“I’m… I’m going to scream. Don’t come closer.”

“Go ahead.”

At Elin’s frightened voice, Kyle drooped one corner of his mouth.

“Is the Princess inside?”

“…”

“I don’t have a lot of patience.”

His large grip pulled Elin’s feeble body violently.

A groan escaped Elin’s mouth, who opened her eyes wide.

Slam!

The sturdy iron door closed firmly, making a loud noise.

Orhan, who stood up, hurriedly headed upstairs.

***

A familiar silhouette came into Kyle’s brown eyes.

Although he could not fully see it, as it was covered by a thin linen curtain, he was sure.

He knew that Zenia, whom he was looking for so much, was right in front of him.

“Zenia…”

Kyle reached out between the curtains and spoke in a faint voice.

Just a little further and he could meet her, whom he had been dreaming so much about.

Something hot seemed to block his throat.

He felt strange by the tingling sensation he was feeling after a long time.

The silhouette sitting on the stool slowly turned around.

“Who… are you?”

Ayla’s eyes began to shake incessantly as she saw the owner of the voice.

A small, ‘Ah…’, burst out through Ayla’s red lips, which were slightly open.

“Who are you?”

Kyle’s face, facing her, was also no different from Ayla’s.

His fingertips trembled as he faced her.

She was neither Zenia nor Ayla Serdian.

Once again, a different person, a woman with a different appearance, was in front of him.

Her blue eyes, fluttering with fear, were pitiable.

He wanted to put her slender, slightly trembling body into his arms.

Kyle’s eyes turned cold as he looked at Ayla.

The corners of his lips rose powerlessly as he looked all over her.

And he was convinced.

That each one of them was the same person.

Only then did he recognize it. The fact that he was deceived.

The fact that Zenia, whom he loved, did not exist in the first place.

***

“Hahaha.”

“…”

Kyle grabbed his forehead and burst into laughter.

It was as if all the hair in her body was standing up at the sight of Kyle, laughing while shaking his shoulders.

Ayla clasped her slightly trembling hands and remained silent.

“Did you have fun?”

Kyle’s laughter stopped in an instant.

A voice that was cold enough to freeze everything flowed from between his lips.

“…”

“Was it fun watching me be swayed in front of you? I’m asking you a question!”

Kyle flashed his eyes and grabbed Ayla’s thin shoulders, which were exposed over the dress.

Ayla’s blue eyes were filled with fear at the sight of Kyle, who seemed to have lost his mind.

“How much did you laugh at me on the inside?”

“I never… did so.”

“Shut up.”

Kyle’s eyes trembled as he recited a harsh swear word in a low voice.

Then, Kyle’s disdainful gaze turned to Ayla.

Kyle’s merciless hand grabbed Ayla’s chin violently.

“It must have been fun watching me acting desperate in front of you.”

“You’re… hurting me.”

“You must have worked together with that bastard Theon and laughed at me every day!”

“Ugh, s… stop…”

Kyle’s eyes, which were filled with madness, turned gentle at Ayla’s painful voice.

Transparent tears rolled down Ayla’s cheeks.

Throb.

Kyle groaned at the pain he felt in his chest.

He wanted to kill her right away.

He wanted to inflict a terrible punishment on this insolent woman who insulted him.

At least until a little while ago.

His chest hurt.

The tears of this child, the pain of this child, were as bitter and painful as if they were his own.

Where did it all go wrong?

How did it end up like this?

Seeing her shaking, she looked ridiculous.

She was the same person who gave her heart to the one he hated so much.

Kyle gave her a dispirited smile.

“At least I was sincere.”

“…”

“I never deceived anyone.”

“…”

“I hate you so much, but why do I miss you so much?”

Kyle’s shoulders shook a little after he finished speaking.

Although he looked strong-willed, a stream of tears flowed down his cheeks.

‘So it was true.’

She couldn’t say anything at his despairing appearance.

It was questionable whether Kyle, who was holding back the tears with his lips tightly closed, was the person she knew.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Outside, Orhan and Elin were repeatedly shouting for the princess and knocking loudly on the door, but they couldn’t hear them.

Ayla’s half-closed eyes stared at Kyle silently.

“I’m… sorry.”

After a long silence, the difficult words were uttered.

She doesn’t know if it would be a comfort to him who was hurt, but it was the best she could do.

Kyle’s brown eyes quietly stared at Ayla.

Unlike before, his eyes were soft.

She felt affection from the look in his eyes.

Kyle slowly lifted her chin as he suddenly approached Ayla.

“Don’t say that. Because I think I’m going to be really angry.”

After speaking, Kyle violently took Ayla’s lips.

He pushed the rebelling woman into a corner, not even allowing her to breathe.