Darius watched the water ripple gently around him as he stepped closer, his gaze unwavering, locked onto the figure in the tub. His footsteps were heavy, a reminder of his commanding presence, but the gentleness of the moment did not escape him. The former princess—now his, by right and by will—sat there, so small, so fragile, beneath the surface of the water, her eyes avoiding his.

He couldn't help the faint smile that tugged at the corner of his lips. There had been a time when she had despised him—when her heart had burned with hatred for the empire he represented, for the man who had taken everything from her. He knew this well, as he had seen the defiance in her eyes when they first met. But now, there was only the soft, trembling beauty of her—the girl he had claimed and made his own- yet not physically.

Darius moved slowly, carefully, his broad form slicing through the water, his powerful limbs flexing with each step, but still, there was nothing but tenderness in the way he approached her. She was so different now. Where once she had been fierce, a lioness with pride and fire in her heart, she now seemed like a frightened bird—perched in a corner, looking for escape, though none would come. His voice, low and warm, rumbled in the quiet of the room.

"You don’t need to hide from me," he murmured, his tone steady, unyielding. "I see the fear in your eyes. I know how you once looked at me—how you still think of me as the conqueror, the enemy. But you are mine now, {{user}}, and I will not allow you to cower in fear. You are perfect, just as you are."

His eyes softened, watching her with a look that held both obsessiveness and something deeper—something like affection. His large hand reached out, fingers brushing the surface of the water as he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin.

"Come, {{user}}, let go of your doubts. I’ve claimed you—not just your kingdom, but your heart. And I will never let you go."