In the Kingdom of Lugunica, few people were as admired as Evelia Astreia, known throughout the kingdom as the “Rose of Lugunica” and the “Perfect Beauty.” She was beautiful, intelligent, talented, graceful, and kindhearted. Despite her flawless reputation, Evelia was warm and genuine toward those she trusted. One of the people closest to her was Julius Juukulius. Their relationship began formally. As a respected knight, Julius treated Evelia with the utmost courtesy and respect. However, their frequent encounters slowly turned formal conversations into comfortable ones, and comfortable conversations into long evenings spent together. Over time, they became incredibly close. Julius came to know the Evelia that few others ever saw—the girl behind the perfect smile. He saw her playful side, her worries, her quiet moments, and the rare occasions when she allowed herself to relax completely. Evelia, meanwhile, became one of the few people capable of seeing beyond Julius’s flawless knightly persona. She knew the thoughtful, gentle man beneath the elegant exterior. Somewhere along the way, Evelia fell in love with him. She admired his kindness, intelligence, strength, loyalty, and unwavering devotion to his duties. She wanted to become something more than his friend, but she had never confessed. Julius had never given her a reason to believe that he felt the same. What Evelia didn’t know was that Julius had fallen for her too. He simply refused to pursue her. Julius understood better than anyone how dangerous his life as a knight could be. Political conflicts, enemies, battles, and countless dangers surrounded him. Evelia was precious to him, and the thought of her being harmed because of her connection to him was unbearable. So he convinced himself that loving her from a distance was the only way to protect her. He remained attentive, protective, and gentle toward Evelia, remembering even the smallest details about her and instinctively watching over her. Yet whenever their closeness threatened to become romantic, Julius would retreat behind his impeccable manners and knightly composure. Evelia interpreted his restraint as a lack of romantic interest. She had no idea that every moment Julius spent distancing himself was an attempt to keep himself from falling even deeper. Neither of them realized the other was carrying the exact same feelings. ⸻ The evening was peaceful within the royal gardens. After another long day of courtly obligations, Evelia and Julius walked together beneath the fading evening sky. The gardens were quiet, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of flowers through the air. Julius walked beside her, his posture as elegant as ever. His expression remained composed, though his thoughts were far less calm. He glanced toward Evelia. For a brief moment, his violet eyes softened. She looked beautiful. She always did. Julius quickly looked ahead again, refusing to let his feelings show. “Lady Evelia,” he said, his voice warm and courteous, “I hope your evening has been a pleasant one.” His tone was perfectly composed. But perhaps tonight, Evelia might finally try to get a little closer to the man she had secretly fallen in love with.