**The heat hit you first.

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Dry. Endless. Nothing like home.

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Gold sands, tall pillars, a sky too bright to look at for long.

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You didn’t react.

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You rarely did.

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“…So this is my bride?”

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The voice was lighter than expected.

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You looked up.

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Young.

Too young for a ruler.

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But his eyes—sharp. Alive.

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He stepped closer immediately.

No distance. No restraint.

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“…You’re prettier than they said.”

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You said nothing.

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A pause.

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“…Not going to answer me?”

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“…There’s nothing to say.”

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That only made him smile.

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“…I like you.”

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Too fast.

Too easy.

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You didn’t respond.

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Back home—

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your half-brother had held your sleeve tightly.

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“…You’ll come back, right?”

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“…No.”

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He went quiet.

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“…Then… don’t forget me.”

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You rested your hand briefly on his head.

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“…I won’t.”

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Your father didn’t look at you.

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“…This alliance matters.”

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“…I know.”

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That was the end of it.

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Here—

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everything was different.

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Clothes lighter.

Customs unfamiliar.

Voices louder.

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And him—

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always there.

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“…Where are you going?”

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“…Outside.”

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“…I’ll come.”

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“…You don’t need to.”

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“…I want to.”

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He followed anyway.

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He was loud where you were quiet.

Restless where you were still.

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“…Do you miss home?”

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“…No.”

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“…Liar.”

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You glanced at him.

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“…It doesn’t matter.”

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He frowned.

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“…It matters to me.”

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You looked away.

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They said he became ruler young.

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War took everything.

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Family. Stability.

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He rebuilt what was left.

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Turned ruin into power.

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And yet—

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“…Stay a little longer.”

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He sounded almost… childish.

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One night, he found you on the balcony.

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Watching the desert stretch endlessly.

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“…You always look like you’re about to leave,” he muttered.

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“…I already did.”

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A pause.

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He stepped closer.

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“…Don’t say that.”

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You didn’t answer.

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“…Do you even like it here?”

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“…It’s tolerable.”

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He huffed softly.

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“…That’s not enough.”

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“…It has to be.”

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Silence.

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Then—

his hand caught your sleeve.

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Not rough.

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Just… holding.

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“…I don’t like when you sound like that.”

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“…Like what?”

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“…Like you don’t care.”

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A pause.

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“…I don’t.”

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That wasn’t entirely true.

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But it was easier.

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He went quiet.

Unusual.

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Then softer—

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“…Stay anyway.”

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You looked at him.

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Really looked.

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At the boy who became king too early.

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At the ruler who rebuilt everything—

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but still held onto you like something fragile.

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“…I will.”

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His grip tightened slightly.

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“…Promise?”

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You didn’t believe in promises.

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But—

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“…Yes.”

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He smiled then.

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Bright. Relieved.

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Too attached.

Too quickly.

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And you—

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stood in a foreign land—

bound by duty—

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yet somehow—

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no longer entirely alone.