Chapter 12

It was just a random thought born from imagining a scenario where he actually turned into an apple. There was no ulterior motive behind Leila’s words.

Literally, if an apple were the size of Keisran, it would be truly massive.

However, as Leila’s gaze scanned him up and down, Keisran interpreted it in a completely different light. Considering the thoughts he had been harboring, it was a natural leap for him to make.

“A-Ahem, it… it is quite large.”

Keisran stammered out the words without even realizing what he was saying.

Only then did Leila snap out of her daydreaming. A moment later, unable to comprehend his comment that it was “quite large,” she gave him a puzzled look.

‘There’s no way he could have read my mind… What on earth does he think he’s replying to?’

She refrained from asking, however, because his face had turned so crimson it looked ready to burst. The slight tremble in his pupils suggested he was just as flustered by his own words.

“Let’s… just say it is for now.”

Leila agreed, completely unaware of the underlying meaning behind Keisran’s response.

***

Though he wished with all his heart to stay by Leila’s side all day, duty called, forcing Keisran to return to his office.

Upon receiving the report from his knight, his expression darkened into something lethal.

“Ha. Playing a rather amusing game, aren’t they?”

Contrary to his choice of the word “amusement,” Keisran was radiating an aura hostile enough to kill.

“After everything they’ve been through, you’d think they’d know that laying low would be best for their own well-being.”

His expression turned icy at the sheer stupidity of it all.

The knight’s report itself was brief: several branch family nobles of the Dahrin Duchy had held a private meeting. Yet, the implications were anything but simple.

When Keisran ascended to the position of Duke at a young age, he had eliminated most of those who opposed him, but he hadn’t wiped them out entirely.

Killing every last one of them would have incurred too heavy a cost. At the same time, because they operated in the shadows without giving him the slightest pretext, he couldn’t find a proper justification to purge them, much as he wanted to.

“Keep a close eye on them.”

Whatever scheme they were cooking up to drag him down, he had no intention of falling for it.

He had bled to protect this seat. At first, believing it wasn’t meant to be his, he felt no attachment or greed for it. But things were different now.

To be a man worthy of Leila, and to ensure he never lost her, he could not afford to yield the title of Duke under any circumstances.

Without this position, he felt he would lose whatever shred of confidence he had left in himself.

“Understood, Your Grace.”

“Do you happen to know what they did during their meeting?”

“My apologies… We were unable to uncover that details.”

In truth, beyond confirming that the meeting took place, there was little else to verify. Even if they knew a conversation had occurred, its contents remained out of reach.

Of course, he had his suspicions.

“Right. How could your incompetence possibly be your fault? It must be mine, shouldn’t it?”

Despite the understanding tone of his words, the look Keisran gave the knight was frigid.

“I am deeply sorry.”

“Find out as quickly as possible. Their ultimate objective is obvious, but we still need to figure out what immediate steps they plan to take.”

It wasn’t just the members of the ducal house who harbored resentment toward his position as Duke Dahrin. The surrounding nobles who would pounce at the first opportunity if a hand were extended to them were practically lined up.

“Also, an Imperial Edict has arrived.”

“An Imperial Edict?”

At a time like this?

He had an ill feeling about it.

“It states that an Aristocratic Council will be convened shortly, and your presence is strictly required.”

“The reason for the council?”

“That was not specified.”

“Dismissed.”

A mere knight would hardly know the reason behind an Imperial Edict. Unless he went himself, there was no way to find out beforehand.

Still, his bad premonition lingered.

While the fact that he had abducted Leila wasn’t immediately exposed to cause trouble, he was far from safe.

Ideally, he should return Leila before her kidnapping became public knowledge and pulled him down, but he hadn’t yet come to terms with it emotionally.

Even so, having promised her that he would let her return, he had no intention of keeping her captive indefinitely.

For the sake of Leila, who cared for him, and to honor her consideration, he ultimately had to send her back.

***

A few days after Keisran told her she could exchange letters with her family, Leila received a letter from her father.

Although overjoyed to receive it, she couldn’t bring herself to break the seal and read the contents right away.

Receiving the letter weighed heavily on her heart.

She was in no position to call anyone else selfish.

Under the guise of caring for Keisran and wanting to learn more about him, staying here was a selfish act that disregarded her father and older brother—even though she cherished their affection more than anything.

Yet, she couldn’t keep stalling forever. Slowly, Leila opened the envelope to read the contents.

