Sabrina wrapped her arms tightly around him, slowly closing her eyes as her breathing finally began to calm.
Alexander felt it immediately.
The tension in his shoulders eased slightly.
The room fell silent once more.
Warm.
For the first time since waking up, Sabrina finally felt like she could breathe properly again.
"Why are you here... Alexander?" she asked softly.
Alexander stiffened slightly before gently removing her hands from around his waist.
"Your father summoned me, Princess."
Formal.
Distant.
Just like before.
He never explained himself properly.
He always kept everything to himself, appearing cold and unreadable.
No wonder...
No wonder she misunderstood him so badly in her previous life.
But now that he stood before her like this—
Alive.
Warm.
Gentle.
Why did she never notice it before?
Charles was passionate with his words.
But Alexander was gentle with his actions.
Sabrina's chest tightened painfully.
'I love her more than my own life... Even if it costs me everything, I only want her safe.'
Those final words still echoed endlessly inside her mind.
He should hate me...
Without realizing it, Sabrina clenched her injured hands tightly.
"Ack—"
Alexander immediately noticed.
His brows furrowed as he carefully took her trembling hands into his own.
Again...
She's hurting herself.
"Don't hurt yourself, Princess," he said quietly while gently loosening her fingers. "If this is about the engagement... I won't force you."
His crimson eyes lowered slightly.
"As long as you're happy..."
Sabrina's heart ached painfully.
Even now...
Even after everything...
He was still thinking about her feelings first.
Alexander carefully guided her back toward the bed.
"I'm here to agree to whatever decision you wish to make, Princess."
"No... no, that's not—"
Alexander misunderstood her reaction immediately.
His brows furrowed again as he carefully adjusted the blanket over her.
"You don't need to force yourself, Princess," he said softly. "And you certainly don't need to harm yourself over this matter."
"Alexander, stop saying that!"
Before he could react, Sabrina suddenly cupped his face with both trembling hands.
Alexander froze completely.
Tears welled up in Sabrina's sapphire blue eyes.
"I'm sorry..." she whispered brokenly. "I misunderstood you..."
At that moment, the horrifying memories came rushing back once more.
Chains.
Blood.
Charles's laughter.
Alexander kneeling inside the dungeon covered in wounds.
And then—
Those crimson eyes rolling across the prison floor.
Sabrina's body trembled violently.
"I'm not cancelling our engagement, Alex," she sobbed softly.
Alexander's crimson eyes widened in complete shock.
He loved me before.
He loved me even when I broke him.
Even when I... chose to ignore him.
The room became quiet once more.
"You don't need to pity me, Princess..." A bitter smile appeared on his lips.
Sabrina froze slightly.
Was he always like this?
Did he truly think so little of himself?
"I'm not..." Her voice trembled weakly. "Just... just stay, Alex. Stay with me."
Alexander looked momentarily caught off guard.
She called him that again.
Alex.
Stay with her?
For a moment, he genuinely wondered if he had heard her incorrectly.
"...Princess," he whispered quietly.
He carefully held her injured hand before gently placing it back above the blanket.
Alexander hesitated briefly before finally speaking again.
"Okay, Princess."
Sabrina's shoulders slowly relaxed.
Alexander noticed it immediately, confusion flickering across his face.
She must still be emotionally unstable from the nightmare...
His gaze slowly shifted toward the bowl of porridge the servants had left earlier.
"You should eat something first, Princess," he said softly.
He picked up the bowl carefully before sitting beside her once more.
"You should eat something first, Princess," he said softly.
Before Sabrina could protest, Alexander carefully picked up the bowl from the table beside the bed.
The faint warmth still lingered from it.
Sabrina quietly watched him.
Even something as simple as holding a bowl looked strangely elegant in his hands.
Alexander sat beside the bed once more before scooping a small amount of porridge carefully.
Then—
He paused.
As though checking whether it was too hot.
Only after a few seconds did he finally bring it toward her.
"Open your mouth, Princess."
Sabrina froze slightly.
In her previous life, Alexander had always cared for her quietly like this.
But she had never noticed.
Or perhaps...She simply never tried to.
Her chest tightened painfully.
Alexander noticed her staring silently and misunderstood again.
"...If you don't want me to do this, I can call the maids instead."
"No!"
The sudden response startled him slightly.
Sabrina quickly lowered her gaze, her ears growing slightly warm.
"I mean... it's fine..."
Alexander stared at her quietly for a moment before silently bringing the spoon closer once more.This time, Sabrina obediently ate the porridge.
Warm.
For some reason, it tasted far better than anything she remembered.
The room gradually became quiet again.
Only the faint sound of rain and the soft clinking of the spoon could be heard.
Perhaps because her body had finally
relaxed after days of fear and nightmares—
Sabrina slowly began feeling drowsy.
Her eyelids grew heavier.
Alexander immediately noticed.
"You should rest now, Princess."
Sabrina looked at him quietly.
Rest?
For some reason...
She suddenly felt afraid.
Afraid that once she woke up again—
Everything would disappear.
Without thinking, Sabrina slowly reached toward him and grabbed his hand weakly.
Alexander froze slightly.
"...Princess?"
"Don't leave..." she whispered sleepily.
Alexander's crimson eyes softened faintly.He looked down at her small hand holding his much rougher one tightly.
Even in her sleep...
She still refused to let go.
Slowly, Sabrina drifted asleep once more.
Alexander remained seated beside her silently.
The candlelight flickered softly across the room while rain continued tapping gently against the windows.
His gaze lingered quietly on her sleeping face.
Then finally—
A faint bitter smile appeared on his lips.
Just this once...
Let me be this selfish.
Just this once...
Let me stay by your side a little longer.