The sound of galloping horses echoed through the silent night.
Inside the black carriage adorned with the crest of House Ravenshade, a man sat quietly beneath the dim lantern light.
His crimson eyes remained lowered the entire time.
Cold.
Unreadable.
But the tightness in his clenched hand betrayed his emotions completely.
"Your Highness, we will arrive at the palace shortly," the coachman informed carefully from outside.
"...Mm."
Alexander Ravenshade slowly closed his eyes.
Princess...
The messenger's words continued repeating endlessly in his mind.
The Princess has been unconscious for days.
The palace has been in turmoil.
I think it may be about the engagement...
A bitter smile almost formed on his lips before disappearing just as quickly.
Of course.
What else could it possibly be?
Sabrina hated him.
No matter how many years passed, that fact never changed.
He still remembered the fear in her sapphire blue eyes whenever she looked at him. The way she avoided being alone with him. The way she always lowered her head whenever the engagement was mentioned.
As though marrying him was her greatest nightmare.
Alexander lowered his gaze silently toward the scars covering the back of his hand.
Perhaps she was right to fear him.
The entire kingdom called him:
The Crimson Devil of the North.
The Bloodstained Duke.
The Merciless Commander.
A man who spent most of his life on battlefields drenched in blood could never compare to noble gentlemen like Charles Evermont.
Charles was warm.
Charming.
Easy to love.
While Alexander...
He glanced toward his own reflection on the carriage window.
Crimson eyes.
Cold expression.
Scars.
A monster.
The carriage finally slowed.
"We have arrived, Your Highness."
Alexander immediately straightened his posture before stepping out of the carriage.
The moment the palace servants saw him, they lowered their heads respectfully.
"Your Highness, Duke Ravenshade."
Alexander gave a small nod before walking forward quickly.
The palace hallways remained unusually quiet despite the late hour. Even the servants looked tense.
Something truly happened.
His expression darkened slightly.
Soon, the large doors leading toward the royal chambers opened.
The King stood near the windows while Queen Evelyne sat beside Sabrina's bed, gently holding her daughter's hand.
The moment the Queen saw Alexander, relief immediately filled her tired eyes.
"Duke Alexander..."
Alexander immediately lowered himself respectfully.
"Your Majesties."
The King studied him quietly for a moment before speaking.
"You came quickly."
Alexander lowered his gaze.
"I came as soon as I heard about Her Highness."
Queen Evelyne looked exhausted.
"Our daughter suddenly collapsed several nights ago." Her voice trembled slightly. "Since then, she's suffered nightmares endlessly."
Alexander's eyes immediately shifted toward the unconscious figure resting on the bed.
The moment he saw Sabrina, his chest tightened painfully.
She looked pale.
Fragile.
Her silver hair spread messily across the pillow while bandages wrapped around both her hands.
Even in her sleep, her brows remained tightly furrowed as though she was trapped inside another nightmare.
Alexander unconsciously stepped closer.
"...What happened to her?" he asked quietly.
The Queen shook her head helplessly.
"We don't know."
The room fell silent.
Alexander stared at Sabrina quietly.
Then suddenly—
"Please..."
His body froze.
Sabrina shifted weakly in her sleep, tears slowly slipping from the corners of her closed eyes.
"Please don't leave..."
Alexander's crimson eyes widened slightly.
The Queen immediately held Sabrina's trembling hand gently.
"Sabrina..."
Another tear escaped Sabrina's eyes.
"...Alex..."
Silence.
Complete silence filled the room.
Alexander stopped breathing for a moment.
The King and Queen both looked startled as well.
Alex.
She called him Alex.
For years, Sabrina had never once addressed him so affectionately.
Alexander slowly lowered his gaze.
His chest felt strangely tight.
The Queen carefully looked toward him before speaking softly.
"Duke... would you stay with her tonight?"
Alexander immediately looked up in surprise.
"I—"
"Whenever she wakes," the Queen continued quietly, "she becomes frightened again."
Alexander hesitated.
Was that truly alright?
Would Sabrina become terrified if she woke up and found him beside her?
The King seemed to notice his hesitation.
"If my daughter truly wishes to end this engagement," the King said calmly, "I will not force her."
Alexander's expression stiffened slightly.
There it is.
The real reason.
The engagement.
He slowly lowered his gaze.
"...I understand."
For a brief moment, sadness flickered across the Queen's face.
Alexander immediately continued quietly.
"But until Her Highness recovers..." He looked toward Sabrina once more. "Please allow me to remain by her side."
The Queen smiled weakly.
"Thank you, Duke."
The King nodded once.
"We'll leave the Princess in your care tonight."
Soon, the King and Queen quietly exited the room together, leaving only Alexander behind.
Silence filled the large royal bedroom once more.
Alexander slowly approached the chair beside Sabrina's bed before sitting down carefully.
The moonlight pouring through the windows illuminated her sleeping face softly.
She looked so small.
So delicate.
Nothing like the proud princess everyone admired.
Alexander stared quietly at the bandages wrapped around her hands.
His brows furrowed.
How much pain did she suffer to hurt herself like this?
His chest tightened painfully again.
Without realizing it, he carefully reached toward her trembling hand before stopping halfway.
His fingers curled slightly.
No.
He slowly withdrew his hand again.
What right did he have?
After all...
The princess feared him.
A bitter smile appeared briefly on his lips.
"It's alright," he whispered quietly into the silent room. "If breaking the engagement is what you truly want..."
His crimson eyes softened slightly as he looked at her sleeping figure.
"...then I'll let you go."
But even as he said those words—
His chest still hurt unbearably.