Chapter 195
“So, Your Majesty, what does love mean to you?”
Trienne tilted his robed head with childlike curiosity as Ysaris hesitated. To him—who only understood emotions through textbook definitions—her denial made no sense.
“The racing heart, the longing to be together, the excitement when I see you—isn’t this love?”
He spread his arms wide, his bone-white grin stretching.
“Love at first sight, they call it. Though you’re the first I’ve ever said this to.”
Whether intentional or not, his lilting tone dripped with mockery. Ysaris’ expression hardened.
“You mean you love my blood. Not me.”
Her voice shed all pretense of courtesy. This psychopath wasn’t worthy of it.
“If you define emotions by physical reactions, you’re no better than a beast. Don’t insult me with lies after kidnapping me and my son as test subjects.”
“I wasn’t trying to—”
“What do you even want from me?”
She cut him off.
“Why this charade of affection? You didn’t need to lend me your room or play this game.”
Trienne stared blankly. For someone incapable of empathy, her anger was incomprehensible.
Isn’t being loved a good thing? Why reject it?
For test subjects, they’re treated exceptionally well.
He scratched his chin before shrugging.
“Peace.”
“Peace?”
The word made her brow arch. He clearly didn’t understand its meaning—no one who kidnapped an empress could.
“I wish for you to stay here peacefully by my side.”
He explained, smiling.
“No escape attempts, just health and safety. Hence my… generosity.”
“You call this—”
“I gave you my room, regular meals, even brewed medicine overnight! I’ve confessed my love—what more could you want?”
Ysaris was beyond speechless. His genuine confusion made her head spin.
Of course. Expecting rationality from him was futile. His words to Runellia proved that.
‘Raise.’ Like livestock.
That was how he saw her—a prized specimen. No wonder he couldn’t grasp her revulsion.
Her mind cooled. Dozens of counterarguments surfaced. She could dismantle his hypocrisy logically, ruthlessly—
But then he stepped closer, his smile sharpening.
“I ask for so little. Just stay quietly. Isn’t this better than being chained like an animal?”
His voice dropped.
“I’m being very kind.”
The threat silenced her. With no power, no options, even her defiant gaze wavered.
…Yet what truly unsettled her wasn’t his words, but the memories they invoked.
Kazhan’s voice surfaced unbidden.
Different circumstances. Different men. Different emotions.
…Yet the parallels made her throat tighten.
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