Lucian exhaled deeply, his fingers running through his dark hair as he stared at the horizon. Mal's question lingered in the air, pressing into him in a way that forced him to acknowledge emotions he had spent so long trying to bury.
"I feel loved," Lucian admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "And… comfortable." The words felt strange on his tongue, almost too vulnerable, but they were true. Aeliana made him feel at ease, sothing he rarely experienced. With her, he didn't have to be the perfect prince or the hardened warrior. He could just be Lucian.
Mal nodded, watching him carefully. "That's not sothing you find easily," he pointed out. "Nor is it sothing you should take lightly."
Lucian scoffed, shaking his head. "I know that," he muttered. "That's why it terrifies ." He clenched his fists at his sides. "It's easier to push her away, to keep my distance. Because if I let her in again, and it all falls apart…" His voice trailed off, and he swallowed hard. "I don't know if I can take that kind of pain."
Mal sighed. "Lucian, love isn't about guarantees. It's about trust. About taking risks. You think she's not afraid, too? You think she doesn't know the weight of what she's asking from you? But she still chooses you. Every ti."
Lucian turned to face him, his expression unreadable. "And what if I'm not enough for her?" His voice was strained, raw. "What if I fail her again?"
Mal's gaze softened. "Then you pick yourself up and try again. That's what love is. It's ssy, it's painful, and it doesn't always make sense. But if it's real, it's worth it."
Lucian let those words sink in. He had spent so much ti believing that love was a weakness, that attachnt was dangerous. But with Aeliana, it had never felt like a weakness. It had felt like ho.
He thought about all the monts they had shared—the quiet ones, the joyful ones, even the painful ones. The way she smiled at him when she thought no one was watching, the way she always seed to know when he needed soone, even when he wouldn't admit it. The way her touch could make him forget the weight of his responsibilities, if only for a little while.
"She said she'd wait for ," Lucian murmured, more to himself than to Mal. He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Even after everything, she still believes in us."
Mal smirked. "Then what are you going to do about it?"
Lucian hesitated. He had spent so long running from his feelings, convincing himself that letting Aeliana go was the right choice. But now, standing here, with Mal's words echoing in his mind, he wondered if he had been wrong all along.
Maybe it wasn't about whether or not he was enough. Maybe it was about choosing to try.
"I don't know yet," he admitted, his voice steadier than before. "But I think… I want to find out."
Mal clapped a hand on his shoulder, a satisfied grin on his face. "That's a start, my lord."
Lucian allowed himself a small, tentative smile. For the first ti in a long while, the idea of a future with Aeliana didn't feel so impossible. It felt like sothing worth fighting for.
And this ti, he wouldn't run.
Lucian took a deep breath, rolling Mal's words over in his mind. Ti and space. He wasn't sure if that was what he wanted. If anything, part of him wanted to hold onto Aeliana and never let her go again. But another part—one that was more cautious, more hesitant—knew Mal was right. Rushing into things, pretending the wounds weren't there, would only lead to another disaster.
Mal watched him closely, arms crossed over his chest. "Look, my lord," he said, voice steady but firm. "You want to make this work? Then don't act on impulse. Love isn't about grand gestures or imdiate fixes. You need to give her the chance to prove herself to you, just as much as you need to prove yourself to her."
Lucian exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "And if she takes that ti and decides she's better off without ?" The thought sent an uncomfortable ache through his chest.
"Then that's sothing you'll have to accept," Mal said plainly. "But if she truly loves you, if this bond between you is as strong as you believe it is, she'll co back. And when she does, it'll be because she chose you freely, not because you pressured her into staying."
Lucian looked away, his jaw tightening. "I don't like it."
Mal chuckled, shaking his head. "You don't have to like it. You just have to do it."
The idea of giving Aeliana space made Lucian uneasy. They had already spent enough ti apart, enough ti hurting each other. But at the sa ti, he knew Mal had a point. He needed to step back, to let Aeliana co to him on her own terms. Otherwise, their reconciliation would be built on desperation rather than trust.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. I'll give her ti. But…" He turned to Mal, his expression firm. "This is the last chance. I won't keep waiting forever."
Mal nodded approvingly. "Fair enough. But you need to make sure she knows that."
Lucian frowned slightly. "You want to tell her outright?"
"Yes," Mal said without hesitation. "Be honest. Let her know that this is her chance to prove that she truly wants to be with you. That this isn't just guilt or obligation talking."
Lucian swallowed hard. "And if she hesitates?"
"Then you'll have your answer." Mal's voice was calm but unwavering. "Love isn't about begging soone to stay. It's about choosing each other, every day, even when things get difficult. If she can't do that… then maybe it's ti to walk away for good."
Lucian stared at the ground, lost in thought. Was he strong enough to do that? To give her space, to step back, knowing there was a chance she might not co back to him?
For the longest ti, he had convinced himself that Aeliana was his future. That no matter what happened, they would always find their way back to each other. But now, faced with the reality of their situation, he realized that love alone wasn't enough. They needed trust. They needed commitnt. And most importantly, they needed a choice.
"Alright," Lucian finally said, his voice quieter than before. "I'll talk to her. I'll tell her that this is her last chance."
Mal nodded. "Good. And in the anti, focus on yourself. You've spent so much ti chasing after this relationship—maybe it's ti to figure out what you want beyond just being with her."
Lucian hesitated at that. What did he want? For so long, Aeliana had been at the center of his world. Every decision he made, every thought in the back of his mind, had been about her. The idea of focusing on himself felt… foreign.
But maybe Mal was right. Maybe this wasn't just about Aeliana proving herself to him—it was about him figuring out what he truly wanted, what he needed from a relationship.
"Fine," he said at last. "I'll give her space. But if she can't et halfway… then this ti, I'm done."
Mal clapped him on the back. "That's all you can do, my lord. Now, let's see what happens."
Lucian took one last deep breath, bracing himself for what was to co. One way or another, things would be decided soon. And for the first ti, he was ready to accept whatever answer awaited him.
Lucian exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on the dimly lit horizon. Mal's words settled deep within him, heavier than he expected. Boundaries. He had never truly considered them when it ca to Aeliana. He had always allowed himself to be swept up in her presence, her emotions, her choices—never stopping to ask himself what he truly needed. Perhaps that was part of the problem.
"You're right," Lucian admitted, his voice quieter now. "I've spent so much ti chasing after this love that I never stopped to ask what I was actually accepting. If this is going to work, it has to be different." He clenched his fist, his mind made up. "If she wants , she'll have to prove it. And this ti, it'll be on equal terms."
Mal nodded approvingly. "Good. It's not about pushing her away, my lord. It's about making sure you don't lose yourself in the process. Love should be a choice, not a sacrifice." His tone softened, but there was an unmistakable steel behind his words. "So, when you speak to her next, be clear. Let her know where you stand. If she truly wants you, she'll respect that."
Lucian let out a slow breath, feeling a weight lift from his chest. For the first ti in a long while, he felt like he was reclaiming sothing he had lost—himself. No more chasing, no more waiting in uncertainty. If Aeliana truly wanted to be with him, she would have to et him halfway. And if she couldn't… then he would finally let go.
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