The ballroom was suffocating.

  Theo lingered near the entrance, watching from a distance as Cassius moved through the crowd with practiced ease. He wore his prince’s mask well—smiling, laughing at the right moments, every word and gesture polished to perfection. The Cassius everyone wanted. The Cassius they expected.

  Theo let out a breath, a quiet scoff to himself. He’s fine. Just as he should be.

  Satisfied, he turned and slipped out of the hall unnoticed.

  The terrace was quieter, the air cooler. He loosened his collar slightly, letting himself breathe. Just for a moment.

  Then—footsteps.

  "You know," Cassius drawled, stepping up beside him, "it’s almost impressive how consistent you are at leaving my birthday celebrations."

  Theo huffed, shaking his head. "You always find me. Almost makes it feel pointless to leave."

  Cass grinned. "That’s because I like a challenge."

  Theo side-eyed him. "Or maybe you just like annoying me."

  "That too." Cassius held out a hand, palm up. "So? Where’s my present?"

  Theo gave him a blank look. "It’s in front of you."

  Cass blinked, glancing around the empty terrace before frowning. "Where?"

  Theo pointed at himself. "Right here."

  Cass stared. "Are you serious?"

  "Consider me the best birthday present you’ll ever get," Theo said, deadpan. "You won’t see me at any other royal event. Yet, here I am."

  Cass let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head. "That’s a terrible gift."

  "You’re welcome," Theo said dryly.

  Cass was still grinning when he leaned against the railing, looking Theo up and down. "Well, I guess it is a rare sight. Theodore Nathaniel Louis Harrington willingly attending a royal event." His smirk softened into something more genuine. "Congratulations, by the way. Your shelter—it's really something."

  Theo exhaled through his nose. "You actually read the reports?"

  "I watched the reports," Cass corrected. "Everyone’s talking about it. How it’s not just surviving but actually succeeding."

  Theo crossed his arms. "Surprised?"

  Cass shrugged. "Not at all. I knew you’d pull it off."

  Theo glanced away, pretending the warmth in his chest wasn’t there. "Well, it’s still standing. That’s what matters."

  "Not just standing, thriving." Cass nudged his shoulder lightly. "You should be proud."

  Theo didn’t respond right away. Compliments weren’t something he was used to accepting. Instead, he gave Cass a dry look. "If you’re going to flatter me all night, I really should’ve gotten you a present."

  Cass chuckled. "Oh, don’t worry. I’m still expecting a real one."

  Theo shook his head, exasperated. "You really don’t let things go, do you?"

  "Not when it comes to you."

  The words hung in the air, heavier than they should be. Cass didn’t take them back.

  Instead, he sighed, turning his gaze to the city beyond the palace walls. "Why are you out here, anyway?"

  Theo exhaled slowly. "I could ask you the same thing. Shouldn’t the star of the night be inside, soaking up the attention?"

  Cass hummed. "I’m out here to find my comfort. To talk with you." He met Theo’s gaze, something quieter in his voice. "It’s real. Not scripted."

  Theo held his stare before shaking his head. "And you’re still talking like a prince."

  Cass smiled at that but didn’t move. He lingered, hands tucked into the pockets of his suit, not quite ready to step back inside.

  Theo groaned. "Cass, you have to go back in. I already showed my face. Don’t make me socialize any longer than necessary."

  "You could just stay out here," Cass mused.

  "And suffer? No thanks." Theo narrowed his eyes. "Besides, people are probably looking for you by now. You’re the birthday boy. Go let them fawn over you."

  Cass smirked. "You could fawn over me instead."

  Theo gave him an unimpressed look. "I’d rather let the ballroom catch fire."

  Cass laughed, but he still didn’t move. He let his weight settle against the railing, watching Theo like he had all the time in the world.

  Theo sighed. "You know, the longer you’re out here, the higher the chances someone will come looking for you. And if they find us alone together, you know what the headlines will say?" He held up his hands in mock dramatics. "Scandal: Prince Cassius Sneaks Away with Mysterious Man—Are They in Love? A Royal Affair?"

