𖹭 Prologue 𖹭
The golden sunlight that slipped through the window gently lit up the imperial palace music room in the afternoon.
Inside the music room, a black grand piano reflected the light neatly, showing its elegant presence. In front of it, a man and a woman were sitting side by side.
“Pieria.”
It was a low and soft voice, but it carried a power that could not be ignored. Helision’s tone struck Pieria’s heart like a sharp bow brushing across violin strings.
Helision’s gaze turned toward Pieria. Sunlight pouring through the tall window made his golden hair shine brilliantly, and his deep, calm light green eyes captured her completely.
As if giving her no chance to escape.
“I have a piece I want to play together with you.”
A faint smile appeared on his face. It still held the dignity of the Crown Prince, but there was also a deep longing hidden inside.
“…What kind of piece is it?”
Pieria asked in a small voice, pressured by his intense gaze. But Helision only smiled calmly and answered.
“A piece that will be completed by your hands.”
His tone was certain, as if the ending was already decided.
Helision gently brushed the piano keys with his fingertips and whispered.
“Without you, this piece has no meaning.”
Soon after, a delicate and emotional melody flowed from his fingers.
The melody slowly grew deeper and filled the room. It sounded like strong emotions being carefully hidden, or like a heartfelt confession being shyly revealed.
Starting softly, then becoming deeper, the music felt like an unspoken confession of his heart.
Pieria, losing herself in the melody, thought in a dazed way.
‘Who would have known the Crown Prince, called the “Blood-stained Daffodil,” could play the piano like this?’
He was known throughout the empire as a perfect and ruthless Crown Prince, someone who made cold decisions without hesitation. But right now, sitting at the piano, he looked like a different kind of ruler—one who chose music instead of swords, sound instead of war.
The music blooming from his fingertips felt tragic yet beautiful, like a red-stained daffodil shining in the light.
As far as Pieria knew, only two kinds of people could play like this.
A genius… or someone with extremely deep feelings.
At that moment, she realized what this piece was.
<Fantasia for Four Hands>
A piece said to represent Schubert’s deepest artistic essence. A duet meant to be played by two people, where their hands constantly brush against each other while performing. And—
A piece dedicated to Caroline, the student Schubert loved unrequitedly.
“Fantasia for Four Hands” was more than just music. And right now, his intention in asking her to play this was too obvious.
“……!”
Pieria’s face turned bright red. As if noticing her reaction, Helision’s gaze landed on her.
He slowly reduced the speed of his playing. Then he stopped and moved his lips very slowly.
“Don’t you want to ask why I chose this piece?”
His voice was low and soft, but it carried a weight that could not be refused.
Pieria slowly raised her head, drawn by his gaze. His light green eyes, like fresh spring leaves, were fixed only on her, as if the rest of the world no longer existed.
He slowed the music again, then stopped once more.
“If you want to know the reason… then follow me until the piece ends.”
Helision turned his gaze back to the piano. His fingers gently moved over the white keys.
He first.
Then she.
The performance began.
A fragile melody that felt like it could break at any moment.
The music repeated its phrases, but neither of them had time to care. Every breath, every moment, their senses were tightly focused on each other.
Soon after.
His right hand reached toward her.
“….”
“….”
Their hands brushed.
“!”
Pieria gasped, forgetting she was even playing.
‘Were Helision’s hands always this big?’
Just a slight distraction, and she felt like she would be completely caught by him. It was a tension like being pulled into a strong magnet. His hand, now very close, lightly brushed over the keys playfully before moving away.
The music became more intense.
Pieria placed her hand on the keys, responding to his invitation. Their hands followed each other, creating complex harmonies. In the flow of the performance, their hands gently touched again.
Pieria’s heart beat faster.
Too… close.
The feeling of him right beside her spread through her entire body from her fingertips. Her breathing became slightly shorter, but she could not stop playing. Helision deliberately slowed the tempo, keeping her attention locked on him.
“Don’t be nervous, Pieria. The music you play will sound like the most beautiful thing in the world.”
His low voice melted into her ear more sweetly than any melody.
The piano music grew softer and sweeter, and just before the climax, their hands touched again.
“……!”
This time, it was not just a brush.
His fingers stayed on her fingertips for a moment.
Pieria looked up in surprise. His light green eyes were staring deeply at her.
There was something in his gaze beyond music. As if she was the entire world to him.
“This piece will never be completed.”
“……”
“Without you.”
The moment he finished speaking, the piano melody reached its end perfectly.
The sound faded, leaving only a quiet tension between them. Helision gently smiled and held out his hand to her.
As Pieria looked up unconsciously, she saw his neatly curved eyes already waiting for her. As if he had always been looking at her.
“Now you understand, right? This piece is for you and me.”
His light green eyes felt like a vast field covering her completely. Pieria froze, seeing herself reflected in his gaze.
Had his eyes always been this intense?
Helision narrowed his eyes slightly and stepped closer. He gently took her hand.
Pieria felt her whole body warm under that slight pressure.
“Pieria, you are already part of my melody. So you cannot leave me.”
It was close enough to hear each other’s heartbeat. His sweet voice tickled her ears.
“….”
Pieria lowered her head quickly, hiding her flushed face, feeling as if her feelings were completely exposed.
She could avoid his longing gaze, but she could not escape the fresh citrus scent coming from him.
After a moment of hesitation, words slipped out of her lips as if they had been prepared long ago.
“…Alright.”
As she answered, she realized something. Just like him, the only person she could ever play this piece with was Helision.
“Maybe playing together was just an excuse.”
He said in a low voice.
“Honestly, I just wanted you to stay by my side.”
His smiling face shone like the sunlight of May. His already radiant face looked as if golden dust had been scattered over it.
With her heart beating wildly, everything else faded into the background, and only Helision remained in her vision.
Ah… this is trouble.
She only wanted to devote herself to music, so how did she end up in a relationship like this with him?
To understand that, we must go a little further back in time.
