ANOTHER SURPRISE

Time passed, but to Leyla, the days felt meaningless. The sun rose and set, but she felt neither its warmth nor its light. She was there, in Raizen's castle, yet she felt like she was nowhere at all.

Raizen was not cruel to her. On the contrary, he took care of her, but never crossed the line. He did not touch her, did not get too close, but he was always nearby. Always watching over her.

But she was not the same. She showed no emotions. She was neither sad nor happy. Not even angry.Nothing.

She simply… existed.

Raizen quickly realized that he couldn't rely on her will to take care of herself. He had to make her eat, or she would forget. He had to bring her beautiful dresses and insist that she wear them. Sometimes, he would even send her to bathe, saying with a smile:"Imagine such a beautiful woman, yet not smelling as she should. What a shame that would be."

Leyla didn't react. Sometimes she would just look at him, blink, and do what he asked—but without a trace of enthusiasm.

Sometimes, he tried to make her laugh, but it never worked.Sometimes, he even provoked her, but she never responded.

Nothing reached her.

And it… drove him mad.

Life in the palace carried on. Naru returned to his duties because he had no choice—he was a prince, a leader, someone everyone looked up to with expectations. Was he broken? Yes. But that didn't change the fact that he had to live.

Leyla was gone. And though it tore him apart not knowing where she was, he decided to stop looking for answers. If she left, that meant she wanted to.That's what he told himself. That's how he convinced others.But his soul ached.

Akihiro often visited him. Sometimes for business, sometimes just to check on him. Naru never laughed. Sometimes he listened to Akihiro's stories, sometimes he just sat in silence. Akihiro never expected him to open up, but he knew Naru well enough to see what the prince refused to admit—pain was deeply rooted in him, but he ignored it because he had no other choice.

Kaito, on the other hand, completely devoted himself to Maya, one of the palace maids. He spent more and more time with her, and though he would never admit it, he had softened.

Of course, Akihiro couldn't let that slide.

"So, the great Kaito is now chasing after a maid?" he teased.

"I'm not chasing. She's chasing me."

"Of course, because your dumb expression is just so charming?"

Naru would have enjoyed conversations like these once. He would have even joined in with a witty remark. But now? Now, he just ignored them.

Sometimes, when Kaito and Akihiro were alone, they spoke about Leyla.

"Do you think she's okay?" Kaito asked quietly.

Akihiro shrugged."I don't know. But what I do know is that wherever she is, she's not the same anymore."

Kaito fell into thought."Naru acts like he doesn't care."

"Of course, he cares," Akihiro snapped. "But he's a proud idiot."

"And Leyla?"

Akihiro shook his head."She… I don't know. But I have a feeling we'll see her again. And I don't know if that will be a good thing."

Raizen was persistent. Too persistent.

For months, Leyla had been… empty. No expressions, no emotions, just a shadow of the woman she once was. But that didn't mean he would give up.

"Today, we're doing something special."

"We're not doing anything," she replied flatly, staring out the window.

Raizen shook his head."No, we are. I've never had flowers here. But… maybe I could. Because of you."

Leyla looked at him as if he had just told her he would cut off his own head."Flowers? In this castle?"

"Yes. It'll be interesting."

"Absolutely not."

"Then you'll help me plant them."

"I said no."

Raizen leaned against the table and smiled."Try and stop me."

Leyla sighed, rolled her eyes, grumbled—but in the end, she still put on gloves and joined him in the great hall, where the servants had already prepared soil, pots, and various plants.

She could never have imagined Raizen with flowers. It was like picturing a demon in a field of roses. And yet, there he was, sleeves rolled up, holding a plant as if he were trying to understand it.

"This is pointless," she muttered while scooping some soil into a pot.

"Yes. But also, it's kind of fun."

Leyla shook her head, but then—she felt something strange.

A sharp pain in her stomach.

She suddenly bent forward, clutching her abdomen, but the pain only grew stronger. And then… a warm sensation down her thighs.

"Raizen…"

He turned immediately, recognizing the tone in her voice."What?"

Leyla looked down and saw the dark stain spreading down her legs.

Raizen was at her side in an instant."Leyla!"

Her body trembled, her legs gave out.

"Something's wrong," she whispered before her vision blurred.

Before she completely collapsed, Raizen caught her and lifted her into his arms.

"Call the physician! Now!" he shouted, rushing through the castle halls.

Servants scattered, panic filling the air.

Leyla could barely see, but she heard his voice, felt his arms holding her tightly.

"Stay with me," he said, for the first time sounding… afraid.

Darkness slowly consumed her.

The last thing she heard before she lost consciousness was the physician's voice as he ran to them.

"My lord… she's pregnant."

Raizen froze."What?"

The physician swallowed hard, looking at Leyla's unconscious form."She… is carrying a child."

Raizen had never been this shocked in his life.