"Is it true?"

Kiren freezes when a familiar voice chimes on his ear. It was as if cold water poured on him, paralyzing his whole body. He can't move. He can't turn around and face the person he knew he hurt.

"Are you my soulmate?" The prince asked, this time moving closer to his attendant.

Kiren couldn't respond. He couldn't find the words to say. His palms ran cold and his heartbeat became so audible he felt like it's about to come out of his chest.

You should tell him the truth, Kiren," says the man Kiren was talking to before the prince walked in them. "I'll leave you two behind." He excused himself and marched his way out of the garden.

With only Kiren and the prince, the silence became deafening. The fluttering leaves made by the passing breeze in the dark night, but even that didn't help the atmosphere between them. Nobody knows what to say until the prince broke the silence.

"Kiren." Long gone was the soft tone that once sounds like a song. Long gone was the sweet chime and teasing tone that follows when he calls. The way the prince says his name turned cold like a block of ice that numbs.

Kiren continued to bite his lips, quivering. He's suppressing a loud cry and the sting building upon his eyes. He doesn't want to face the prince this way. He doesn't want him to find out like this. It hurts.

"Kiren, answer me." Prince Vaughn couldn't control himself. His voice raised, startling his childhood friend. "Is it true that you're my soulmate?" The last words came off almost a whisper, yet the attendant could hear him loud and clear.

"Yes," Kiren responded. "I was your soulmate." There's no way out. Kiren knew he wouldn't be able to hide anything anymore. He has to face the prince.

Kiren took a long deep breath before turning around to face the prince, but when he did. He wished he didn't. In front of him is the second prince of Limeburghn. A person with royal blood, one of the most influential people in the kingdom, admired and loved. His Highness who's courageous and kind. The playful young master he vows his loyalty now stands in front of him with eyes full of tears, hurt, and rejection.

"Your highness..." he tried to reach out, but the prince raised his hand, stopping him. "I'm sorry..." he bowed. "I'm sorry, I can't be the one. I... You're meant for someone else... I can't keep you for myself." Kiren confessed.

"What are you saying?" The prince's voice strained, confused at the attendant's words. He still couldn't believe the revelations he heard from his childhood friend.

"You can't be with me. It's taboo for the royal blood to marry off their soulmate. It's fruitless."

It's a curse for royal blood to marry someone of lower status or anyone who won't benefit the kingdom. Kiren knows about this, so he cuts himself off to the prince when he finds out their strings connect. It crushes his heart to do so, especially when he had loved the prince before he even found out about the red strings.

"So you decided on your own and cut our string?" The prince raised his voice. He tried to control himself and calm down so he could understand the other party, but he's too hurt and emotional to care.

Kiren startled at his highness. He knew the prince would get upset, but he never saw him mad, almost fuming in anger. He opened his mouth to answer, but nothing came out as the words got stuck on his throat. Tears flowed through his eyes as he watched his soulmate's pained expression. It wasn't what it's supposed to be. The prince shouldn't be hurt at all costs. He's the one who decided to cut the strings of fate. He should be the only one to suffer the consequence, but one thing leads to another, and here they are.

"I've always appreciated how much you care and think about what's best for me. I appreciated the friendship we had and the little secrets we shared growing up. I...I thought you felt the same way..." The prince is lost, clutching his chest trying to stop the tiny needles poking his hearts and holding the tears clouding his sight. "....but I guess I'm wrong." He managed to say in a more composed manner.

"No!" Kiren immediately replied, trying to explain himself and make the prince believe his words. "I trust you! I love you." Kiren claimed, but the prince smiled sadly.

"I never thought those words would hurt more than a sword."Tears poured like rain in the prince's eyes.

Prince Vaughn never wished for anything fancy. He never wished to tie his soulmate down whether he meets them or not. All he ever wanted is to feel that someone loved him, even if their status in life didn't let them be together. It was wishful thinking because he never thought that there's no such thing as love between him and his pair. And worst, his soulmate and the person he trusts the most broke the bond that connects them both.

"I-I'm sorry, your highness. I-" Kiren took a step forward, wanting to throw his arms around the person he loved the most, but he's stopped mid-way.

"You don't have to say anymore." His voice broke, making Kiren's heartache more. "I understand." The prince took a deep breath, looking up, trying to stop the tears. He has to say these words. He has to let go.

"No... please..." Kiren whispered, but it was too late.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't enough. I'm sorry our strings connected and that I was the only one who felt the same. If...If you wanted to cut our strings, so be it. I won't stop you. You don't need to worry about me anymore," he paused before forcing a smile. "Thank you for everything, Kiren, I love you...Goodbye."

"No... Please...Please believe me. I love you. I love you." Kiren called. He repeated the words to let the prince know.

Prince Vaughn did hear his attendant. He did feel the pain in every word he uttered. But no matter how much he wanted to believe and take back all the words he said, he chose to let go and move forward on his own. He turned his back and left, leaving Kiren on his own.

The prince made his choice. Kiren made him, but it resulted in more pain than he thought it would be. His legs gave out as soon as the prince left. It's as if telling him that everything's over between them, even the bond they have before the red string.

On that fateful day, both their hearts clenched like a dagger stabbed deep and cut them to the very core. The words left by the prince carve in Kiren's heart like an open wound that would never heal. As for the other, the choice made by Kiren broke the trust the prince had for him.

The two of them fell apart. The red string of fate that's already cut and broken turned black and slowly crumbled into ashes.

It hurts to see each other go. But it's worse to see a bond that's connected by trust, broken and vanished like it never existed.

⸻  END ⸻