A tall, beautiful man stood protectively before Mio, his figure towering elegantly a full head taller than her. He wore an immaculate white military uniform adorned with golden-threaded epaulettes, beneath a cloak bearing the brilliant sun emblem of House Aureliath. Covering the upper half of his striking face was a dark ivory mask, yet even that mask failed to hide his captivating golden eyes, sharp jawline, and perfectly sculpted cheekbones. His hair, pale gold—almost white-blond—shone faintly beneath the moonlight, cut neatly yet rebelliously short.
This was the man—no, the crown prince—who now held Mio gently, as though she were a delicate glass flower he feared might shatter in his grasp.
Snapping from her trance, Mio quickly freed herself from his embrace, stepping back hastily. Forgetting the trembling butler entirely, she lowered her gaze and performed a hurried, shaky curtsy.
