The rest of the evening became unbearable.

For me at least.

For Lillith it seemed to be the greatest evening of her life.

Her attention immediately locked onto the wooden box again.

Every conversation somehow returned to it.

Every topic somehow led back to it.

Every five minutes she asked another question.

"Is it expensive?"

"No."

"Is it rare?"

"Not really."

"Is it magical?"

"No."

"Is it dangerous?"

"...Potentially."

Lillith immediately lit up.

"I knew it."

Dinner wasn’t any better.

She kept glancing toward the wagon where I had hidden the box.

Then toward me.

Then back toward the wagon.

At one point I caught her physically leaning sideways in her chair trying to see through a wall.

A wall.

"Lillith."

"What?"

"The box isn’t over there."

She immediately sat upright.

"I knew that."

"No you didn’t."

The servants nearby quickly found reasons to leave before they started laughing.

By the time we returned to her room, her condition had somehow worsened.

The moment she climbed onto the bed she immediately rolled onto her stomach and stared at me.

"I’m excited."

"I noticed."

"Very excited."

"I noticed."

"What if it’s amazing?"

"Then you’ll like it."

"What if it’s terrible?"

"Then I’ll never hear the end of it."

Lillith gasped.

"I would never."

"You absolutely would."

Several moments passed.

Then—

"I’m excited."

I groaned into my pillow.

"Lillith."

"What?"

"You’ve said that twelve times."

"Because it’s true."

I turned toward the wall.

Trying to sleep.

Immediately I heard movement behind me.

Then her voice.

"Tomorrow is going to be the best day ever."

"I hope so."

"I’m not even going to think about lessons tomorrow."

"You already don’t."

"That’s different."

"No it isn’t."

She ignored me.

For the next half hour she continued talking.

About birthdays.

About gifts.

About whether I’d secretly built her a castle.

About whether I’d made her a giant statue.

About whether it was some kind of machine.

At one point she somehow convinced herself that I’d built a mechanical dragon.

I honestly didn’t even know how she reached that conclusion.

Eventually she scooted closer beneath the blankets.

Then closer again.

Until her head rested against my shoulder.

"I’m not going to think about anything else tomorrow."

"I believe you."

"Not classes."

"I know."

"Not politics"

"I know."

"Not homework."

"I definitely believe you."

"Only my gift."

"That was obvious."

Lillith smiled happily.

Then wrapped one arm around my waist.

"I can’t wait."

"I know."

"I’m so excited."

"I know."

"You worked on it yourself."

"I know."

She buried her face into my shoulder.

Then spoke quietly.

"I’ve never looked forward to a birthday this much before."

That actually surprised me.

For a moment I glanced back toward her.

The excitement in her voice sounded genuine.

Not because she wanted a gift.

Because I had made it.

After that she became a little quieter.

Not much quieter.

But enough.

Eventually—

I fell asleep.

*******************************************

I couldn’t sleep.

Not that I needed to.

I’d slept three days ago.

But even if I had needed sleep—

The suspense would’ve made it impossible.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

The thought kept bouncing around inside my head.

Slowly I turned my head toward Leon.

The room remained dark.

Only faint moonlight slipped through the curtains.

Leon slept facing the wall like he always did.

Completely still.

Completely unaware.

A tiny smile spread across my face.

Carefully I shifted the blanket away.

Then slowly sat up on the bed.

My eyes never left him.

No reaction.

Very good.

I leaned over him.

Then closer.

Until my face hovered only inches from his.

I studied him carefully.

The steady breathing, relaxed expression and complete lack of awareness.

Definitely asleep.

Satisfied, I quietly slipped from the bed.

A few minutes later I reached the wagon.

The wooden box sat exactly where I’d last seen it.

Waiting.

My heart immediately started racing.

I picked it up.

Then frowned.

It felt absurdly light.

Almost empty.

That only made me more curious.

Quickly I opened it.

Inside—

A single letter.

I blinked.

A letter?

Why would he put a letter inside a giant box?

My curiosity doubled immediately.

Without hesitation I ripped the top and unfolded it.

A smile appeared on my face as I began reading.

