Kael walked slowly toward his room.
The corridor stretched silent and empty. When he reached the door, he paused—then opened it.
Darkness swallowed the room whole.
He trembled.
"Selene?" His voice cracked.
No answer.
A chill crawled up his spine. Fear twisted inside him, but he forced himself to breathe.
Calm the fuck down. Calm the fuck down.
He stepped inside, hands reaching out blindly, searching for a mana torch.
Nothing.
His foot caught on sothing. He stumbled, falling hard against the floor.
Then—a soft, broken sobbing.
Kael’s heart hamred.
He wanted to piss himself.
With trembling limbs, he followed the sound, deeper into the darkness.
"Selene... listen to . You’ve misunderstood." His voice was barely more than a whisper, desperate and shaking.
"The princess... there’s nothing between us. She only proposed marriage—an alliance, not love. Nothing."
No answer.
She was crying—soft, broken sobs echoing in the dark.
"I understand," she whispered. "You’ll never love . I’m the daughter of a traitor... a slave."
Her voice shook.
"She’s good for you, Kael. Noble. Whole. You don’t have to say anything. I get it."
The words hit him like a blade. His heart sank, hollow and aching.
Blindly, he stepped forward. His hands found her shoulders—small, trembling, warm.
He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if she might vanish if he let go.
"That’s not true," Kael whispered, his voice low but steady.
"I love you, Selene."
She pulled back just enough to look at him. Her eyes searched his, uncertain, wet with tears.
"Really?" she asked, almost afraid to believe it.
He nodded, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"Yeah. I, Kael Drenlor... only love you."
For a mont, the silence held its breath. Then she nodded, a small, trembling smile on her lips.
"I love you too."
And in the darkness, they kissed.
It wasn’t rushed or desperate.
It was slow, tender—a quiet collision of two broken people trying to beco whole in each other’s arms.
Haah... finally, Kael thought, his forehead resting lightly against hers.
For the first ti, sothing felt right.
But then—
"Let’s run away," Selene whispered.
His eyes opened. "What?"
"Let’s run away. You and . Leave all this behind."
"Selene..." he said softly, trying not to break the fragile peace between them.
"Calm down. That’s not possible. I... I have a purpose here. There are things I still need to do."
She nodded slowly, thoughtfully, her eyes lowering.
For a mont, she was quiet.
Kael sighed, relieved she seed to understand. But then—
"Then let’s just kill her."
His blood ran cold.
"What?"
Selene looked up at him, eyes unblinking.
"The princess. If she’s out of the way... we can be together. Forever."
Kael stared at her, stunned—but not afraid.
He sighed, a strange weariness settling into his bones.
Where’s my timid Selene? he wondered.
But then, a slow smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
No... I like this version of her more.
"I’ll find a way," he said quietly. "She’s still useful to —for now."
Selene nodded.
They looked at each other for a breathless mont... and then both laughed.
It wasn’t joyful. It wasn’t kind. It was low, dark—almost inhuman.
Then Kael said, almost offhand, "Actually, Selene... I’m a devil."
He waited, ready for the gasp, the recoil, the panic—You’re a devil? Oh my gods!—but none of it ca.
She just nodded.
Kael blinked. "Wait... that’s it? No reaction?"
Selene laughed softly, eyes gleaming in the dim light.
"I’ve known all along. You think I’m dumb?"
Kael sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Haah... you got ," he muttered with a faint smile.
Selene didn’t smile back.
"That’s not all. I know you have a spirit bound to you."
His head snapped toward her, eyes narrowing in surprise.
"You know?"
She nodded, calm. "That’s why you zone out sotis, right? Like sothing else is speaking to you."
Kael let out a quiet breath and gave a small nod.
"You’re smarter than you look," he said with a teasing edge.
Her cheeks flushed. She slapped his arm lightly.
"What do you an, bastard?"
But then her tone shifted. She grew serious.
"Kael... I want to advance. To the next rank."
Kael’s brows lifted. "But—"
She cut him off, voice firm.
"I wanted to help you, Kael. Please," Selene said, her voice low but steady. Her eyes locked on his, full of resolve.
Kael studied her, then gave a slow nod.
"Okay. I’ll arrange it."
A small pause. Then, as if rembering sothing, Kael reached into his cloak.
"Oh—almost forgot. I brought you these."
He held out a folded dress of deep midnight silk and a scroll wrapped in crimson ribbon.
Selene’s eyes widened. She stepped back slightly, stunned.
"This... this is expensive. Why would you..." Her voice caught.
Tears welled in her eyes.
"Hey, don’t cry," Kael said softly, a bit awkwardly.
She didn’t respond—just stood there, silent, trembling.
Trying to ease the mood, Kael added with a faint smirk, "Okay, fine. I’ll give them to El—"
He didn’t finish.
The room chilled.
The air grew still. He felt sothing crawl up his spine.
Selene slowly lifted her head.
A smile touched her lips—but it didn’t reach her eyes.
"Okay. I accept them," she said.
Kael swallowed. Sothing felt wrong.
She stepped forward, gently took the gifts from his hands, then said, still smiling,
"But Kael... don’t talk about her. Okay?"
Kael t her gaze—and nodded seriously.
"oo O -Okay."
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