Minutes turned into hours, hours into days, and days into weeks until the day of the Moonlit Festival finally arrived. This festival was of utmost importance to the people of Phobos. It was said that the moon, Stella, which orbited Zerith, shone the brightest on this night, bringing blessings to those who celebrated it. Though a crude custom by the standards of the rest of Zerith, let alone the six major planets, for the people of Phobos, blessing or not, it was the perfect excuse to let off steam and revel in something more than their everyday struggles.

Coincidentally, the festival fell on the same day as the visit of the Duke of Sothis. His grand presence, a rare sight in the outcast planet of Zerith, had brought about some noticeable changes in Phobos. The newly arrived nobles had temporarily displaced the commoner population from the heart of the city, shifting them into the slum of Grimhaven for the week until the Duke and his entourage left.

********

Liora had promised to meet Kai and Wynn outside in Grimhaven as soon as she was done greeting the nobles. The whole city felt like it was holding its breath in anticipation, from the gleaming carriages to the lavish tents, all awaiting the arrival of their esteemed guests.

But for Wynn, there was something else that held his attention now. He had made up his mind—he was going to ask Liora to dance under the moonlight. It was a bold thought, and one that made his heart race, but he couldn't back down now.

Wynn rarely had the luxury of a bath—he lived in the corners of Grimhaven, where water was scarce, and cleanliness was a distant luxury.

But tonight, was different.

He found an old, worn tub tucked in the corner of their small, shared home, a place he rarely used. The water was cold at first, and the soap was thin and almost gone, but it didn't matter. As Wynn scrubbed away the grime and sweat of the day, he felt a kind of clarity—It felt strange to be so clean, his skin tingling with unfamiliar freshness.

However, no matter how hard he scrubbed, the yellowish tint of his hair refused to budge. The years of neglect, of living in squalor, had left their mark. No amount of water or scrubbing would ever wash it away completely. He sighed, running his fingers through the strands. It wasn't much, but at least it was softer now, a little less matted, and that was enough for tonight.

As he was drying off, a soft knock at the door startled him. It was Maris, standing with a small bundle of cloth in her hands.

"Put this on," she said, voice kind but sharp. "You won't be asking anyone to dance in that filthy thing."

Wynn looked at the bundle in confusion. "But I—"

"Just trust me," she cut him off, tossing the clothes in his direction.

He unfolded the bundle, revealing a butler's uniform—simple yet refined, with a crisp black coat and a white shirt beneath. It wasn't extravagant, but it was the most formal piece of clothing he had ever laid eyes on. His heart fluttered unsteadily as he stared at it. "But... how—?"

Maris gave him a knowing smile. "You'll need it tonight. You've got a chance, Wynn. Don't let it slip away."

He swallowed hard, barely daring to hope. Without protest, he changed into the butler's uniform, its fit snug but comfortable.

When he looked at himself in the cracked mirror, he was nearly unrecognisable.

He couldn't help but admire how he looked in it, the black fabric a stark contrast to the pale, ghostly white of his skin and hair. Even his dishevelled yellow hair looked a little more presentable beneath the collar.

He left the small, dimly lit room with newfound resolve. Tonight, he wasn't going to hide in the darkness of Grimhaven. He was going to stand tall under the moonlight, maybe even by her side.

Wynn took a deep breath as he stepped out the door, his feet, felt lighter today as he walked through the streets. He wasn't sure how he was going to ask her, but he knew one thing for certain—he wasn't going to let the moment pass.

Tonight, the stars and the moon weren't just shining for the rich or the nobles. They were shining for everyone, even him.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

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Tonight, Grimhaven was alive in a way it had never been before. The air buzzed with excitement, the mingling scents of roasted meats and spiced drinks thick in the air. Laughter echoed through the alleyways, the rhythm of drums vibrating underfoot. People from all walks of life—commoners, merchants, the lucky few from the outskirts of Phobos—had gathered in their finest clothes, trying to forget, for just one night, who they really were.

[WYNN]

The bazaar had grown overnight—makeshift stalls lined the streets, overflowing with jewels, cloths, and crafts. It wasn't much, but for me, it was everything. There was a wooden bird carved in such fine detail that I couldn't believe it was made in a place like this. The shopkeeper, a woman whose face was weathered and familiar, looked at me kindly. Did she know I couldn't afford it? but she didn't push me away. She smiled at me instead.

