Days turned into weeks. Sébastien didn't stop trying. Every time he had a moment, he would make his way to the Adelhart estate, determined to find a way to change Franz's mind. Sometimes, it was brief—other times, he was allowed a few more words. But the answer never changed.

"You've come again," Franz said the second time Sébastien visited. His tone was flat, like he'd expected Sébastien's persistence. "What part of 'no' didn't you understand the first time?"

But Sébastien stood his ground. "I know you don't want her in danger. But she's not fragile. She's capable. She has the right to choose more than just the path you've laid out. I'm offering her a way to grow beyond your name, beyond this house."

Franz's gaze stayed cold. "Her place is here. That won't change."

It was always the same. Sébastien could feel the his words slipping through his fingers like sand. But he never gave up. Franz never said yes. But he never shut the door completely, either. He could've refused to meet at all—could've had guards send Sébastien away without a word. But he didn't. He always listened, even if only for a few minutes.

And that was enough to keep Sébastien coming back.

Because as long as the door opened, even just a crack, the chance wasn't zero.

***

Months passed. Sébastien continued to visit, no matter how fruitless it seemed. He couldn't afford to show weakness—he needed to keep trying, each time with a new angle, a new argument. He couldn't allow himself to give up on Elaine. She was worth too much to simply walk away from.

Sébastien began to notice small things—subtle shifts. Franz's gaze were no longer as cold, a longer pause before he said no, and once, he thought he saw Elaine watching from the upper balcony, though she disappeared the moment he looked up.

By the fourth month of trying, Xander stopped asking about the progress. He understood. He knew Sébastien wasn't going to stop until he had exhausted every option.

Pablo, on the other hand, never missed a chance to throw a jab. That evening, as Sébastien returned from yet another rejection, Pablo looked up from his sharpening stone.

"You're wasting your time. I told you—it's like chasing shadows. Franz isn't going to change his mind," he said flatly.

But Sebastien didn't care. He was used to Pablo's cynicism. It didn't stop him. It never would.

***

One day, in the fifth month, as Sébastien entered the study, he was met with an unusual sight. Franz wasn't sitting at his desk, as he usually was. Instead, he was standing by the window, looking out over the estate, his back to Sébastien. The room was quiet, too quiet, and it made the air feel thick with something unspoken.

Without turning around, Franz spoke, his voice calm but carrying an edge of something deeper. "Tell me, Mr. Durant," he began, his words deliberate, "If you had the chance to save yourself—if you could walk away, leave everyone behind, and live—would you do it?"

Sébastien paused, the question catching him off guard. It was nothing like the usual rejections or dismissals he had come to expect. There was no edge in Franz's tone, only a quiet challenge.

"I'd stay," he said slowly, his voice steady. "I'd stay with them. If they fall, I fall. If they survive, we survive."

Franz's eyes hardened. The silence stretched long between them.

"If you stay and die with them, what does that accomplish?" he pressed, voice low.

Sébastien didn't flinch. "It means I didn't abandon them. It means I kept my word. And that... that's worth more than just surviving."

For a long moment, Franz just stared at him, his expression unreadable. When he finally leaned back in his chair, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but it was laced with something darker. "Your loyalty is admirable... but a fool's loyalty is a dangerous thing."

Franz looked at him for a long moment, as if weighing the very essence of Sébastien's resolve. Then, with a grunt of approval, he turned back to the window, his posture softening just slightly.

"You're an interesting man, Durant," Franz said, his voice steady but tinged with something almost... begrudging. "Too bad you're so damn stubborn."

He paused, letting the words hang in the air between them before continuing, his tone shifting, becoming more reflective.

"You should understand that stubbornness doesn't always make you right." Franz's eyes narrowed as he continued, his voice low but sharp. "Don't mistake stubbornness for strength. It takes wisdom to know when to hold firm and when to walk away. Remember this, Durant. If you don't, it might cost you more than you're willing to lose."

***

It wasn't until the sixth month that things started to change.

Sébastien arrived at the Adelhart estate after he just finished a raid. He made his way to the front gate as usual, but this time, the guards bowed at him, greeting him, before stepping aside. "Lord Adelhart has asked to speak with you today."

Sébastien blinked, surprised by the sudden change in treatment. It had never been like this before—guards had always been neutral, sometimes curt, but never this respectful. His heart skipped a beat. Was it finally happening? Was Franz finally going to listen?

The guard noticed his hesitation and gave a brief nod, as if expecting the question. "Please, follow me, Mr. Durant. Lord Adelhart is waiting for you inside."

Sébastien steadied himself, pushing aside the fatigue from the raid still lingering in his muscles. He didn't dare let his excitement show—he had learned not to get his hopes up. But something in the air felt different today. He followed the guard through the grand halls of the Adelhart estate, every step bringing him closer to what felt like a crossroads.

They reached Franz's study, the door already slightly ajar. The guard gave a brief knock, then opened the door, gesturing for Sébastien to enter.

Franz was there, sitting in his usual spot by the window, but today there was no coldness in his posture. No walls. He looked at Sébastien with a sharp gaze, one that seemed to have softened over time, as if the man was finally willing to let him in.

"Come in, Durant," Franz said, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of something new—maybe even curiosity. "I've been expecting you."

Sébastien stepped inside, closing the door softly behind him. He didn't speak immediately, unsure of what to say. The air between them had always been tense, but now there was something else—an unspoken understanding, a shift.

"Sit," Franz said, gesturing to the chair across from him. Sébastien took a deep breath and sat, keeping his posture steady, despite the anticipation gnawing at him.

After a long moment of silence, Franz broke it. "I've been thinking. About your persistence. And about your offer for my daughter."

Sébastien's heart pounded in his chest. It was finally happening. He had no idea what Franz would say, but this was the closest he'd gotten. He kept his voice neutral, though his mind raced. "And?"

Franz leaned forward, his fingers steepled together, eyes focused on Sébastien. "Elaine is capable. I've known that for years. But she's my daughter. And she has responsibilities to the Adelhart name. Responsibilities that aren't easily ignored."

Sébastien nodded, willing to listen. He didn't interrupt. Not yet.

Franz continued, his tone deepening, more measured. "But I also understand that sometimes, we have to let go. Sometimes, the people we care about need to find their own path, even if it's one that we don't agree with."

He paused, his gaze softening. "But I won't make this decision lightly, Durant. It's not just about you. It's about Elaine. And it's about what's best for her future."

Sébastien opened his mouth to speak, but Franz raised a hand, silencing him. "I'll consider your request. But I want you to understand this—if she does decide to join you, it will be because she chooses to. I won't push her, and neither will you. It will be her decision, and hers alone."

Sébastien swallowed, a mix of relief and tension flooding through him. "Understood," he said simply, his voice steady. "Thank you, Lord Adelhart," Sébastien said quietly. "I'll respect her decision. No matter what."

Franz gave a small nod, and for the first time, Sébastien saw a flicker of something like approval in his eyes.

He stood up, motioning for Sébastien to follow. "Come. She's waiting for you."