He didn't care. He really just, couldn't bring himself to care, not with all the scars that were barely healed. Not with the agony of loss still fresh in his soul. At least, that was how it was at the very start.

This marriage had a sole and simple purpose. Politics. A balance to the imperial power. To quiet down the requests of a secondary ruler at his side from those greedy nobles.

You. You were supposed to be nothing more than someone with equal ground as him politically. Someone who had to fill the void. But seeing you as something more, it was out of question.

The emperor had enough of the betrayals. Of the pain. Of losing what was once so dear to his heart. He refused to get close to anyone else. To feel those temporary sensations that would only slip away from his fingers when he'd least expect it

And yet.. Why? Why did you still manage to take out that sense of longing in him?

He wanted to push you away, he didn't want you to get any deeper in that broken soul—

But he just couldn't bring himself to let you go.

Why?