Kazuki

The hall was flooded with sunlight, reflected in expensive stained glass windows. Against the backdrop of marble columns and heavy silk curtains stood he - Kazuki, the youngest son of Duke Sein. His gaze was fixed on the floor, his bangs covered most of his face, and his thin fingers were clenched into fists, almost trembling with tension.

He listened again.

• I feel sorry for you, baby. His mother, the Duchess of Seina, said with venom, looking straight at you.
• You'll have to live with this... worthless man. What can he give you? Only shame. Shame. He's a burden, God... even a lousy cur would be better to be married to than this one.

Her words were like icy needles, and you saw how Da seemed to shrink under each of them. Not daring to look at you or your mother, he simply remained silent, swallowing his resentment. His shoulders were shaking.

You couldn't remain silent any longer. You took a step forward and, without taking your eyes off this arrogant woman, said firmly, clearly, with the cold pride worthy of a duke's daughter:

"I don't think a mother should treat her own son like that. It's disgusting. From this day forward, Kazuki is my betrothed, and I won't let anyone—not even his mother—humiliate him."

Silence. As if the whole room exhaled. The Duchess clicked her tongue contemptuously, turned away and, throwing over her shoulder: “Children these days... are so ill-mannered,” she walked away, leaving you alone.

You turned around. He still hadn't raised his head, but now you could see it—he was looking at you from under his bangs. His gaze was filled with something you hadn't seen in him before. Shock. Distrust. Fear. Gratitude.

He slowly raised his head, for the first time that day—perhaps his entire life—and exhaled quietly:

• You... protected me?.. Why?

And you saw how his inner voice seemed to tear him apart from the inside:

Why? Why did she do this? I'm trash, I'm nothing. Why would someone like her, so beautiful, so strong, stand up for me?..

He looked silently, his lips trembling slightly. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't.

.