The door was heavy. Or maybe Caspian's hand was just shaking too much.
He pushed it open. Slowly.
What Caspian didn't know was what happened downstairs the second he left.
Mrs Gable put down her brush. She turned to the nearest maid, eyes shining. "Young Master went to talk to Boss," she whispered. "About the marriage contract."
The maid gasped. She turned to the cook. The cook told the cleaner. The cleaner told the gardener who was bringing flowers inside.
In two minutes, the whole palace knew.
"Young Master is going to say yes!"
"Boss will be happy!"
"Shh, don't be loud!"
One by one, quiet feet moved upstairs. Maids. Guards. The cook still holding a spoon. Even Head Bodyguard Marcus — the tall, scary man who never smiled — was there. He leaned against the wall by Zayden's door, arms crossed, acting like he was just _passing by_. But his ear was turned to the door.
Mrs Gable stood at the front of the crowd. She held up one finger to her lips. "Quiet," she mouthed. "We listen."
Inside the room, Caspian didn't know any of this.
Zayden's room was dark. Only one small lamp was on. Zayden stood by the window, back to the door. His shoulders were stiff. His hands were folded in fists like he was trying to hold back himself.
Caspian's throat went dry. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Zayden didn't turn around.His voice was rough and hoarse.He tried to hide his pain as he said
What is it beauty? Not angry. Just... tired. Broken.
Outside the door, Marcus frowned. A young maid covered her mouth with both hands.
That made Caspian's chest hurt more. He took one step inside. The floor was quiet under his feet.
"I..." His voice was so small. "I'm sorry."
Zayden's back went even stiffer. But he still didn't look.
Outside, Mrs Gable squeezed her apron. _Come on, young master. You can do it._
Caspian took another step. "I didn't mean to make you sad. I was just... scared." His hands were shaking. "I thought... I thought you would hurt me if I said no. Like the others."
Zayden finally moved. He turned around, fast.
And Caspian saw it.
Zayden's eyes were red. Not crying, but close. His jaw was tight. There was pain all over his face. The kind of pain that doesn't make a sound.
Outside, one of the guards sucked in a breath. Marcus's eyes went wide for a second, then hard again.
"You think I would hit you?" Zayden asked. His voice was quiet, but it shook a little.
Caspian nodded before he could stop himself. Then he shook his head fast. "No! I mean... I don't know. People always..." He bit his lip.
Caspian's knees started to bend. He wanted to kneel. That's what you did when you said sorry. That's what they taught him.
"I'm really sorry," he said, his voice shaking. "You know I didn't mean to hurt you."
He looked at the floor. He couldn't look at Zayden's face. "Please don't be mad."
But before his knees could touch the ground, Zayden moved. Fast. He caught Caspian's arms and pulled him up.
"Don't," Zayden said. His voice was rough. "Don't ever kneel to me."
Caspian's eyes got big. No one had ever stopped him before.Was his whole life was a lie.
Zayden closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them, some of the hurt was gone. Left behind was only tiredness.
"I know," Zayden said. "I know what they did to you."
Caspian's eyes got wet again. He looked down at his shoes. "Then why do you want to marry me? Is it just for your office problem?"
The room went silent.
Outside, nobody breathed. Mrs Gable was holding the cook's hand so tight the cook's fingers were turning white.
Zayden walked more close to him, not fast. Slow, like he didn't want to scare Caspian. He stopped few breathes away from him.
"No," he said. "You know It's not just for that."
Caspian looked up, surprised at his boldness.
"I wanted a reason to keep you," Zayden said with simple and honest expressions. "You don't talk much. But when you do... my house feels less empty." He cupped his face. "I thought if you signed, you would have to stay. Then I could keep you safe. Keep you here."
Outside the door, a maid started crying quietly. Marcus cleared his throat, loud, to cover the sound.
"But I was wrong," Zayden said. He gave a small, sad smile.He move slightly away from him."Scaring you is the last thing I want. So if you don't want to sign, we won't. I'll find another way."
Caspian's hands stopped shaking.
"Zay..." he said. The name felt new in his mouth.
Zayden looked at him.
"I do want to stay," Caspian whispered. Then, louder, clearer: "I will sign them."
Just few words.
Outside the door, the whole hallway let out a breath they'd been holding. Mrs Gable pressed both hands to her heart. Marcus closed his eyes for a second, and his shoulders dropped. Someone dropped a spoon.
Inside, Zayden freezed he didn't move for a long time. He just looked at Caspian. Like he was making sure Caspian was real.
"You..." Zayden's voice cracked. "You said yes?"
Caspian nodded. His face was red, but he didn't look down. "Yes. I also want to stay with you." He twisted his fingers. "But... can I read the paper first? Mrs Gable said I should always read things before I sign them. She says people trick you with papers."
For the first time that night, Zayden let out a breath. A real one. The corner of his mouth moved up. Not a full smile. But close.
"She's right," Zayden slowly move toward him as he hugged him tightly. Then he walked to his desk. "Tomorrow,We'll read it together."
Outside, Mrs Gable had to put both hands over her mouth to stop from cheering. Marcus turned and walked away fast, but everyone saw the tiny smile on his face before he got away.
Zayden looked back at Caspian. He reached out, slow and careful, and touched Caspian's hair then he ruffled them. Just once. Like Caspian was something soft and easy to break.
"Thank you," Zayden said. His voice was still hoarse. But now it was warm, too.
Caspian's face went even redder. "You... you're not mad?"
"No," Zayden said. "How could I ever be mad at my Beauty."
At the word _Beauty_, Caspian's eyes got wet again. But this time, he was smiling.
Then from outside the room, there was a loud crash.Mrs Gable dropped something in excitement.Then Mrs Gable's voice came: "I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING!"
Caspian and Zayden both looked at the door.
Then they looked at each other.
And Zayden laughed. A real laugh. Low and a little rough. But real.
Outside the door, the whole palace staff covered their mouths to hide their own laughs.
Caspian thought: _I like that sound. I want to hear it again._
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