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It wasn’t just her art, it was her perspective — uncensored, untamed, and full of vibrancy.
Her observations were raw and uninhibited, unlike the carefully crafted facades I was used to.
She looked up, catching me staring at her.
She offered a small smile, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
There was a question in her gaze, a silent inquiry that pushed at the boundaries I had built around myself.
“Is something the matter, Lorik?” she asked, her voice disrupting the silence.
A faint smile curled on my lips, “Just admiring your work, Madison.”
She blushed slightly, looking down at her sketchbook, her fingers gently tracing the contours of the strange creatures she had brought to life.
I liked the way my name sounded on her lips — unadorned, unburdened by titles and expectations.
It was just a name devoid of the complexities of my identity.
“Your art… is truly amazing,” I said, my voice just a whisper in the room. “It’s unique, like you. Don’t let anyone try to standardize it. It’s your originality that makes it so special.”
A look of surprise crossed her face, but it quickly morphed into a genuine smile. “Thank you, Lorik. That means a lot coming from you,” she said, her voice filled with gratitude.
I nodded, acknowledging her words.
The desire to reveal my identity to her, to share the weight of my truth, was still there.
But looking at Madison, seeing the trust in her eyes, I knew I couldn’t jeopardize that.
Not yet, at least.
Instead, I savored the tranquility of the moment, the intimacy of sharing a morning with someone who saw me as Lorik, just Lorik.
The unadorned truth was a refreshing change from the decorated lies I was used to.
For now, I chose to bask in the simplicity of this newfound companionship, a relationship unburdened by the weight of royal blood and political intrigue.
For the first time, I was seen not as a prince, not as a successor, but simply as a Chi.
And in the light of this early morning, under the gaze of a woman who saw me for who I truly was, I was content.
With the aroma of her freshly brewed coffee on my lips, the aroma of the unfamiliar fruits filling my nostrils, and the sounds of her soft humming in my ears, I let my worries drift away.
Today was a new day, a day filled with the promise of adventure, and I was ready to face it.
As long as Madison was by my side, as long as she saw me as Lorik and not as a prince, I felt invincible.
For now, my secret was safe, and so was our burgeoning bond.
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13
MADISON
The morning air was crisp and clean, a pleasant change from the heavy, foggy atmosphere of the night before.
Stepping out into the sunlight, this alien moon seemed entirely new, a fresh painting whose colors had been brought to life by the dawn’s touch.
