The morning after Edward accepted the king’s condition, the palace seemed strangely different to him.
Nothing had changed.
The guards still stood at the gates.
Servants still hurried through the corridors.
The royal banners still moved gently in the morning breeze.
Yet, to Edward, everything felt heavier.
Seven years.
Seven years of service before he could claim the woman he loved.
Seven years before he could stand before the king as a man worthy of Princess Evelyn’s hand.
Seven years before he could finally say that their love had survived the greatest test the kingdom could place before them.
Edward had accepted the king’s command without hesitation, but now that the reality of it had settled into his heart, he understood how difficult the journey would be.
The hardest part was not the work.
It was Evelyn.
The king had made one condition especially clear: during his seven years of service, Edward was not to pursue a romantic relationship with Evelyn.
He was to serve faithfully and keep his distance from the princess until the seven years were complete.
Edward understood the reason.
The king wanted to know whether his love was genuine or merely the excitement of a young man captivated by a beautiful princess.
But love, Edward had already discovered, was not something he could command his heart to forget.
And Evelyn felt the same.
That afternoon, Edward walked toward the prince’s garden, the place where everything between them had begun.
He knew he was taking a risk by going there, but he needed to see her one more time before his service truly began.
When he reached the garden, he found Evelyn standing beneath the old flowering tree.
She was dressed simply, without the heavy jewelry she usually wore in the palace.
Her eyes were fixed upon the distant fountain, but Edward knew immediately that she was waiting for him.
“Evelyn.”
She turned.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Evelyn walked toward him.
“You came,” she whispered.
“I had to.”
Her eyes filled with sadness.
“I have been thinking about nothing else since yesterday.”
Edward swallowed hard.
“Neither have I.”
She stopped before him.
“Seven years, Edward.”
“I know.”
“That sounds like a lifetime.”
“It will feel like one.”
A tear slipped down her cheek.
Edward instinctively reached for her hand, but he stopped himself.
They both remembered the king’s command.
Evelyn noticed his hesitation.
“Why did you stop?”
“Because I promised your father I would obey his conditions.”
She looked at him sadly.
“And what about the promise you made to me?”
Edward stepped closer.
“That promise is the reason I accepted the seven years.”
Evelyn looked into his eyes.
“You truly intend to wait for me?”
“I would wait longer if I had to.”
She shook her head.
“But what if seven years changes us?”
“It will change us,” Edward replied.
“We will grow older.
We will learn things.
We will experience pain and joy.
But I do not believe it has to change what is in our hearts.”
Evelyn looked down.
“I am afraid.”
“So am I.”
Her eyes rose to meet his again.
“Then how do we survive it?”
Edward was silent for a moment.
Then an idea came to him.
“We cannot meet as we have been meeting.”
Evelyn nodded.
“I know.”
“But perhaps,” he continued, “we can still remind each other that we have not forgotten.”
“How?”
Edward glanced toward the garden entrance to make certain no one was nearby.
“Letters.”
Evelyn’s expression changed.
“Letters?”
“Yes.
Secret letters.”
She smiled faintly.
“We will need to be careful.”
“I know.”
“You will be watched.”
“I know that too.”
“And my father will not be pleased if he discovers that we are secretly communicating.”
Edward smiled.
“Then we will have to make sure he never discovers it.”
The sound was soft, but it warmed Edward’s heart.
“How will we send them?” she asked.
Edward thought carefully.
“Lady Clara.”
Evelyn immediately understood.
“My lady Clara?”
“She loves you.
She trusts you.
She would never betray you.”
“She would certainly scold us first.”
Edward laughed.
“That sounds like Lady Clara.”
Evelyn smiled again.
“She may agree to help.”
“Then we have our messenger.”
They stood quietly for a moment.
But there was another problem.
“What will we write?” Evelyn asked.
“Everything.”
“Everything?”
“Everything that happens.
Every difficult day.
Every victory.
Every time you miss me.”
Evelyn smiled.
“And what if I miss you every day?”
“Then write every day.”
She lowered her head shyly.
Edward finally reached for her hand.
This time, neither of them stopped him.
Their fingers intertwined.
“Promise me something,” Evelyn said.
“Anything.”
“Do not let the palace change your heart.”
Edward looked at her seriously.
“I promise.”
“Do not let another woman take your attention.”
“There is no other woman.”
“Do not let seven years make you forget my face.”
Edward smiled.
