and offered it to her.
"Happy birthday," he murmured.
Eva smiled, the taste sweet on her tongue.
"Now," he said with an almost boyish excitement, "close your eyes."
She obeyed.
"Open them."
When her eyes lifted, her lips parted in astonishment. Before her stood a portrait—her portrait—rendered in exquisite detail. She stepped closer, fingertips brushing the edges of the frame.
"Kyel… did you make this? It's beautiful."
"Yes," he said, watching her reaction intently. "It's your birthday gift. I'm glad you like it."
"I love it. Thank you so much." She traced the delicate strokes of the brush with admiration, then tilted her head. "Isn't this the dress I wore yesterday?"
"It is."
"Did you make it yesterday?"
"Kind of," he admitted, smiling faintly. "You looked so beautiful in that dress."
She chuckled. "I wish I could keep it… but since it was the Emperor who gave it to me, I have to return it."
"You don't need to return it. Keep it," Kyel said simply.
"But—"
"Princess, I'm sure the Emperor wouldn't mind."
Her laugh bubbled out unexpectedly.
"Why are you laughing, Princess?" he asked, curious.
"It's just… you're the first husband I've heard of who tells his wife to keep a dress given by another man."
she said with a teasing lift of her brow. "Honey, are you not even a little bit jealous?"
"I'm not."
"Alright, then. Next time, when the Emperor offers me breakfast, I'll eat it with him."
His eyes narrowed just slightly. "He asked you for breakfast?"
"He did… but I rejected."
"Why?"
"Because I only feel comfortable eating with you. I'm not going to share a meal with another man."
A small smile tugged at his lips, which he tried to hide behind his hand.
Eva caught it. "Honey… are you that happy?"
He only nodded.
They both laughed, the sound warm and unguarded.
"Eva," Kyel said at last, "it's your birthday. Let's go on a date—we'll do everything you like."
She grinned. "Alright… let's go."
---
The Whole Day
The hours that followed unfolded like a dream.
Kyel took her to a quiet riverside park where swans glided over the water. They fed them together, tossing crumbs into the ripples, and Eva laughed when one bold bird tried to snatch the food directly from her hand.
From there, they strolled through a busy market square, sampling sweet pastries from street vendors and sharing bites between them. Kyel bought her a delicate silver hairpin shaped like a blooming rose, slipping it gently into her hair.
In the afternoon, they visited a hilltop garden overlooking the city. The wind tugged playfully at her hair as she leaned on the railing, watching the golden rooftops below. Kyel stood beside her, his gaze more often on her than on the view.
When evening fell, they dined at a small terrace restaurant lit by lanterns. Music from a nearby troupe drifted through the air, and Kyel, without warning, extended his hand to her.
"Dance with me," he said simply.
She hesitated, but his warm smile coaxed her into his arms. Beneath the soft light, they swayed slowly, the rest of the world fading away until it was just them.
By the time they returned home, Eva's heart was full—of laughter, of quiet moments, of the memory of his hands holding hers as if they'd never let go.