Young Aiden: "Daddy?"

The young toddler peeked through the opening of the door and saw his father having a conversation with someone.

Arthur: "A-Aiden?..."

Aiden pushed the door and took small but cute steps towards his father.

However, the toddler stopped in his tracks when he noticed his father wearing such an upset look on his face. It was almost like he was on the verge of tearing up.

Young Aiden: "Daddy, what's wrong?"

Man: "Your Majesty..."

Arthur: "No...please leave us..."

The man, who were also in the room, nodded and left the room in a hurry. Aiden curiously eyed him leaving the room before he looked back at Arthur.

Aiden: "What were you talking about? Aiden wants to know too..."

King Arthur took in a deep breath and replied in a calm manner.

Arthur: "Aiden...you know your older brother-"

Aiden: "Big Brother?? Aiden haven't seen him for so long!! Is he coming back??"

At that moment, King Arthur couldn't hold it back anymore and tears streamed down his cheeks. Aiden was shocked and exclaimed.

Aiden: "Why are you crying, Daddy?? Did Aiden do something wrong??"

Arthur: "N-No...no, Aiden...It's not your fault at all..."

King Arthur bend down to Aiden's level and unexpectedly hugged him as his tears continued to fall.

Arthur: "I'm sorry, Aiden...but older brother will not be seeing us anymore..."

Aiden: "What? Why??"

Arthur: "He's...gone..."

The young toddler was speechless.

He took a while to comprehend what his father was saying and why he was so emotional.

Arthur: "*Sniffs* I'm so sorry, son..."

Young Aiden didn't say anything. He just stood there and listened to his father's cries. That was the first time...when he understood the true feeling of lost and trauma...

<Back at the balcony...>

After spilling about his brother's passing, Moon's eyes widened as it came as a shock to her.

Moon: "I'm so sorry, Aiden. I didn't know! I apologise for my rudeness!"

Moon felt extremely bad for Aiden but he just shook his head in disagreement.

Aiden: "No, it's fine. It's all in the past already."

Aiden's tone suddenly turned sadder than usual. Moon was so used to seeing him joyful all the time that she didn't realised what he has been hiding behind his kind smile.

But at the same time, curiosity got the best of her. Moon gathered her courage and asked.

Moon: "How old were you when he passed?"

Aiden turned his gaze and looked at Moon. He gave her a sad smile.

Aiden: "I was only 5 years old when that incident happened."

Moon: He was so young...no child should be experiencing this at such a young age...

Aiden: "You're curious, aren't you?"

Moon: "Huh? Umm...well... *Sighs* I would be lying if I said I wasn't..."

Aiden let out a short laugh.

Aiden: "*Laughs* You should have said so."

There he goes again. The same expression and laugh he makes when he's around Moon.

Aiden has always stayed positive and even kept his own feelings locked away in his heart. He never complains nor blamed anyone, and...Moon admired that about him.

Moon: "But Aiden...are you worried about sharing this information with me? This is quite personal..."

Aiden: "Why would I be worried? Besides...you're a person I can trust with my own problems..."

Moon gave a shy smile in return as Aiden continued on with his story.

Aiden: "Even though I can't remembered everything about my brother, I always knew how caring he would towards me. He would used to play with me in the gardens, along with Clare. The three of us were so close back then..."

Aiden looked down at his hands.

Aiden: "...That was until, my adventurous brother went out to sea with my father's most trusted sail mans. I was told that there was a storm and the boat capsized. My Father also sent out searchers but couldn't find any casualties. My brother and everyone on the boat were then considered dead..."

Aiden felt so tense at that point of time that when he tried to continue, he struggled with his words as if there was a knot in his throat.

Without thinking twice, Moon took his hand and held it tightly. Surprise, Aiden looked at her.

Moon: "It's alright, take your time. You don't have to rush."

A slight shade of pink could be seen on his cheeks. Feeling uneasy, he let the night breeze cool him down and went on.

Aiden: "After my brother's passing, I grew up alongside my father. Since I was the only heir and hope left in the family, he made sure I was educated well. Although we were close, he was always preoccupied with kingdom duties...which left me alone to take care of myself..."

Hearing the word 'Alone'. Moon thought that she and Aiden may have something in common after all...

Moon: "What about your mother?"

Moon immediately covered her mouth. She didn't expect those words to slip off her mouth but it was too late.

Aiden: "Oh yes...my mother. She died a month after my birth. So, I never really got to meet her personally. But hearing about her from my father and the castle staffs, she must have been such an honest and loving woman. The whole of Dawnville cherished her and mourned for the loss of their Queen. I can't imagine how hurt my father was..."

Moon: "Oh no...I'm so sorry, Aiden. I shouldn't have asked."

Aiden: "Why are you apologising? I gave you the permission to ask if you were curious."

Aiden took a quick glance at Moon before looking up at the sky.

Aiden: "Do you see that?"

Moon lifted her head and stared up.

Moon: "Do you mean the Moon?"

Aiden: "You are not wrong, but I was actually referring to the stars."

Moon: "The stars?"

Aiden: "Yes. Every time I looked out from my room and stare at the dark sky, the first thing I would first see is, aside from the Moon, but the stars..."

