Kaelan staggered back in shock.
"H-How did you get in here?! Don't come closer—don't you dare!"
Her fingers trembled as she drew her sword.
Felix, unfazed, stepped forward slowly.
"Please… just listen. Just once."
"Don't take another step!" Kaelan's voice cracked, her sword raised between them. "I swear, I'll—"
"But why are you like this?" Felix asked softly, limping forward, pain in every step.
Kaelan's eyes flicked to his wounded leg, noticing for the first time how uneven his steps were. But she tightened her grip again.
"Stay back!"
Felix pleaded, voice almost breaking.
"Just tell me. Please, Kaelan… why?"
Kaelan finally fell to her knees, sword still in hand, despair washing over her like a tide.
"I… I don't know what to do anymore. My father will kill me. And you—you're the reason this is happening!"
Felix blinked in confusion. "What… what do you mean? I don't understand. Please, talk to me."
Kaelan's knuckles turned white around the hilt.
"Don't come closer, Felix! I'll slit my own throat if you do!"
Her hands were trembling now—not from fear, but the terror of choice.
She wasn't bluffing. But she didn't want to be right either.
Felix didn't flinch. Instead, he stepped forward, gently grabbing the tip of the blade and pressing it to his own neck.
"Then do it. If my life can make yours easier… if killing me means peace for you, then go ahead. I don't care anymore."
Kaelan's hands twitched, her breath shaky. Her eyes welled up with tears.
"No... I can't. Even if I want to, I can't!"
The sword clattered to the floor.
Felix moved in and wrapped his arms around her trembling frame.
"All of this… it'll be alright in the end. I promise."
Kaelan, still shaking, muttered against his chest.
"It's still your fault… all of it."
Felix smiled softly. "Then blame me. But I'll never tell anyone your secret. I swear it."
"And how can I trust that?" she asked, eyes sharp despite the tears.
Felix pulled a coin from his pocket, spinning it between his fingers.
"Let fate decide. Heads, your secret stays safe forever. Tails, you can kill me right here. Either way, you win."
He flipped it. The coin spun in the air — once, twice — and finally landed on the stone floor.
Heads.
Felix chuckled. "Seems I'm still lucky."
Kaelan stared at him. "Are you insane?"
"I might be," he smirked, "but at least I'm loyal."
She was silent for a moment. "How do I even know you didn't tell someone already?"
Felix leaned in. "Because the only ones who saw your truth… aren't breathing anymore. And I made sure of that."
Just then, Felix flinched. A jolt of pain shot up his leg as blood began to seep through the bandage.
"Her eyes flared. 'You're bleeding?! When did this happen?!'"
Felix winced, brushing it off.
"It's nothing. Just… from when I chased those guys who kidnapped you."
"Let me see," Kaelan demanded, kneeling beside him.
"No, really, it's—"
She pulled the fabric back anyway.
"That's a deep cut! Don't lie to me."
Felix looked down, guilty.
"I… I didn't want to make you worry."
Kaelan grabbed a healing potion from her drawer, kneeling beside him and pouring it gently over the wound.
"You idiot," she whispered. "This is why I don't trust you. "You always lie to protect people. That's what makes you dangerous."
"I'm sorry," Felix said, watching her hands move gently. "But you're worth the risk."
She glanced up at him.
"I already knew about the injury. I just didn't want to believe it."
After a pause, Felix looked toward the door.
"We should open it. Everyone's worried about you."
Kaelan hesitated, eyes full of fear again.
"What if they find out? What if… they don't accept me? I felt so exposed when you found out. I thought you'd call me a liar. I thought…"
Felix stepped closer, resting his hand on her shoulder.
"People fear what they don't understand. But if you show them who you are — and you're good to them — they'll protect you. Like I will."
Kaelan stared at him, teary-eyed… and smiled.
As Felix turned to open the door, he stopped once more. Looks behind and smiles at kaelan and mutters.
"Even if the world flips a hundred times—I'll still land on your side."
And with that—
He opened the door.
The crown was in the balcony observing them .