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  Cass gave a thoughtful nod. "Could be good for my image."

  "Or it could cause an international crisis," Theo shot back.

  Cass smirked. "Sounds fun."

  Theo groaned, rubbing his temple. "For the love of—go back inside."

  Cass laughed again, shaking his head, but finally, finally stepped back. "Fine. I’m going." He lingered just a second longer, then turned and headed toward the ballroom doors.

  Theo followed his step afterward. Try to get inside ballroom.As he reached for the handle, his fingers brushed against something inside his pocket. The small, unremarkable shape of a key.

  He stilled for half a second, thumb tracing over its edges.

  Not now.

  Soon.

  Then, with one last glance over his shoulder, Cass slipped back inside.

  ---

  The night stretched on. The ballroom had emptied little by little, until only the most persistent guests remained—royals lingering in quiet conversations, ministers discussing politics even at a party. Edric was still caught up with some foreign dignitaries, ever the perfect diplomat, leaving Theo untethered.

  So, he wandered.

  The palace was too grand, too polished, too gilded for his taste. Every hallway was pristine, every chandelier glowing with calculated warmth. He could hear the faint notes of string music from the ballroom, laughter still echoing off the marble floors. But as he drifted further from the main halls, the sound dulled into a distant murmur.

  He barely had time to realize how deep into the palace he’d gone when a familiar voice cut through the quiet.

  "You really do have a habit of slipping away."

  Theo turned to see Cassius leaning against the doorway, watching him with that knowing smirk.

  "Hard to slip away when no one’s looking for me," Theo deadpanned.

  Cass raised an eyebrow. "I was looking."

  Theo sighed. "Shouldn’t you be basking in the afterglow of your royal celebration?"

  Cass shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe I wanted to show you something."

  Theo narrowed his eyes. "That sounds like the start of a murder."

  Cass laughed, shaking his head. "Come on."

  Theo didn’t resist when Cass grabbed his wrist, guiding him further into the palace. The halls changed as they walked—less pristine, less grand. The polished gold softened into something older, untouched. Dust clung to the air, and the ornate designs on the walls looked faded with time.

  Theo glanced around. "Alright, I’ll bite. Why are you taking me to the abandoned part of the palace? Gonna kill me and dismember my body so no one ever finds me?"

  Cass snorted. "Not planning on killing you, no."

  "Oh, good. That really reassures me."

  Cass glanced over his shoulder, his smirk softer now. "I did say you were my favorite person, didn’t I?"

  Theo rolled his eyes. "Great. Love being the favorite of someone who might secretly be a serial killer."

  Cass only hummed, continuing down the hall. "Besides," he mused, "if you were gone… who would challenge me?"

  Theo scoffed. "I’m sure there’s a long line of people waiting to annoy you."

  Cass shook his head. "Not like you do."

  Theo hesitated for just a second before covering it with sarcasm. "Wow. That was almost sentimental. Should I be concerned?"

  Cass chuckled but didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he pushed open a heavy wooden door, revealing a dimly lit room beyond.

  "Come on," Cass said again, stepping inside.

  Theo lingered for a moment longer before following.

  ---

  The moment he stepped inside, Theo felt it.

  It was untouched, forgotten by time, yet thick with something heavy. The air carried the scent of dust and old stone, the faintest trace of something lost. The walls, once grand, were cracked and worn, shadows stretching across them like old scars.

  "No one comes here," he murmured, brushing his fingertips over the fractured wall. "It’s forbidden. Legacy curse, they say."

  "Oh? What, did some poor prince get bricked up behind this thing?"

  Cass huffed a quiet laugh. "No. There’s a myth about it." He glanced over his shoulder. "You know Thisbe and Pyramus?"