I walked through the crowds, my heart thundering in my chest, trying to ignore the gnawing fear that rose with every step.

I realized it in that moment, clearer than I had ever admitted to myself: I had always liked Liora. It wasn't just tonight. It wasn't just because of the moon or the dance. I had liked her for so long, for reasons that stretched back before I could even understand what this feeling was. I remember back when we were just kids—when she was that girl of age four, the first one to stretch out her hand to me, a dirty slum rat, and offer me kindness. I didn't understand it then, not fully. But now, I could see it clearly.

I had liked her when she, even as a noble girl, bantered with me, laughing at the ridiculous things I said and treating me like a person, like an equal. There was no nobility in those moments. No wealth. Just her, with her warmth and fire, and me, with my dirt and dreams, simply sharing time together.

I had liked her as she grew, as she became this beautiful, untouchable thing, like the moon she would dance under. I had liked her every moment, even when I felt the distance between us stretch so wide it seemed impossible to cross.

I had always liked her. And I always would.

It was then that I spotted them

Liora. Kai.

They were dancing.

The sight hit me like a punch to the gut

Liora's red hair shimmered in the moonlight, her eyes alight with laughter as she spun in Kai's arms. He was grinning too, so carefree, his golden hair glowing like the sun, his hands steady on her waist. They moved together, as if they had always been meant to do this. To be together. To dance beneath the stars.

I could barely breathe.

I felt the ground beneath my feet tilt, like the earth itself had tilted away from me. The space between us—the impossible, suffocating space—yawned wider than it ever had before. I was just a ghost standing at the edges of their world, a boy from Grimhaven with nothing to offer. And there they were, glowing like a dream I could never touch.

Her laugh. It echoed through the night, sweet and free, and it felt like a knife in my chest.

She was beautiful. Of course, she was. In ways I could never be. She belonged here, in the light of the moon, twirling with the embodiment of the sun himself, while I the rat stood in the shadows. I could never compete with that.

I took a step forward, but my feet felt like they were made of lead. My throat tightened, choking on the words I wanted to say. The words I had dreamed of saying.

Liora. Will you dance with me?

I wanted to scream it, to call her name, but I was too small, too insignificant. My heart thudded painfully, ever so desperately. I had nothing. No title, no wealth, no talent, no future. Nothing but a name I could barely own.

I saw Kai lean in close, his face lit with affection as he whispered something to her. Liora smiled, a soft, gentle smile that made my heart crack in a way I couldn't explain. And they danced on, spinning through the night like the world had been made for them alone.

And then it hit me.

I wasn't just standing here, watching. I wasn't just waiting. I was drowning.

I wanted to pull her away, to shout at the universe that she deserved more than this—a life bound by the weight of titles and expectations. But all I could do was watch. Watch as Kai held her like he owned her, like he had always owned her.

My hand tightened around the flower I had bought earlier, my last ounce of hope, the fragile thing I had thought might bridge the distance between us. The petals were delicate in my hand, soft against my skin. But as the ache in my chest grew unbearable, I felt something shift. My grip faltered.

The flower fell.

I turned away, my heart shattering with every step, and stumbled through the crowds, my chest constricting so tight I thought I might collapse. I didn't belong here. I never had.

I found an alley, dark and quiet, away from the sound of the music and laughter. And I let myself crumble.

The tears came then, unbidden and unstoppable. I hated myself for them. I hated the weakness. I hated that I couldn't be strong enough, brave enough, to stand up to the truth that had been staring me in the face for so long.

Liora would never be mine. She never could be. And watching her with Kai—seeing the way they fit together, so perfectly, like the stars had aligned for them—it crushed me.

I was just a boy from the slums.

And it hurt. It hurt so deeply I could feel it in my bones, in every inch of my skin, in the very air I breathed.

She would never notice me. She was already perfect, already someone's. Not mine.

I let out a choked sob, my hands trembling as I gripped the edge of the wall, leaning against it for support. My body shook with the weight of everything I had never said, everything I had never been able to admit to myself.

And in the silence that followed, there was only one truth left in my heart.

I loved her. And that love, as pure and as painful as it was, would never be enough.

I would never be enough.

After all

I was imperfect