Lady Lillith Nightbane, after a great deal of consideration I have come to a conclusion that I believe is best for the both of us. While I appreciate everything you have done for me over the years, I have grown increasingly exhausted by our relationship and no longer wish to continue it. You are kind in your own strange way, but you are also childish, impulsive, and far too attached to me. I once believed those traits were harmless, yet over time they have become difficult for me to endure. I do not wish to spend the rest of my life being watched every second of every day, nor do I wish to continue

This is a formal apology.

The smile on my face vanished.

A statement that our relationship had become exhausting.

That he no longer wished to continue pursuing marriage.

That I was childish.

Overly emotional and exhausting.

That while he appreciated the years we had spent together, he no longer believed we were compatible.

The letter continued.

It spoke about freedom.

About wanting to focus on his inventions.

About not wanting to be tied down.

Then came the final lines.

Please do not attempt to find me.

By the time you read this letter, I will already be gone.

I wish you the best in your future life.

Respectfully,

Sir Leon Aldric.

The paper slipped from my fingers.

My breathing stopped.

No.

No.

No no no no no.

My knees hit the ground.

The world suddenly felt wrong.

I started hyperventilating desperately trying to breathe.

Cold and empty.

Tears blurred my vision as they poured down my face.

The words refused to disappear.

Gone.

He wanted to leave me.

My chest hurt.

Everything hurt.

The world spun around me as my thoughts immediately became a mess.

A horrible mess.

A terrifying mess.

A wonderful mess.

Because if Leon was still somewhere inside the manor...

If he hadn’t left yet...

Then I could still stop him.

I could lock every door and order every gate sealed.

I would search every room myself if he tries hiding and when I find him, I could make him stay.

The thoughts came faster and faster until they drowned everything else out.

What if I chained him up before he managed to leave?

Then he couldn’t run away and even better, nobody would be able to take him from me.

Then he would stay.

Forever.

The image appeared so vividly in my mind that I almost smiled.

A quiet house.

No workers.

No factories.

No projects dragging him away from me.

No annoying people stealing his attention.

No roads leading him elsewhere.

Just me.

And Leon.

Forever.

My breathing slowly steadied.

The panic was still there. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

But something darker was beginning to replace it.

Something possessive.

Something desperate.

Something that whispered that if Leon truly wanted to leave me—

Then perhaps freedom was simply a privilege he no longer deserved.

My hands trembled.

A shaky laugh escaped my lips.

That’s right

I wiped tears from my eyes.

If I hurry.

I slowly pushed myself to my feet.

I can still catch him.

My smile widened slightly.

I can still bring him back.

I’ll lock him somewhere safe.

He’ll hate it at first.

My smile widened further.

But I’m sure he’ll understand eventually.

Then I whispered quietly to myself.

"And if he tries to leave..."

"I’ll just have to make sure he can’t."

Then—

A sound came from behind me.

Every thought vanished instantly.

Then—

I heard snickering.

Behind me.

Slowly I turned around.

Leon stood there.

One hand covering his mouth.

Failing miserably to hide his laughter.

For several seconds my brain refused to process what I was seeing.

Then something snapped.

I launched myself at him.

WHAM.

Leon crashed backward into the grass.

Tears streamed down my face as I grabbed the front of his shirt.

My voice cracked.

"Don’t leave me!"

More tears flowed down my face.

"I’ll fix whatever’s wrong!"

I shook him.

Hard.

"Please don’t leave!"

The laughter immediately vanished from his face.

The panic in my voice had become very real.

Guilt appeared across his expression.

Then he sighed.

And flicked my forehead.

"Ow!"

Both my hands immediately flew to my head.

"Huh?"

My brain completely stopped functioning.

Leon sat up.

Looking guilty.

"It was just a prank."

Silence.

"A prank?"

"Yes."

"You..."

Another pause.

"You..."

My eye twitched.

Leon pointed toward the wagon.

"I hid the real gift while you were bathing."

I stared at him.

Then at the letter.

Then back at him.

"It wasn’t real?"

"No."

"You aren’t leaving?"

"No."

The tears still wouldn’t stop.

Something inside me broke.

"You stupid idiot."

Leon winced.

"You complete idiot."

"You horrible idiot!"

"You awful stupid idiot!"

Meanwhile Leon slowly wrapped his arms around me.

"I’m sorry."

"You should be!"

"I am."

"You idiot!"

"I know."

I buried my face into his chest.

Still crying.

Still angry.

Still relieved.

Leon continued patting my head gently.

