The days after their visit to the orphanage felt strangely different for both Erika and Alaric. It was as if the simple joy they had shared with the children had lingered in the spaces between their conversations. Alaric, once distant and focused solely on duty, began seeking out her company more often. Their exchanges, once formal and strained, grew warmer, more natural. Though Erika remained hesitant about the marriage, she couldn’t deny that something between them was shifting. It wasn’t love—not yet—but it was something else—something that made her heart race and her thoughts swirl.

They spent more time together during royal duties, occasionally catching a quiet moment to talk. Alaric’s once playful remarks had become more thoughtful, and Erika, who had always kept her distance, started to see him as more than just the prince she had been forced to marry. He was no longer just a figurehead of power; he was a man with worries and a life beyond the crown. 

Yet, despite their growing closeness, Erika’s heart remained conflicted. She had been trying to convince herself that this marriage was nothing more than a duty, a transaction that would allow her to fulfill her obligations and return home after the three-month agreement was complete. But as the days passed, the lines between obligation and desire began to blur. She wasn’t sure if she was falling for Alaric or simply growing accustomed to his presence. And what would that mean for her plans to leave the palace once the agreement ended?

One evening, Alaric invited Erika to meet him in the palace gardens. It was an unexpected request, one that made Erika’s pulse quicken with a mix of curiosity and nervousness. Her mind was clouded with doubts about the future, unsure of her place in this royal world or in the marriage that seemed both inevitable and suffocating. Yet, despite her uncertainty, she found herself walking toward the gardens, drawn to the idea of another quiet moment with him.

The moonlight bathed the garden in a soft glow, casting delicate shadows over the trees and flowers. The air smelled of jasmine, and the sounds of crickets filled the night as Erika stepped deeper into the garden. Her gaze found Alaric standing near a fountain, his posture relaxed but his eyes distant, lost in thought.

"Your Highness?" Erika’s voice was tentative, betraying the fluttering uncertainty in her chest. She hadn’t expected to feel so nervous in his presence, but she couldn’t help it. 

Alaric turned toward her with a soft smile, his gaze warming as he spoke her name for the first time without the formal title. "Erika," he greeted, his voice uncharacteristically casual. "I’m glad you could join me."

Surprised by the familiarity, Erika blinked. "Of course," she replied, though her heart raced. Something about tonight felt different, but she couldn’t quite place it.

Alaric seemed to notice her unease and took a small step back, his expression softening. "I know this marriage was forced upon you, and I know you’ve been doing everything you can to adjust to this… life." His voice was unguarded, filled with a quiet sincerity that caught her off-guard. For the first time, she saw a glimpse of the man behind the crown—the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders, his vulnerability laid bare. "But I want you to know that I’m not here to force you into anything. Not now, and not ever."

The words stirred something deep within her, and Erika felt her heart clench. She had been so focused on the idea of fulfilling her role that she hadn’t allowed herself to think about what she truly wanted. 

"You’re trying too hard to make me like this," Erika blurted out, her voice sharper than she intended. "I know you have a duty to this kingdom, and I’m just a foreigner—a baron’s daughter. But you don’t have to pretend to be my friend, or… or someone I can trust." She swallowed, feeling the weight of her doubts crashing down. "I’m not even sure if I can trust myself in all of this."

Alaric’s face faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. His smile returned, but it was different now—softer, more genuine, and filled with understanding.

"Maybe I am trying too hard," he admitted, his tone quiet and reflective. "But it’s not because I want to manipulate you. Erika, I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said before… about how you just want to go home."

Her breath hitched at the memory. "I don’t belong here," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don’t belong in this palace, in this world of royal duties. I don’t know how to be… the kind of woman who can be a queen. I just want to go back to my family, to the life I knew."

Alaric’s gaze softened, and without hesitation, he closed the distance between them. The night air stirred the petals of nearby flowers, and for a brief moment, the world around them seemed to hold its breath.

"Erika," he said, his voice steady and kind. "You don’t have to be perfect. I don’t need you to be the Empress they expect you to be. I just need you to be you."

Her chest tightened as his words sank in. She hadn’t realized just how much pressure she’d been carrying—how she had been trying to fit into a life that wasn’t hers. But here, in this quiet garden, surrounded by moonlight and the scent of jasmine, she felt something real—a chance to be herself, flaws and all.

"Why are you saying this?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "You don’t even know me. You don’t know what I want. You only know the woman you think I am."

Alaric’s expression softened, though his jaw tightened slightly. "I know more than you think," he said, his voice warm but earnest. "I know you’re brave, even when you don’t want to be. I know you’re strong, even when you doubt it. And I know that, even though you’re terrified of this marriage, you’re doing everything you can to make it work—not for me, not for anyone else, but for you."

He trailed off, his words hanging in the air between them. Erika’s heart pounded in her chest as she waited for him to finish. But instead of more words, he reached out and gently took her hand in his.

"I think you deserve more than a life of just fulfilling duties," Alaric said softly. "I think… I think you deserve a life where you can be happy. And if that life happens to be with me, I won’t push you into it. But I’ll try to make it one where you feel seen, heard… and loved."

Erika’s heart skipped a beat at the word "loved." She had spent so much time doubting this marriage, doubting him, but now, in this quiet moment, she wasn’t sure what to think anymore. Could she love him? Could she let herself feel something real for him?

"I don’t know if I can love you," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Not yet, at least."

Alaric’s smile deepened, and he squeezed her hand gently. "I’m not asking for that. But maybe, just maybe… we can get there together."

Erika felt a rush of conflicting emotions, her thoughts spinning in a haze. She had come to the palace to fulfill her duty and return home, but now… now she wasn’t sure. She wasn’t sure about anything anymore. Was this marriage just a matter of convenience? Or could it be something more? Could she build a life here, with him?

And as the night deepened, Erika’s heart wavered. Maybe this marriage could be her future. Maybe, just maybe, it could be something more than she ever imagined. Time will tell whether she'll stay or leave.