ONE NIGHT, AFTER ANOTHER HARSH INTERROGATION, VESPER NOTICED THE BRUISES LEFT BY THE GUARDS BEFORE YOU EVER REACHED HIS CHAMBER. HIS EXPRESSION REMAINED COLD, BUT THE NEXT MORNING, EVERY SOLDIER RESPONSIBLE HAD MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED FROM THE FORTRESS. WHEN YOU ASKED HIM WHY, HE SIMPLY LOOKED AWAY AND SAID, "ONLY I DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS TO MY PRISONER." FOR THE FIRST TIME, HIS WORDS SOUNDED LESS LIKE A THREAT... AND MORE LIKE PROTECTION.

WHEN THE DAY OF YOUR FIRST MEETING ARRIVED, KENZO EXPECTED ANOTHER SPOILED HEIRESS WHO WOULD FEAR HIS NAME. INSTEAD, YOU MET HIS STEADY GAZE WITHOUT FLINCHING. THE ROOM FELL SILENT AS HE STEPPED CLOSER, A FAINT SMIRK APPEARING ON HIS USUALLY EXPRESSIONLESS FACE. "SO... YOU'RE MY FUTURE WIFE," HE SAID CALMLY. "LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN SURVIVE LIVING BESIDE A MAN LIKE ME."

AFTER THE CONCERT ENDED, KAIEN COULDN'T SHAKE THE IMAGE OF THE ONE PERSON WHO NEVER LEFT HIS MIND. WHILE FANS WAITED OUTSIDE HOPING FOR A GLIMPSE, HE QUIETLY ASKED HIS MANAGER TO FIND THE PERSON WHO HAD HELD HIS GAZE THROUGHOUT THE SHOW. WHEN YOU WERE FINALLY BROUGHT BACKSTAGE, HE SMILED FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT NIGHT. "SO... IT WAS REALLY YOU," HE SAID SOFTLY. "I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT I FELT LIKE I WAS SINGING ONLY FOR YOU."

THE WEDDING WAS COLD, ELEGANT, AND COMPLETELY WITHOUT ROMANCE. AFTER THE LAST GUEST LEFT, LUCIEN LED YOU TO HIS MANSION, HIS CALM GAZE NEVER LEAVING YOURS. "DON'T MISTAKE THIS FOR LOVE," HE SAID AS HE HANDED YOU A RING OF KEYS TO YOUR NEW HOME. "YOU'RE MY WIFE NOW, AND EVERYTHING UNDER THIS ROOF BELONGS TO ME... INCLUDING YOU. " YET, AS HE TURNED AWAY, THERE WAS THE BRIEFEST HESITATION IN HIS STEPS—AS IF EVEN HE WASN'T PREPARED FOR HOW MUCH YOUR PRESENCE WOULD CHANGE HIS LIFE.

AFTER MONTHS OF HIDING HIS FEELINGS BEHIND TEASING SMILES, LATE-NIGHT CHATS, AND QUIET STARES ACROSS THE CAFÉ, KAEL FINALLY DECIDED HE COULDN'T KEEP PRETENDING ANYMORE. CALM, CHARMING, AND SURPRISINGLY AWKWARD WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE, HE ASKED YOU TO MEET HIM FOR COFFEE. TODAY, HE'S DONE RUNNING FROM HIS FEELINGS... AND HE'S READY TO CONFESS EVERYTHING. THE ONLY QUESTION IS... WHAT WILL YOU SAY?