As her eyes scanned the text, her expression twisted in shock.

“What in the world…”

Leila couldn’t believe what was written. She had no idea how her father could have deduced the truth.

Though her father wasn’t entirely certain yet, the mere fact that he raised such a question came as a massive shock to her.

The letter mostly voiced his concern and hurt, asking if she was truly doing well and how she could leave the County without a word. Had it ended there, she wouldn’t have been so alarmed.

However, at the very end of the letter, her father asked if she was perhaps with the Duke Dahrin, and whether he had done something to her.

If that was the case, sending such a letter might not work in her father’s favor. Yet, Leila could understand why he wrote it despite having only a suspicion.

Whether this letter reached Leila directly or passed through someone else’s hands for Keisran to inspect, her father had nothing to lose either way.

If Keisran read the letter, it would pressure him with the knowledge that her father was onto the abduction, forcing his hand to release her.

Her father’s suspicion wasn’t wrong. Yet, Leila couldn’t send back a reply confirming it.

She didn’t know how he had figured it out, but confirming it now would cause the situation to spiral uncontrollably out of hand.

It wasn’t that she wanted Keisran to get off scot-free for kidnapping her, but she didn’t want him punished right this second, either.

She wanted his punishment to come at a time when she was safely back at the County, able to negotiate with her father and brother.

Only then could she prevent things from devolving into the worst-case scenario. While she believed Keisran ought to be held accountable, she didn’t want the severity of the punishment to be overly harsh.

As things stood, however, her father would likely leverage every ounce of his power to tear Keisran down completely.

She hadn’t yet decided what kind of penalty Keisran should face or how this entire ordeal should be brought to a close. Thinking of her father and brother, she couldn’t simply sweep his actions under the rug. That would be far too unfair to her family.

At the same time, because she had feelings for Keisran—feelings that might not match the intensity of his own and were currently just a fond affection—she couldn’t bring herself to inflict a devastating punishment on him.

“Haa…”

Leila let out a heavy sigh, her mind a tangled mess.

She felt a wave of regret over her choices.

At first, she had thought Keisran was a pushover, believing that nothing would change no matter what she said to someone of his temperament—just as nothing ever changed in her original world, no matter how much her mother nagged, pleaded, or clung to her father.

If only she had spoken up back then; if only she had properly explained her reasons for leaving instead of breaking things off in secret, maybe things wouldn’t have escalated to this point.

Had she done so, she could have gotten to know him better without going through an abduction, learning that he wasn’t actually the pushover she thought he was, but someone who simply acted that way to win her favor.

Regretting the past now, however, was useless.

Right now, her priority was to dispel her father’s suspicions and prepare for a swift return to the County.

Ideally, she would have liked to wait until Keisran was ready to let her go, but time was no longer on her side.

When she thought about it, returning to the County didn’t mean their relationship was over.

She had decided to give their bond another chance, and her feelings were gradually leaning toward him. She intended to keep seeing him even after returning home.

She didn’t need to stay at the Duchy to get to know him better.

Initially, she wanted to stay at the estate out of lingering doubts about Keisran, and later, to give him time to reflect on his actions so he could let her go with his own hands. Otherwise, even if she made it back safely to the County, new problems would inevitably arise.

“I should send a reply first, then go talk to Kei.”

Lying to her father wasn’t easy, but Leila had no choice.

In her reply, she simply wrote that there was nothing for him to worry about, that she was eating and sleeping well, and that she was staying out of harm’s way—neither fully confirming nor denying his suspicion.

***

 

Keisran, who had been sitting in his office with a complex expression after the knight’s report, looked surprised at the maid’s message. Beneath his surprise was an unmistakable trace of joy.

“I’ll go at once.”

At first, guilt over kidnapping Leila had made him avoid her, but that was no longer the case.

Setting aside his work, Keisran immediately headed to her room to answer her call.

“Lea.”

Though he saw her every day, a natural smile graced his face every time, filled with delight and anticipation.

“Ah, Kei.”

Seeing how happy he was, Leila offered an awkward smile.

The reason she had summoned him wasn’t pleasant news.

“Please, sit down first.”

Taking a seat on the sofa Leila indicated, Keisran instructed the maid to bring tea.

“Kei, I received the letter my father sent today. I didn’t expect to get it so quickly. Thank you.”

Leila gently broached the topic before getting to the main point.

