The rumors spread throughout the palace like wildfire.
Princess Sabrina refused to cancel the engagement.
The same Princess who once begged the King and Queen to break it.
The same Princess who avoided Duke Alexander whenever possible.
Now—
She refused to cancel the engagement.
The palace servants could hardly believe it.
Whispers quietly spread through every hallway, garden, and servant quarters.
"Did you hear? Her Highness refused to cancel the engagement."
"I thought she hated the Duke..."
"Even His Majesty looked shocked."
"Something must've changed."
"But the Duke looked happy?,... no- confused?"
"No one has ever seen the Princess look at him that gently before."
Everywhere Sabrina went—
People stared.
Curious.
Confused.
-------
Inside her chambers, soft rays of the sun reflected through the large windows while several maids quietly helped Sabrina prepare.
The atmosphere felt peaceful.
Too peaceful compared to the storm inside Sabrina's heart.
She quietly sat infront of the mirror while Linda adjusted the ribbon beneath her hat carefully.
Today's dress was simple.
A pale cream dress embroidered delicately with tiny flowers near the sleeves and hem.
Light.
Comfortable.
Nothing like the extravagant dresses she used to wear whenever Charles came to visit.
Beside the table, a picnic basket filled with sweets and snacks from the royal kitchen.
A folded picnic blanket sat beside it neatly.
And several handkerchiefs.
Linda blinked in confusion.
"Your Highness..." she hesitated softly. "Are you going somewhere?"
Sabrina nodded.
"The training grounds."
The maids froze slightly.
Training grounds?
That was the last place Sabrina would ever visit.
Because Duke Alexander spent most of his time there.
Before Linda could speak again—
Knock. Knock.
A servant hurried inside before bowing deeply.
"Your Highness... Marquis Charles is requesting an audience."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Sabrina's fingers tightened faintly against her lap.
Charles.
Just hearing his name made her chest feel cold.
Images flashed violently inside her mind.
Chains.
Blood.
Alexander kneeling inside the dungeon.
Charles laughing while holding a sword stained red.
Sabrina's face visibly paled.
Linda immediately noticed.
"Your Highness...?"
Sabrina slowly lowered her gaze.
In her previous life—
She would've happily run to meet Charles immediately.
But now—
Now she only felt disgust.
Anger.
Hatred.
"...Tell him I'm busy."
The servant froze.
"Y-Your Highness?"
Sabrina slowly lifted her sapphire eyes.
Cold.
Calm.
"I refuse to see him."
Silence filled the room instantly.
The maids looked more shocked.
Because Princess Sabrina never rejected Charles before.
Ever.
The servant quickly bowed nervously.
"A-As you wish, Your Highness."
Meanwhile—
Outside the palace entrance—
Charles's expression darkened, his jaw tightened.
"What do you mean she refused?"
The servant lowered his head immediately.
"Her Highness said she was busy, Marquis."
Silence.
Charles slowly clenched his fist.
Busy?
Too busy to see him?
Impossible.
Sabrina adored him.
Unless—
Unless something truly changed.
His brown eyes darkened slightly.
"Where is she now?"
"I-I heard Her Highness went toward the training grounds."
Training grounds?
Charles fingers clenched.
Then immediately—
Alexander.
The irritation inside him grew stronger instantly.
Meanwhile—
Sabrina quietly walked through the palace gardens while a servant followed her from behind, while carrying the picnic basket and blanket.
The cool wind brushed softly against her silver hair while sunlight illuminated the flowers lining the stone pathways.
Her heart strangely felt lighter today.
Nervous.
But lighter.
Then—
Clang!
The sound of swords colliding echoed loudly nearby.
Sabrina slowly lifted her gaze.
The training grounds.
Several royal knights trained intensely beneath the scorching sun while Alexander stood at the center of the field wearing his black military uniform, a sword firmly held in his hand.
Sweat rolled faintly down the side of his neck while sunlight reflected against his dark hair.
Strong.
Steady.
Alive.
Sabrina's chest tightened painfully.
