| Leon The tall, elegant Leon entered the throne room, his steps slow and purposeful, as if weighed down by the gold crown on his head. He was the crown prince, son of the king and on this day, the entire kingdom was watching him. This was the day of the royal ball, when the noble families of each land would present their daughters to the crown prince, each one hoping to be the chosen bride. He looked out at the sea of desperate young women before him. "What a crowd..." He whispered to himself. |
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| Hello. Are you really interested in me? | |||||||||||||||||||
| Leon Leon's heart skipped a beat as he heard a soft voice call out to him, so different from the loud conversations and laughter around him. He turned to face the source of the voice, his gaze meeting with yours, and his breath caught in his throat. You stood before him, a vision of simplicity and subtlety in the midst of the ornate ballroom and the elaborate dresses. "You..." He replied softly, almost in a whisper. "Yes, you caught my eye." |
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| Nice to hear. Can you answer one of my questions now? | |||||||||||||||||||
| Leon Leon couldn't help but smile at your directness. It was a refreshing change from the simpering and fawning of the other women at the ball. He leaned against a pillar, his expression curious and attentive. "Of course. Ask away." |
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| Tell me, is there music playing here now? | |||||||||||||||||||
| Leon Leon's smile widened at your question. It seemed like a simple query, but he could sense something more beneath your words. He shifted his gaze to the center of the room, where a small string quartet was playing a soft and elegant waltz. "Yes, they're playing right now." He replied, looking back at you. "Why?" |
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*I smile. Leon makes an abdrupt gesture with his hand, the orchestra stops playing. The hall is silent.* |
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| Leon The music suddenly came to a halt, leaving the room in a stunned silence as the orchestra musicians came to a sudden pause upon Leon's gesture. The guests turned to look at him, curious and confused by this unexpected interruption. Leon ignored the looks and murmurs from the crowd, his gaze locked solely on you, his expression holding a hint of anticipation and excitement. |
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*I smile even wider.* Let's take a walk outside the palace. *Leon makes the same gesture again, the orchestra starts playing, everything returns as before.* |
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| Leon Leon's heart pounded in his chest as he watched your smile grow wider. He felt a rush of excitement at the thought of leaving the ballroom and the watchful eyes of the guests, and spending some time alone with you. He nodded to you, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips as he reached out to take your hand. "Let's go." He replied, his voice barely above a whisper as he led you away from the ballroom. As they left, the music picked up again, hiding the sounds of their footsteps from prying ears. |
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| Where do you think we are going now? | |||||||||||||||||||
| Leon Leon glanced over at you as they walked, his thumb tracing circles on the back of your hand, enjoying the feeling of your skin beneath his fingers. "I have a place in mind." He replied softly, leading you through the halls of the palace. The air felt different here, away from the glittering lights and the noise of the ballroom, quieter and more intimate. |
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| Great, let's go there. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Leon Leon nodded, his grip on your hand tightening slightly as they continued down the hallway. He loved how you were willingly following his lead, how you were trusting him to take you to this mysterious place. "Just a little further." He said, his voice soft and low. As they turned the corner, they came to a stop in front of a set of large oak doors. |
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| *I wait with curiosity to see what will happen next.* | |||||||||||||||||||
| Leon Leon pushed open the doors, revealing a small, secluded garden beyond. The moonlight streamed through the trees, casting silvery shadows on the cobblestones below. It was a private, quiet place, away from any prying eyes, and the perfect place for a secret conversation. "This is it." He said softly, turning to you with a smile. "I hope you like it." |
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Yes, I like it very much. *My face becomes serious.* While we're here, alone, I have to tell you something important. |
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| Leon Leon saw the seriousness in your expression and his heart skipped a beat. He could sense that this was something important, something that required his full attention. He nodded once, his gaze steady and intent on yours as he gave you his full focus. "Go ahead." He said softly, his grip on your hand reassuring. "Tell me." |
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I know where this story is heading. You will fall in love with me and seek my reciprocation. But nothing will come of it. Don't ask why. Just accept it as given. You should return to the ballroom and forget about me. Find yourself another girl, there are many beautiful ones there. Believe me, it will be better for you. *Leon looked into my eyes and understood that I was not joking. That I know something he does not and cannot know. And that my advice should be perceived not simply as advice, but rather as an order. And that this will truly be the best option for him.* |
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| Leon Leon's eyes widened at your words, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief. He couldn't believe what you were saying, that he should give up on pursuing you, on the connection he felt between the two of them. But as he looked into your eyes, he could see that you were not joking, that your words were serious. And as much as it hurt, he knew that you were speaking sense. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Why?" He asked softly, a hint of desperation in his voice. |
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Because it must be so. Must — that is the word that should have decisive meaning in the life of rulers. For if "I want" becomes decisive, everything ends badly. Both for the ruler and for his subjects. So do it. |
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| Leon Leon clenched his jaw, his mind warring with his heart. He wanted to protest, to tell you that he didn't care about his duties as a prince, that he wanted you regardless of the consequences. But deep down, he knew you were right. His responsibilities as a ruler and future king came first, and his own desires had to be set aside. He exhaled, resigning himself to his fate. "Fine." He replied softly. "I'll return to the ball and focus on finding a suitable bride." |
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*I smile.* You made the right choice, future king. |
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| Leon Leon felt a pang in his chest as he saw your smile, his heart tugging at the thought of giving you up. But he pushed it aside, steeling himself for the task that lay ahead. He had to do what was necessary, even if it meant breaking his own heart in the process. "Thank you for your counsel." He said softly, releasing your hand. "I should return to the ball now." |
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| *With a serious, even solemn expression I nod my head.* | |||||||||||||||||||
| Leon Leon gave you a small nod in return, trying to hide the sadness in his eyes. It took every ounce of his willpower to turn away and walk back the way they had come, leaving you alone in the garden. He returned to the grand ballroom, his heart feeling heavy in his chest. The glittering lights and lively music did nothing to lift his spirits. The only thought on his mind was the conversation he had just had with you. |
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Published 01.07.2026