“If it eases your mind even a little, that is enough for me.”

It was the best he could do for her at present.

“And… I have some bad news.”

She hadn’t intended to bring this up so soon. Since Keisran had raised the issue himself before, she wanted to wait until he had come to a proper decision on his own.

Given that he promised it wouldn’t take long, she had chosen to trust his word.

At her words, Keisran’s expression turned puzzled. He wondered what kind of news could warrant such a somber face.

Seeing her dark expression made his heart clench, leaving him looking more distressed than her.

“Do you remember promising to send me back to the County?”

“…I remember.”

Guessing what she was about to say, Keisran’s expression darkened, stiffening slightly.

“I think we need to move that timeline up a bit.”

Keisran wore a bitter expression at her words.

Was he supposed to take comfort in the fact that she wasn’t asking to leave this very second?

He had braced himself for this, but hearing it directly from Leila’s lips still caused a dull ache in his chest.

Of course, Keisran knew it too. There was no longer any reason to keep her confined to the Duchy.

He now understood why she had tried to break up with him, and that reason no longer existed. Furthermore, he had gained the opportunity to restart their relationship just as he had wished, so in a way, he had already achieved his primary goal.

The reason he hesitated to send her away was his lingering insecurity. It wasn’t that he mistrusted her; he mistrusted the circumstances surrounding him.

He could no longer see her while hiding his identity. That meant he would have to reveal who he was to her family and greet them formally—but would they ever accept him?

Concealed within the Duchy, she heard no outside news, but things would be different once she returned to the County. From then on, she would be bombarded with rumors about him. If others found out she was dating him, they would actively try to dissuade and persuade her against it.

When she first broke up with him, he had been too desperate to win her heart to consider such complications, but things were different now.

Back then, even gaining her affection felt nearly impossible; now, the situation had evolved.

“…Why the rush?”

“If we drag this out any longer, my father will figure out everything. I want the truth to come from my mouth or yours first, not from his own deductions.”

Keisran gave a bitter smile at her response. In the end, her request to leave early was out of concern for him—to minimize the fallout he would have to face.

‘She is so tender-hearted… Why am I so selfish?’

“Kei, I don’t know what kind of environment you grew up in, what wounds you carry, or what emotions you harbor inside. Nor do I know how many people throw sharp, cruel words at you for reasons I’m unaware of.”

Although the Duke Dahrin was infamous enough for Leila to hear rumors even while staying far removed from high society, she didn’t know the full extent or depth of those rumors.

Perhaps what she knew was merely the tip of the iceberg, with much more hidden beneath. Even so, Leila was confident she wouldn’t be swayed by their words or rumors.

Even if those rumors weren’t entirely false, gossip passed from mouth to mouth was rarely accurate enough to reflect the absolute truth. Exaggeration was inherent to any rumor.

“But I can promise you this one thing: no matter what anyone says, I won’t forget the Kei I’ve seen with my own eyes.”

“…People might fail to understand you, Lea. They might tell you to stay away from me. Even those closest to you might refuse to support your choice. Would you still feel the same?”

“I’m not really the type to listen to what others say. Of course, it would be difficult if my father or brother opposed it, but I don’t want to assume the worst and give up before even trying.”

She didn’t want to assume the absolute worst about events that hadn’t happened yet and live in anxiety.

While she understood Keisran’s insecurity, she refused to let that fear consume her life.

“…”

Keisran stared at Leila, his expression a mix of confusion and wonder.

After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly.

“You are truly strong, Lea. And… so very kind.”

Unlike him, who was always eager to run away, she faced everything head-on. Unlike him, who hid everything, she was open and direct.

And she saw through all the things he tried to hide. She intuitively understood what he was feeling, what he worried about and feared, comforting him without him having to utter a word.

“…Well, I mean.”

Flustered by the compliment, Leila gave an embarrassed look.

She wasn’t sure if she truly deserved such praise. Just as Keisran had his doubts, Leila harbored her own.

Just as he worried she would despise him if she saw his true self, she felt the exact same fear. Perhaps the secrets she was keeping were even weightier than his.

“So… Kei, what will you do?”

Leila quietly awaited Keisran’s answer.

If Keisran ultimately refused, Leila would have no choice but to resort to drastic measures to leave the Duchy and return to her family.

“Understood. Could you grant me just one week? I will make sure you return home safely by then.”

“Alright.”

