ARE YOU LEAVING ME?

Leyla walked through the palace corridors, her heart pounding so loudly it felt like every beat echoed through her entire body. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the artifact—the very same one everyone had been searching for, the one that could bring answers… or an end.

This would be their last day together.

The thought pulsed in her mind, making it hard to breathe. Naru would wake up. He would clear his name. He would prove he hadn't stolen the artifact. He would be free.

But I won't be here.

Her legs felt heavy, as if every step she took toward his room was also a step away from him. She knew what she had to do. She knew what she had promised Raizen.

So why did it hurt more than anything else?

Why did it feel like she was leaving pieces of herself behind with every step?

Anger, pain, sorrow—they all mixed inside her. It felt like she was drowning in her own emotions, but she couldn't stop. Not now.

When she reached the door, she took a deep breath and pushed it open.

Inside, Kaito and Akihiro turned to her immediately, their eyes narrowing.

"Leyla?" Akihiro was the first to speak. "Where have you been?"

"What's going on with you?" Kaito added, not taking his eyes off her.

She knew she didn't look good. She knew her face revealed too much, but there was no time for explanations.

They were looking at her like she was someone else. Like they didn't recognize the person standing before them.

"All of you. Out. Now."

Akihiro blinked. "Leyla, are you okay?"

"Out. Now."

Kaito looked like he was about to argue, but then he met her gaze.

And without a word, he simply nodded.

They left slowly, but she could see the hesitation, the worry. They knew something was wrong.

When the door closed behind them, Leyla was alone.

Alone with him.

She approached the bed, breathing heavily.

Naru lay still, his face peaceful. For the first time since she met him, he didn't have that irritatingly confident expression. No smugness, no teasing smirk.

He was just… him.

And he looked so heartbreakingly vulnerable that something inside her clenched.

For the first time, she felt fear.

Not for him.

For herself.

Leyla sat beside the bed, hands resting on her lap, staring at his face. The magic was fading. His fingers twitched slightly, then his eyelashes fluttered.

Naru jerked awake, his eyes snapping open.

For a moment, he just blinked. And then—he smiled.

As if he hadn't just been on the verge of death.

"Princess…" His voice was rough but still carried that warm, teasing tone. "I knew you'd be here when I woke up. Did you kiss me in my sleep by any chance?"

Leyla didn't react.

At least, not on the outside.

Inside, everything was breaking apart. But outwardly, she remained cold. She reached out slowly, brushing her fingers against his cheek—so gently, even she felt like a stranger to herself.

Naru noticed immediately.

Her hands were cold.

They weren't shaking, they weren't angry, but they weren't warm either.

And somehow, that chilled him more than any pain he still felt in his body.

He tried to sit up, but she helped him, lifting him carefully.

"Slowly," she said, her voice devoid of emotion.

Naru just watched her.

"Leyla…?"

"You're fine," she answered briefly, avoiding his gaze.

But he was too good at this. Too good at reading people.

Too good at reading her.

So he didn't waste time.

"I'm sorry," he blurted out.

For the first time, he didn't stall, didn't wait for the right moment, didn't use his charm as a shield.

"I'm sorry for keeping the truth from you. I know you told me from the start that you don't want lies, that you have no patience for games, but…" He took a deep breath, lowering his gaze. "I was scared. If I told you the truth… if I told you that you were the one Raizen loved in your past life, that you were his everything… I was afraid you'd remember. That you'd leave. That you'd… stop loving me."

Leyla finally looked at him.

Cold.

Emotionless.

And that hurt him more than any wound.

"So, you kept it from me because you thought I couldn't decide for myself?"

"No—"

"Because you thought the memory of another man would be stronger than what we have now?"

"Leyla, you know that's not true."

"I don't know, Naru."

Her name on his lips sounded like a plea.

But she didn't waver.

Instead, she held out her hand.

In her palm lay the artifact.

Naru looked down at it, then back at her.

"Where did you find it?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Of course it matters."

"Naru," she said quietly, "take it."

He hesitated, sensing there was more to this.

"Leyla…"

"Take it and save yourself."