This idiot.

This complete idiot.

The most wonderful idiot in the entire world.

And despite how angry I was—

I never letting him go.

*******************************************

I held Lillith in my arms while she cried.

I didn’t know what to do.

I’d seen Lillith angry.

I’d seen her happy.

I’d seen her excited.

I’d seen her threaten entire kingdoms over the smallest inconveniences.

I’d even seen her prepare to fight her own father.

But this?

This was different.

I wasn’t even sure I’d ever seen her cry before.

Not when I lost my leg.

Not during everything that happened in the Magneto Kingdom.

Not during anything we’d stumbled into over the years.

Yet here she was.

Crying like a child in my arms.

While simultaneously threatening me.

Some of the threats were honestly disturbing.

A few involved the destruction of multiple kingdoms.

One involved hunting me down across the continent.

Another involved locking me in a room forever.

Several involved chains.

A concerning amount involved chains.

But most of them eventually devolved into some variation of—

"Stupid idiot."

Or.

"You horrible idiot."

Or.

"You complete stupid horrible idiot."

I slowly pushed her back slightly grabbing both of her arms until she was facing me.

Tears still ran down her cheeks.

Her face was red.

Her eyes looked watery.

Every now and then she sniffled.

For a moment neither of us said anything.

Then I looked at her.

Really looked at her.

The moonlight reflected softly in her purple eyes.

Her black hair looked slightly messy from crying.

And despite everything—

She was beautiful.

I smiled slightly.

"You know you’re really beautiful, right?"

Lillith froze.

Completely froze.

The tears stopped for a second.

Even the sniffing stopped.

For several moments she simply stared at me.

Then I leaned forward.

And kissed her lightly on the forehead.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Lillith’s brain visibly stopped functioning.

A second later she collapsed straight into my chest.

Her face buried itself against me.

Another sniffle escaped her.

Then another.

After a while she spoke quietly.

"...I forgive you."

Relief immediately washed over me.

"Thank you."

"You are still an idiot."

"Probably."

"The biggest idiot."

"I know."

Lillith sniffled again.

Then tightened her grip around my shirt.

I smiled slightly.

"The actual gift tomorrow will make up for it."

"It better."

"It will."

"If I see another letter tomorrow..."

She slowly looked up at me.

Her eyes narrowed.

"I am chaining you up before reading it."

I couldn’t help laughing a little.

That only made her pout harder while tears stil dripped down her face.

Eventually I started gently stroking her hair.

The anger slowly disappeared.

The tears gradually stopped.

Her breathing became calmer.

The trembling left her shoulders.

For a long time neither of us moved.

We simply sat there together beneath the moonlight.

Eventually Lillith finally stood up.

I stood as well.

The moment I did, she immediately grabbed my hand.

Very firmly.

The kind of grip that suggested she thought I might disappear if she let go.

I glanced down.

Lillith immediately looked away.

"...Don’t."

"Don’t what?"

"Leave."

"I’m literally walking beside you."

"Good."

The grip tightened.

We slowly made our way back toward the residence.

Every now and then another small sniffle escaped her.

The letter had clearly shaken her far more than I’d expected.

The prank may have gone a little too far.

Probably way too far.

By the time we returned to the room, Lillith still hadn’t released my hand once.

Not even for a second.

The moment we climbed into bed she immediately attached herself to me.

Both arms.

Both legs.

Her entire body.

I was pretty sure escaping would’ve been impossible even with heavy duty equipment.

Normally I would’ve complained.

Tonight I didn’t.

Lillith buried her face into my chest.

Then after several moments spoke quietly.

"...You’re not leaving right?"

The question came out surprisingly small.

For a moment I felt guilty all over again.

I managed to wiggle a arm out of her entrapment and wrapped it around her.

"No."

A few seconds passed.

Then—

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Lillith nodded slowly.

Then somehow wrapped herself around me even tighter.

A feat I previously believed impossible.

Several minutes passed in silence.

Then I felt her relax slightly.

The tension slowly left her body.

Her breathing steadied.

And eventually—

For the first time all night—

She finally seemed at peace.

Meanwhile I found myself completely trapped beneath the future duchess.

Again.

At this point it was becoming a tradition.

A while later I finally closed my eyes.

And despite the human octopus wrapped around me—

I eventually fell asleep.