The Moon and the Stars...Now that it was brought up, Moon noticed that she had been so focused on the bigger images, that she had never put her attention to the smaller things in life.

The stars had always been up there accompanying the Moon and they are both equally bright in their own ways too.

Aiden: "Stars are symbols of lives. I thought, if my older brother was one of those stars, is he looking down on me right now? It makes me excited just thinking about that...but I know it's dumb to say the least..."

Moon: Aiden...

It was clear that Aiden feel very lonely and regretful as he missed his brother dearly. Moon always thought she was the one suffering from loneliness, but she was wrong.

Moon finally realised that all this while, she was just being selfish. She had both her parents alive with her right now and yet, she haven't shown them her fullest gratitude. And...she had never payed attention to the ones who cared about her the most...

Moon could not take it anymore and immediately embraced Aiden.

Moon: "Aiden, you are an amazing person. You're selfless and kind-hearted. I believe your brother and mother, wherever he is right now, is immensely proud of the person you have become...and so am I..."

Aiden, who was still in shock, hugged her back with shaky hands.

Aiden: "Thank you, Moon..."

As they broke their hug, both of them peered into each other's eyes. This time, the feeing was different.

Both their hearts fluttered with their cheeks flushed red. Their faces inches apart.

Aiden: "Moon...can I ask you something?"

Moon: "Yes, what is it...?"

His tone sounded so serious. Moon felt her heart pounding continuously in her chest as she anticipated his response.

Aiden: "I know this is going to be sudden and straightforward. But...would you believe me if I said...I like you?"

Moon's eyes widened like huge plates when Aiden said those three exact words. She blushed even harder than before.

Moon: "No, no! Of course not! You must be joking right? I mean...why would someone like you, like me? Haha..."

Aiden: "Why would you say that?"

Moon: "What...?"

Aiden took a step forward.

Aiden: "I was not joking at all, you know."

Moon: "I'm not sure if you're telling the tru-"

Suddenly, Aiden grabbed Moon's wrist which shocked her.

Aiden: "Listen."

Moon: "Hey! Let go of me!"

Aiden: "I really like you. For real. I'm not sure if my feelings are matured but I just can't stop thinking about you, ever since I first met you in your castle's garden."

Moon froze right on the spot. Her cheeks remained the same redness as before. Did Aiden really confessed to her...?

Aiden: "Do you...feel the same way?"

Those words struck her heart. Did Moon really had feelings for Aiden? The same way he feels for her?

She then gave the only response she could think of...

Moon: "I...don't know..."

Moon could see the hint of sadness across Aiden's face. She immediately replied.

Moon: "Please Aiden, don't misunderstand. It's just...every time I'm around you, my heart starts beating rapidly. But I'm unsure if my feelings are as mature as yours..."

As she finished her sentence, Aiden gently took her hand and placed it over his chest.

Aiden: "Is it beating rapidly like mine?"

Moon could feel his heart pounding in his strong chest. He really was telling the truth.

Aiden: "Forgive me from doing this."

Moon: "Huh? What are you—mmph!"

That was when Aiden's lips came crashing down onto Moon's. Surprise, she tried to pushed him away but his grip was too strong.

Moon shut her eyes, hoping it would end. However, his soft touch acted like a spell that actually calmed her down and she melted into the kiss.

As they pulled away from each other, their cheeks became as hot as fire.

Moon: "Aiden, I..."

Moon was about to say something when Aiden stopped her.

Aiden: "You don't have to give me an answer now. I want you to think about it until you're ready."

He leaned forward again but this time, he placed a kiss on her forehead.

Aiden: "Goodnight, Moon..."

Aiden smiled before hurriedly leaving the balcony.

Moon was still red and her heart still beating as she still haven't got over the kiss.

Moon: WAIT A MINUTE! DID I REALLY JUST HAD MY FIRST KISS WITH AIDEN?! This must be a dream...this must be a dream! What do I do???

Moon paced back and forth. She was legitimately freaking out on the inside and it has no controls.

First, a backstory about his family and then a confession??!!

Moon: Have I...really fallen for Aiden???

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

<Meanwhile...>

As Moon continued on with her own crazy and uncontrollable thoughts, she was oblivious about her own surroundings....

Moon: "What do I do??"

A particular merman stood at the beach, with his head looking right at Moon on the balcony.

His face wore an expressionless look, with his hands clenched into balls of fists. He smirked.

Orion: "Idiot...who does she think she is? *Sighs* I guess nothing can be done now."

He then turned around and went back straight into the ocean, without looking back at her.

Orion: "She's a human, Orion. Don't forget that. This was always bound to happen..."

Orion stopped and without thinking, turned back to the balcony. However, the princess was not standing there anymore.

He brought his hand up to his heart and clenched it as his expressionless face turned into anger and misery...

Orion: But why do I feel like punching that guy in the face?

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To be continued...

Heyo everyone! It's Chewy! Thank you for reading this chapter and I hope you all have enjoyed it! I apologise to those who have asked me why I have been so inactive. Well, I have been busy with my own personal things so I had to put a hiatus to my writing for a while. But that doesn't mean I won't continue this story! Writing is a hobby of mine and it's something I do when I'm free or bored. Anyways, I should really stop blabbing too much 😅. Okay, see you all in the next chapter! Love ya ❤️