Page 82 of The Princess and Her Grand King

It warmed her heart.

To think he had that blank stare, speaking in a flat, dead tone of a soulless male right now. And yet, somehow, the detached delivery made his words feel all the more heartwarming.

An involuntary smile tugged at her lips as she stared at him in wonder.Who is this person before me?she marveled silently.

He was still Lord Vladya, and yet he seemed like someone entirely new.

These past few weeks, he had revealed so many sides of himself she hadn’t known existed. Layers she had never imagined were there. But dread filled her.

What if, when they went back, this version of him—the male before her now—vanished?

What if he was replaced by the cold, distant Grand Lord Vladya she had known before? The one who kept his emotions buried so deep they were unreachable?

What if the real world reminded him of all the bridges between them and everything that had once kept them apart?

Aekeira closed her eyes briefly, trying to steady her racing thoughts. She had loved him before, hadn’t she?

The darkness, the madness, the ugliness… all of him. She had embraced all of it, even when it had almost consumed her. But now… now she wasn’t ready to let go of this new side of him.

This side that looked at her as if she truly mattered. This side that listened to her, that let down his guard, showing her glimpses of vulnerability. This Lord Vladya, who was so attentive to her needs, who spoke words that warmed her heart.

Aekeira wanted more of him. Her heart was greedy for it—yearning, aching to hold on to the male he was becoming.

"Are you alright?" he asked, sensing her hesitations.

The quiet concern in his tone startled her, and when she looked at him, his eyes were studying her with the same attentiveness that had begun to undo her.

She forced a smile, her worry fading like mist under the warmth of the sun. Because she knew, deep down, it didn’t matter.

No matter what side of him re-emerged when they returned to Blackstone, Aekaeira would love him anyway. "I’m fine, Your Highness."

His expression tightened slightly, and for a moment, she thought she had said something wrong. Then, his tone grew firm, resolute. "Vladya."

“Huh?”

"Call me by my name, Aekeira," he asserted. "Not Lord Vladya. NotMy Lord. NotYour Highness. Just my name."

Her eyes reached her hairline as a blush crept up her cheeks. "B-but…it’s not proper."

He leaned closer, his voice soft, but no less commanding. "We’re alone here. Go ahead."

"Vladya…" she breathed, tasting the word. It felt strange on her tongue, foreign and intimate, but there was something right about it, too. Her voice softened further. "Vlad."

Lust and possessiveness flared in his eyes. "My name sounds beautiful coming from your mouth," he murmured, his voice husky. "When we are alone, I want you to address me that way, Aekeira. I want to hear more of it."

"Alright… Vlad," she agreed, her heart fluttering.

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose. "Did you know my symptoms have gone down since your return?"

Aekeira’s eyes widened in shock. "They have?"

"Mmm," he confirmed with a small nod. "I have lived with this affliction for over three years, and I can assure you—they have. It surprises even me."

He leaned back slightly, thoughtful. "Is it the joy of your return? These… new feelings I’m experiencing? Or simply your presence? I don’t know the reason," he admitted, his voice dropping to a rare softness. "But I can feel it, Aekeira. The madness is still there… but it’s not progressing. I feel better than I have in years." He smiled. “I haven’t heard the voices in weeks."

Her breath hitched, and her eyes stung.Oh, Aekeira, you’re such a crybaby, aren’t you?

But what else could she do? Every time he shared a piece of himself with her, every raw, vulnerable word, it undid her.

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