“I could never forget the face of the woman I love.”
Evelyn’s eyes became wet again.
“And when the seven years are over?”
“When the seven years are over, I will come for you.”
“As a servant?”
“No.”
“As what, then?”
“As a man who has fulfilled the king’s command.”
Evelyn squeezed his hand.
“And if my father still refuses?”
“Then I will serve him another seven years.”
She stared at him.
“Edward!”
He laughed softly.
“I am serious.”
She shook her head, smiling through her tears.
“You are impossible.”
“And you are worth waiting for.”
The sun began to sink behind the palace walls, painting the garden in golden light.
They knew they could not remain there much longer.
Before leaving, Evelyn removed a small silver pendant from around her neck.
She placed it in Edward’s palm.
“This belonged to my mother,” she said.
Edward stared at it.
“I cannot take this.”
“You must.”
“Evelyn, this is precious.”
“So are you.”
He looked at her.
“Keep it until the seven years are over.”
“What then?”
“You will return it to me.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then I will know you intend to keep me waiting forever.”
Edward smiled.
He closed his fingers around the pendant.
“Then I will return it to you on the day I ask your father for your hand.”
Evelyn’s smile trembled.
“A promise?”
“A promise.”
She looked at him for a long moment.
“Forever?”
Edward nodded.
“Forever.”
They finally separated.
Evelyn walked toward the palace while Edward remained beneath the tree, watching her disappear behind the stone columns.
Neither of them knew how long seven years would truly feel.
But they had made their choice.
They would wait.
They would remain faithful.
And they would find ways to keep their love alive.
That evening, Evelyn returned to her chamber and immediately called for Lady Clara.
Clara entered moments later.
“You sent for me, Your Highness?”
Evelyn closed the door.
“I need your help.”
Clara raised an eyebrow.
“That expression tells me this is dangerous.”
“It might be.”
“Then I definitely need to know what it is.”
Evelyn smiled.
“Edward and I have made a promise.”
Clara sighed.
“I suspected as much.”
“We cannot see each other during his seven years of service.”
“That is what the king ordered.”
“Yes.
But we have decided to communicate through letters.”
Clara stared at her.
“You want me to carry secret love letters between a princess and the king’s servant?”
“Not a servant forever,” Evelyn corrected softly.
Clara smiled.
“You really believe in him.”
“With all my heart.”
Clara’s expression softened.
“Then I will help you.”
Evelyn embraced her.
“Thank you.”
“But,” Clara added, “you must promise me something.”
“What?”
“Do not allow your secret love to destroy your peace.
Seven years is a long time.
There may be rumors.
There may be temptation.
There may be moments when you feel forgotten.”
Evelyn nodded.
“I understand.”
“You must trust him.”
“I do.”
“And he must trust you.”
“He does.”
Clara smiled.
“Then perhaps your love has a chance.”
The following morning, Edward began his first official day of service.
The king assigned him difficult duties.
He was to assist the royal guards, oversee portions of the palace grounds, accompany officials on certain journeys, and learn the laws and responsibilities expected of a man who hoped to become part of the royal family.
The work was exhausting.
But every night, Edward remembered Evelyn.
And every few days, a letter found its way into his hands.
The first one arrived after sunset.
Edward opened it carefully.
My dearest Edward,
Today I walked through the garden where we first met.
Everything looked the same, but it felt different without you.
I wanted to call your name, but I remembered our promise.
So I stood beneath our tree and imagined that you were there.
Seven years seems impossible today.
But I will count them one by one.
Please take care of yourself.
And remember that somewhere inside this palace, there is a heart waiting for you.
Forever yours,
Evelyn.
Edward read the letter three times.
Then he pressed it against his chest.
He took out a sheet of paper and began to write.
My beloved Evelyn,
Today was difficult.
But your letter made it easier.
I will serve the king faithfully.
I will become the man he expects me to become.
But I will never forget why I am doing it.
Every day I serve is one day closer to you.
Do not be afraid of the years.
Seven years may stand between us, but they cannot stand between our hearts.
Wait for me.
I will return.
Edward.
As the letter was folded and sealed, Edward looked toward the moonlit window.
Seven years stretched before him.
It was a long road.
A dangerous road.
But for the first time, it no longer seemed impossible.
Because he and Evelyn had made something stronger than a promise to meet again.
They had promised forever.
And no matter what the years brought, Edward intended to keep that promise.