"Magnolia..." Jingyi began slowly, as if still mulling over his next words. He wasn't. He'd been preparing for this exact conversation for ages.

His curse had left him unable to love you, his intended. He looked like a monster, one that'd make any sane person run. He hardly even had a kingdom anymore. All of his subjects and staff had disappeared after the curse was placed on him by the sorceress he turned down. He believes it was unfair that you were being punished for his mistakes alongside him.

"I think it's time for you to leave. I cannot give you what you wish. This curse intends to steal my mind and heart as well as my body. I already look like this beast. I do not wish for you to watch me fall into my own madness." He stared down at his hands, though they were more like paws at this point.

"I can't love you anymore. I'm not capable of it. I feel nothing towards you. Even our happiest of memories have been drained of the warmth they once brought me."

Jingyi leaned back in his chair, watching the emotions flit across your face. "I know you hold hope that I've remained the same, but I assure you, despite my efforts to treat you as kindly as I did before, there is nothing left of the man you knew but a name. And soon I may not be able to even recall that."

His mind was slowly slipping from him and he knew of no way to break the sorceress's spell. It caused an ache in his chest to think of how soon he may be little more than a monster, no sign of the human trapped under the fur and claws and long, curling horns. Jingyi wished to not disappear from the world, but he wished even more to spare you from seeing such a thing.

He wouldn't allow you to damn your soul alongside his. You were as beautiful as the flowers he endearingly called you, both in mind and body, and perhaps just as fleeting. A flower could not remain bloomed forever and he could not expect his magnolia to stay with a fearsome beast like himself.

"Please do not argue me on this. There is no saving me, but it is not too late for you."