Romance, Rhea Valencia decided, was a luxury for people who didn't have three part-time jobs, back-to-back lectures, and dark circles under their eyes.
She closed the last library cart with a tired click and glanced at the digital clock on the wall.
9:47 PM. Two hours left on her shift.
Outside the tall windows of the Rosevale University Library, she could see couples walking under the glowing lamplights, hands barely brushing, laughter echoing in the rain-washed campus paths. Inside, in the library's reading nooks, some whispered across shared books, their knees touching under tables, lips dangerously close to a kiss.
It must be nice, Rhea thought, turning away.
To be wanted without a time slot. To be loved without scheduling around exam week.
She'd tried once. Maybe twice. But dates always ended with an excuse, a text that faded, or a silence that never really broke.
Love, she figured, wasn't for the busy. Or the unlucky.
Rhea dragged the cart deeper into the restricted wing of the library — the "Forgotten Stacks." No one ever came here. Most students didn't even know this section existed. Only faculty or trained student workers were allowed to access the antique collections.
She didn't mind. Solitude didn't argue with you.
As she reached for a worn astronomy tome on the top shelf, her foot shifted on the ladder and a heavy book above her tipped loose.
"Whoa—!"
Before she could react, an arm strong and protective shot out behind her.
The book thudded harmlessly to the floor.
A man — tall, dressed in black, half-shadowed by the dim lamplight — knelt to retrieve it.
He handed her the fallen volume, his eyes unreadable.
"This doesn't belong here," he said, voice quiet but firm. "Be careful. It chooses readers."
She blinked. "...Sorry?"
But when she looked up again — he was gone.
She turned the book over in her hands. The cover was deep burgundy leather, bound in gold trim. No title on the spine. Just an engraving on the front:
A Moonlit Oath.
She frowned. She knew that name. It was a fantasy romance novel she'd once skimmed through at a secondhand shop.
A kingdom on the brink. A cold prince cursed by love. A destined heroine.
Weird place for it to be, she thought. And weird guy to be dropping books about curses.
Still… curiosity stirred. She slipped into a chair, opened the book to its first page, and began to read.
The words glowed faintly under her fingertips.
"Under oath and moonlight, she was bound—"
She didn't even notice sleep taking her.
Somewhere far away...
A wedding bell began to toll.