Leaving immediately was unrealistic anyway. Returning the moment her father sent such a letter would only plant seeds of suspicion.

Even if the truth were to come out eventually, both of them needed time to prepare for the fallout.

“Thank… you. And I am sorry.”

His expression darkened at the thought that his own foolish mistake had led to this situation.

‘If only I had thought things through a bit more carefully back then. If only I hadn’t hidden my identity from the start.’

A flood of “what-ifs” raced through Keisran’s mind.

“One week, though—no longer. I won’t wait beyond that.”

Staying here and waiting for him had been the utmost courtesy she could offer.

“Understood. There is also something I must inform you of. I have to attend an Aristocratic Council meeting tomorrow, so I will be away from the estate briefly.”

“Ah, really?”

“Yes.”

“Have a safe trip, then.”

Since she would still be here when he returned from the council, Leila forced a smile as she spoke.

“Yes.”

Hiding his inner turmoil, Keisran forced a smile in return.

The looming moment of parting was deeply painful and difficult to bear, but it was unavoidable.

Besides, this wasn’t a permanent farewell. He had simply gotten too caught up in the current moment.

It had been a greedy, undeserved wish on his part. Had he truly been considerate of her, he should have sent her back much sooner.

“Since you’re already here, why don’t you stay for some tea and talk a bit longer?”

“I would love to.”

Keisran accepted the invitation without a moment’s hesitation. He was always powerless against her requests, and this was one he had no reason to refuse. In fact, it was an offer he desperately wanted to cling to.

 

***

 

After finishing tea with Leila, Keisran returned to his office, only to find Cahill waiting for him.

It was the first time Cahill had come to his office of his own accord, leaving Keisran looking surprised.

Having previously ordered Cahill to stay out of sight, the boy had never dared to approach him recklessly. He had merely lingered nearby, casting desperate looks of longing whenever they crossed paths by chance.

“What is it?”

“I’m… sorry.”

Keisran looked at him in confusion at the sudden apology.

“For what?”

“For… making things difficult for Brother—I mean, Your Grace the Duke. And for speaking so rudely to the lady you love.”

“If it’s the latter, that’s an apology you owe her, not me.”

“I’ve already apologized to the young lady as well.”

“…”

Keisran raised an eyebrow in surprise. Cahill had shown no signs of remorse no matter how harshly he treated him before.

It seemed Leila’s guidance had proven effective, seeing Cahill act so out of character.

“I’ll be much more careful from now on. And… I won’t bother Your Grace anymore.”

Of course, those words didn’t mean he was giving up on Keisran’s affection entirely. He was simply choosing to approach slowly rather than clinging recklessly and poking at Keisran’s wounds.

Perhaps his clinginess had been another form of violence toward Keisran.

Maybe Keisran’s reluctance to see him was because Cahill’s presence served as a constant reminder of his painful past.

Even the title “Brother,” which Cahill had used to express their familial bond, might have felt like immense pressure and cruelty to Keisran.

So, painful as it was, he decided to set that title aside for now.

He wasn’t sure if this approach would work, or if it was even the right thing to do.

Yet, through Leila’s advice, Cahill had come to realize and reflect on many things.

“That is also unexpected,” Keisran said, his expression difficult to read. However, he offered no further comment.

“Just remember: if you act aggressively toward her again, I won’t let it slide.”

“…Yes. I promise.”

Cahill nodded with a somber expression. With those final words, he quietly excused himself from the office.

Seeing Cahill yield so obediently—when he usually would have lingered, desperately trying to say anything to prolong the interaction—left Keisran surprised once again.

He felt a strange, subtle shift within himself, if only just a little.

***

 

Only one week remained until she would say goodbye to the Duchy.

 

With a remaining time so short it could be counted on her fingers, Leila felt a strange, new wave of emotion. Still, it was a relief. In the end, Keisran had agreed to let her go.

 

If she could return safely to the County like this, the worst-case scenario could be avoided.

 

Although he couldn’t escape punishment for kidnapping her, if she were released by his own hands, whatever penalty he faced would surely be commuted.

 

For the remainder of her stay, she just needed to go about her days as she had been.

 

Afterward, once she returned to the County, she intended to make a fresh start with Keisran. Spending time at the Duchy had allowed her to learn so much more about him, including the fact that he was by no means the pushover she had once assumed him to be.

 

With those thoughts in mind, Leila spent time with Cahill while Keisran was away from the estate.