  Theo scoffed, trying to ground himself in sarcasm. "Know it? Please." He gestured at himself. "I may look like a diplomatic royal, but when it comes to ancient Greek history? I’m a nerd."

  Cass smiled, just a little. "Then I suppose you already know—"

  "Pyramus and Thisbe were lovers separated by a wall," Theo cut in, arms crossing. "They spoke through a crack, the only connection they had. Until one day, when they tried to meet, everything went wrong. Blood, tragedy, dramatic endings—real classic love story."

  "Dramatic, yeah," he murmured. "But at least they had that—something that was theirs."

  Theo swallowed.

  "I don’t remember the first time I came here," Cass admitted after a moment. "But it’s always felt… familiar." He exhaled. "Safe. Comfortable. Real."

  Cass gestured toward the cracked wall. "This place—it feels familiar. Like I’ve stood here before. Maybe, in another life, I was Thisbe. And you can be Pyramus!"

  Theo huffed. "If I’m the Pyramus who has to die for you, I’d rather kill you first."

  Cass’ grin was sharp. "Romantic."

  "Practical," Theo corrected.

  Cass chuckled, but his expression softened. His fingers brushed lightly against the cracked wall, his gaze distant. "But really," he murmured, "they spent their lives speaking through a fracture in the stone. Always close, never together. That kind of love—it lingers, doesn’t it?"

  Theo didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.

  Cass’ voice dropped lower. "Maybe it never truly fades."

  He looked at Cass, at the way the light caught in his eyes, at the way he stood so easily in a place that made Theo feel like he couldn’t breathe.

  "That’s depressing," Theo muttered.

  Cass only smiled. "It’s Evouraí."

  A love that never fades.

  Theo looked away.

  Because if he didn’t—he wasn’t sure what he might do.

  A love that never fades.

  Theo exhaled slowly, steadying himself. He could still feel the faint warmth of Cassius’ words lingering in the air. Always close, never together. He hated it. Hated that it struck something deep in him, something raw and aching.

  He reached into his pocket. His fingers brushed against metal—small, unremarkable, cool against his skin.

  The key.

  Cassius turned to him then, eyes expectant but patient. Like he wasn’t in a rush to leave, like he’d stay here as long as Theo needed.

  Theo clenched his jaw.

  This was a mistake. Maybe he should just walk away. Pretend this night never happened. Pretend he wasn’t standing here, feeling like something was unraveling inside him.

  But instead, he reached out.

  Cassius blinked as Theo grabbed his wrist—not rough, not hesitant, just firm enough to make him stop. And then, before Cassius could ask what he was doing, Theo pressed something into his palm.

  Metal. Cool and solid against skin.

  Cassius looked down, fingers curling instinctively around the object. A small, simple key.

  His breath caught.

  For a second, he just stared at it, rolling it between his fingers.

  Then, quietly, “Theo…?”

  Theo pulled back, already regretting this. He crossed his arms, looking away. "Don’t make a big deal out of it."

  Cassius let out a soft, breathy laugh, shaking his head. "You know me. I make a big deal out of everything."

  Theo sighed. "I mean it, Cass."

  Cassius turned the key over in his hand, gaze flicking between it and Theo, realization dawning in his eyes.

  “…This is for your shelter, isn’t it?”

  Theo swallowed, then nodded once.

  Cassius was silent. Not because he didn’t understand—but because he did.

  Theo shifted on his feet, forcing nonchalance into his voice. "It’s practical. In case you need—” He stopped, exhaling sharply. "Figure it out."

  Cassius didn’t look away from him.

  Didn’t speak.

  Didn’t joke.

  Just stood there, holding the key like it was something fragile, something breakable.

  And then, finally, so quiet it almost wasn’t there—

  "Okay."

  Theo nodded, once, briskly. "Good."

  Then he turned, stepping away, putting space between them before he changed his mind.

  Cassius watched him go, fingers tightening around the key.

  It was small. Simple.

  But to him, it felt like the most valuable thing he’d ever been given.

  ---