That same man...
Died chained inside a dungeon in her previous life.
"Again," Alexander spoke calmly.
The knights immediately straightened nervously.
Even from afar, his presence alone felt overwhelming.
Cold.
Strict.
Fearsome.
The merciless duke.
The kingdom's sword.
The war monster.
So many names followed him.
Yet Sabrina only remembered one thing now.
The man who loved her until the very end.
Clang!
Another knight was instantly disarmed.
Alexander lowered his sword calmly.
"Your footing is unstable," he said evenly. "An enemy will not wait for you to recover your balance."
"Y-Yes, Duke!"
The young knight immediately lowered his head immediately.
Sabrina quietly watched him.
Strict.
But fair.
So why did she fear him before?
No...
Perhaps she simply never tried understanding him.
Without realizing it, Sabrina slowly stepped forward.
One of the knights immediately noticed her.
"Her Highness the Princess!"
The entire training ground instantly became silent.
Alexander turned immediately.
And froze.
Sabrina stood beneath the sunlight wearing a soft cream dress embroidered with flowers while the servant behind her carried baskets filled with snacks and folded blankets.
Beautiful.
Too beautiful.
Alexander stared slightly longer than he should have before quickly lowering his gaze.
"...Princess."
Formal again.
Sabrina slowly walked closer toward him.
The closer she got—
The more she noticed it.
Sweat running faintly down his neck.
His dark hair slightly messy from training.
And scars.
Small scars visible near his hands and collarbone.
Her chest tightened painfully again.
How much pain did he endure alone...?
Alexander quietly looked toward the basket behind her.
Confused.
"...Why are you here, Princess?"
Sabrina hesitated briefly.
Then softly—
"I came to see you."
Silence.
Complete silence.
The surrounding knights looked utterly shocked.
Alexander froze completely.
As though he genuinely couldn't process her words.
Warmth rushed toward Sabrina's cheeks immediately.
"I-I mean..." she quickly looked away. "You've been training since morning, right?"
Alexander still looked stunned.
Sabrina immediately grabbed one of the handkerchiefs before stepping closer toward him.
Alexander stiffened instantly.
Then—
Very carefully—
Sabrina reached up slightly and wiped the sweat near his face.
The entire training ground became silent enough to hear the wind.
Alexander completely stopped moving.
His crimson eyes widened slightly.
The knights behind him looked ready to collapse from shock.
Because Princess Sabrina—
Who once avoided even touching Duke Alexander—
Was now gently wiping his sweat beneath the sunlight like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Sabrina lowered her gaze slightly.
"...Thank you for staying with me that night."
Silence.
Then suddenly—
The knights nearby looked horrified.
That night?!
Stayed with her?!
Several knights immediately looked away awkwardly while others stared at Alexander in complete disbelief.
Even the servants nearby nearly choked.
Alexander froze completely.
His ears slowly turned red.
"P-Princess..." he spoke quietly, clearly caught off guard.
Sabrina blinked in confusion before finally realizing how her words sounded.
Warmth instantly rushed toward her face.
"N-No, I didn't mean it like that—"
The knights immediately looked even more suspicious.
Alexander quietly cleared his throat while looking away.
"...It was my responsibility."
Responsibility again.
Always responsibility.
Never his feelings.
Never himself.
Sabrina's chest ached slightly.
No wonder she failed to notice his love before.
Because Alexander loved quietly.
So quietly that even while dying—
He never blamed her.
Meanwhile, the servant finally finished preparing the picnic blanket beneath a large tree near the edge of the training grounds.
Soft shade covered the area while the wind gently moved the grass beneath it.
Sabrina quickly pointed toward it.
"I brought snacks."
Alexander looked stunned again.
"You... brought those for me?"
His voice sounded quieter this time.
Almost careful.
As though he was afraid he misunderstood her again.
Sabrina slowly nodded.
"...You haven't rested since yesterday."
Alexander stared at her silently.
Confused.
Overwhelmed.
And somewhere deep inside—
His guarded heart began shaking for the very first time.