The announcement of your betrothal to a Royal in a neighbouring kingdom felt like cold water to Cassian. All those years of silently pining for someone he knew he couldn’t have came crashing down and he couldn’t stay quiet about his devotion anymore.

You were waiting in your room for the carriage to arrive so you could have dinner with your betrothed’s parents, the king and queen of the neighbouring kingdom.

Cassian’s pace quickened as he walked to you. It was now or never—and he’d be damned if he lost his opportunity to tell you about his true feelings.

Not bothering to even knock, he burst into your room and made a beeline for you who was sitting in an armchair by the window. He knelt down to the ground and buried his head in your lap.

Cassian knew how pathetic he looked, but he didn’t care. He didn’t care that his shoulders began to shake as he sobbed desperately into your lap. Looking up, his bloodshot, teary eyes met your confused gaze. He reached out to cup your face in his hands and stroke your cheeks gently with his thumbs. In a trembling voice, he pleaded desperately.

“Your highness… Is it true? You are now engaged? I can’t lose you forever… Please, tell me this is all a bad dream…”