He still didn't move.

He knew. He felt it.

"Leyla, what did you do?"

"Don't ask."

"Like hell I won't!"

He pushed himself up, pain shooting through his body, but he didn't care.

"Why does this feel like a goodbye?"

She didn't answer.

She simply pressed the artifact into his hand.

His fingers instinctively curled around it, but his eyes never left hers.

"Leyla, talk to me."

"There's nothing to say."

"Don't do this to me."

He pulled her into his arms, as if that would stop her.

As if that would change what she had already decided.

Her body tensed, but she didn't pull away.

"Leyla…"

"Let me go, Naru."

"No."

"Let me go."

His grip tightened.

"If I leave now, there's no going back."

"Then don't go."

"I have to."

"You don't. We can fix this together. We can—"

"It's too late."

Naru pulled back just enough to search her face.

But she wouldn't meet his gaze.

"Leyla, you can't do this to me."

"I am doing this."

That moment… that second when he realized she was serious…

It was like someone had shoved a dagger straight into his heart.

"Goddamn it…" he muttered, clenching his jaw.

His hands curled into fists, his breath came in harsh gasps.

"Fuck this," he growled, furious, wounded, powerless.

She said nothing.

She just stepped back.

Naru didn't know when exactly he dropped the artifact, when exactly his fingers tangled into his hair, when exactly he realized she was truly leaving.

But he knew one thing.

This wasn't over.

He could never let her go just like that.

"Leyla!"

His voice thundered through the room.

She didn't even flinch.

"Don't walk away like this. Give me a reason."

"There's no need."

"Like hell there isn't!"

His fist slammed into the wooden pillar.

"Leyla, if you think you can just disappear from my life without an explanation—"

"Naru…"

She was too calm. Too final.

And that was what enraged him the most.

The door suddenly burst open, and Kaito rushed in.

"Prince, we heard—"

"Get out."

Kaito froze.

"But—"

Naru turned to him with such intensity that the words died in his throat.

"Now."

Kaito clenched his jaw, glancing at Leyla as if expecting her to explain, but when she said nothing, he just turned and left, slamming the door behind him.

Naru took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.

But he couldn't.

"Our marriage is over, Naru."

Her words hit like a punch.He felt them in his stomach, in his chest, in every damned cell of his body.

"The artifact is what you were looking for. It will erase all doubt and prove your innocence. And with it… our contract will no longer be valid."

Silence.

Naru didn't even blink.

And then—

"So what?"

His voice was dark, deep, dangerous.

"What?"

"I already told you once, princess."

He stepped toward her, unflinching.

"If our marriage ends… then I'll just marry you again."

Leyla flinched.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm not joking."

Her gaze faltered for a second.

But only for a second.

"You and I are over, Naru."

He smiled. But it wasn't his usual charming smile, nor the teasing one.

It was the smile of a man who was losing everything that mattered to him.And he was ready to burn for it.

"Leyla."

Her name was quiet, but dangerous.

"You can't just say we're over and expect me to accept it."

She swallowed but held firm.

"You knew this wouldn't last."

"I didn't."

"You lied to yourself."

"No."

"Naru."

Her patience was wearing thin.

And so was his.

Naru ran his hands over his face, muttered something under his breath, then suddenly cursed.

"Goddamn it! You can't do this to me! You can't just leave! For fuck's sake, Leyla, if you thought I'd let this end like this—"

"You don't have a choice."

Her eyes were sharp now, like the edge of a blade.

He glared at her, chest rising and falling heavily.

And then she stepped back.

One step.

Then another.

He moved toward her instantly.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Naru… stay where you are."

Pain spread through his chest.

Real, physical pain.

"Leyla—"

"Don't look for me."

That stopped him.

His hands dropped to his sides.

His lips parted, but he couldn't find the words.

And she just turned away.

And left.

The door closed behind her.

Naru stood there, frozen.

His breathing was heavy.

He felt… empty.

And then he punched the wall.

And again.

And again.

Until his knuckles bruised, until he felt the blood on his fingers.

Until he realized…

She really wasn't coming back.