 

Only one week remained with Cahill as well. Once she returned home, she wouldn’t be able to see him like this anymore.

 

Cahill’s attitude, once sharp and hostile toward her, had softened significantly, bringing them quite close.

 

‘I suppose I’ve grown somewhat fond of him, too.’

 

Leila chuckled softly to herself at the thought.

 

 

***

 

 

Meanwhile, at that very moment…

 

Attending the Aristocratic Council, Keisran was hurling scathing criticisms at the proposals brought forth by the nobles.

 

After several rounds of his merciless remarks, the nobles naturally began watching the Duke’s mood, growing hesitant to speak. But that hesitation was short-lived.

 

Due to the length of the session, the council took a brief recess. During the break, the nobles carefully approached the subject while keeping an eye on Keisran.

 

“By the way, Your Grace… word has it that you’ve been seeing a lady recently. Is there any truth to this?”

 

Keisran frowned at the noble’s question. He had no idea since when they had taken an interest in his love life. At the same time, unable to fathom their motive for bringing it up, an instinctive repulsion flared within him.

 

Given their hostilility toward him, the question was bound to be asked with ill intent.

 

“Could that lady perhaps be the daughter of Count Steven?”

 

At those words, Keisran’s face instantly froze.

 

“I fail to see what you hope to achieve by bringing that up.”

 

The look Keisran cast upon the noble was frigid.

 

“They say the lady seen in Your Grace’s presence bore a striking resemblance to the Young Lady Steven.”

 

Despite the noble’s defense that he was merely curious, Keisran’s expression did not soften in the slightest.

 

Given that this was a council attended by all the nobles of the capital, Count Steven himself was present in the room. Yet, to bring up such a matter right in front of Count Steven?

 

And addressing it to Keisran instead of the Viscount?

 

That alone reeked of malice.

 

Considering the current state of affairs, it was even more suspicious. Though things had quieted down temporarily, hadn’t the Count’s household been in an uproar over the Young Lady Steven’s disappearance?

 

In a situation like this, raising such a topic was practically equivalent to asking: “Isn’t it true that you kidnapped the Young Lady Steven and are keeping her hidden away?”

 

“What a fascinating tale. I was unaware my love life garnered such deep fascination, nor can I help but wonder about your motive for raising this here. Unless you present a valid justification, would you mind if I threw down my glove to you right now?”

 

Throwing down a glove meant issuing a challenge to a duel—a duel fought with their lives on the line.

 

Faced with such a lethal threat, the noble quickly backed down. Yet, the smug look on his face suggested he had already achieved his goal just by voicing the question.

 

He then cast a subtle glance in Count Steven’s direction, clearly hoping the Count would step in and say something.

 

For some reason, however, Count Steven remained completely silent. Yet, judging by his grim expression, it was clear he was far from indifferent.

 

It was at that moment. The Emperor, who had temporarily stepped out, pushed open the doors and reentered the council hall. His gaze was fixed squarely on Keisran.

 

“Count Rabinan speaks of quite an interesting matter. On that note, Duke Dahrin… would you join me for a brief chat after the council concludes?”

 

Though phrased as a request, coming from the Emperor, it was an absolute command.

 

“…Understood.”

 

Keisran could not fathom why the Emperor was showing such a keen interest in him, but even as a Duke, he could not disregard the Emperor’s command.

 

Soon, as the Emperor took his seat, the council resumed.

 

Throughout the remainder of the session, Keisran found it nearly impossible to concentrate. The attitudes of both the Emperor and Count Steven weighed heavily on his mind.

 

When Luhan had come to see him before, he had mentioned that for some reason, the Imperial Court was taking a deep interest in Young Lady Steven’s disappearance and was planning to intervene directly.

 

Considering the scene that had just unfolded, the Emperor’s demand for a private meeting was almost certainly regarding that matter.

 

 

***

 

 

While Leila and Cahill were chatting warmly, Keisran burst through the door in a hurry.

 

At Keisran’s sudden appearance, Cahill gave a small, cautious bow, watching his mood. He then offered a quick excuse that he would take his leave and hurriedly left the room.

 

Whether Cahill left or not, Keisran’s entire focus was fixed solely on Leila.

 

Noticing his unusually unsettled appearance, a look of worry washed over Leila’s face.

 

Looking visibly anxious, Keisran stepped toward Leila and pulled her into a tight embrace. He buried his face in her shoulder, breathing in her scent. He listened to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat pressing against him.

 

Only then did his tense body begin to relax.

 

“Kei?”

 

“Just… just stay like this for a moment. Please.”

 

At his desperate, pleading voice, Leila asked no questions and stayed still in his arms.

 

“In one week… I will truly let you go. I will keep that promise, no matter what.”

 

His voice sounded agonizingly desperate, as if that one-week grace period were the sole lifeline tethering him to salvation.

 

“Who was it?”

 

At Leila’s question, Keisran looked confused.

 

“Who gave my Kei such a hard time? Who was picking on you? Should I go scold them for you?”

 

Leila spoke with a mock-stern expression. Only then did a faint smile touch Keisran’s lips, a soft chuckle escaping him.

 

“There’s no need for that.”

 

“If anyone picks on you again, just tell me. I’ll give them a piece of my mind. Look at the young master of Dahrin—he used to be like an unruly wild horse, but he softened up after I gave him a good scolding.”

 

Even knowing how absurd her own words sounded, Leila spoke in a gentle effort to comfort him.

 

Surrounded by her warmth, Keisran gradually calmed his racing thoughts.

 

‘Yes, I haven’t been caught yet. Not yet… I still have a little time.’

 

He had no intention of escaping the consequences of his wrongdoing now. If he had to face punishment, he would accept it willingly, yet he couldn’t suppress the creeping fear inside him.

 

The single, overwhelming fear that he might be separated from Leila—that he might never be able to see her again.

 

 

***

 

 

Having tried to push his anxiety aside with Leila’s comfort, Keisran returned to his office and let out a heavy, stifled sigh.

 

His mind was completely consumed by the conversation he had shared with the Emperor.

 

“I’ll ask you point-blank. Are you keeping the Young Lady Steven with you?”

 

Though phrased as “keeping” her, it was an explicit accusation of abduction.

 

“I know nothing of the matter.”

 

“Is that truly so? If you are speaking a falsehood before me, you had better prepare yourself. Duke or not, I have no intention of letting it slide.”

 

Under the Emperor’s piercing glare, Keisran had been left speechless.

 

He knew all too well the weight of lying to the Emperor. Furthermore, if the truth was bound to come to light eventually, lying now was utterly pointless.

 

“I, too, will do my utmost to ensure the Young Lady Steven returns safely to the County.”

 

Setting aside his tangled emotions, Keisran had offered that response instead.

 

“I shall hold you to that.”

 

Although it would have been natural to question why he was promising to do his best to return her, the Emperor had pressed no further on the matter.

 

He had simply left him with an implicit warning.

 

“There must not be the slightest harm done to the young lady upon her return to the Viscountcy. Regardless of whether she was in your care or not.”

 

“I shall keep that in mind.”

 

With those final words, Keisran’s brief audience with the Emperor had come to an end.

 

Stepping out of the Emperor’s office, Keisran wore a deeply troubled expression.

 

He was tormented by the anxiety that the Emperor might already know everything, alongside intense curiosity as to why the Emperor cared so deeply about the Viscount’s daughter.

 

It was true that the Emperor favored Count Steven above most. Thanks to that favor, Count Steven commanded far greater influence than other viscounts, to the point where even marquises or dukes could not easily look down on him.

 

Yet, for that imperial favor to extend all the way to the Viscount’s daughter was baffling.

 

It wasn’t as if Leila was a relative of the Imperial Family. While an imperial princess had married into the Steven household long ago, that was in the distant past; by now, they were practically strangers.

 

Nor had the Emperor and Leila ever met. Leila had never attended social galas, meaning she had no reason to ever cross paths with the Emperor.

 

Feeling that there was something crucial he was unaware of, Keisran felt a growing sense of unease.

 

It was very possible that his abduction of her might escalate into a catastrophic ordeal. Of course, he had no intention of running from it. If he had to take his punishment, he would do so willingly, but the tightening net around him filled him with dread.

 

At first, he had felt that if taking his punishment meant giving her up, he could never accept it. But he no longer felt that way.

 

If that was the price he had to pay, he would bear it willingly. Yet, that didn’t mean he was ready to give up on her completely.

 

Instead of resorting to extreme measures like before, he wanted to make choices that truly considered her well-being. Even if, in the end, he was left unable to stay by her side…

 

As his thoughts reached that point, Keisran’s expression turned deeply bitter.