傅羡好站在萧瑾承面前，心中翻滚着无数的情感，但她还是硬著心试图保持清醒。“您不打算放我离开吗？”hervoicebarelyaboveawhisper,filledwithdesperation.Emotionsclashedinhiseyes,andhetookastepclosertoher.“Whatdoyoumean?“heaskedsoftly,hisgazepiercingthroughthedarkness.

“您曾经说过，别把我送给太子，你是打算放我走的吗？”Shecouldn‘thelpbutwonderifshehadmisreadhim.Hadhereallybeenseriousaboutlettinghergo?Thethoughtsentashiverdownherspine.“Whydidyoudothat?“sheasked,tryingtokeephervoicesteady.

“BecauseIwantedtomakesureyou‘dbesafe,“hereplied,hiseyescloudingoverwithconcern.Heseemedtohesitateforamomentbeforeadding,“ButIhavetoadmit,I‘mgladIwaswrong.“Hisgazelockedontohers,andforamoment,theyjuststaredateachother.

“Why?“sheasked,hervoicebarelyaboveawhisper.Sheknewhe‘dbeengivenachoicebyhismother?toeithermarryherortakeoverthethrone.Butwhywouldhewanttogiveuphisrightfulplaceasking?Hermindracedwithquestions,butbeforeshecouldaskanyofthem,hespokeup.

“Idon‘tknow,“hesaid,hisvoicetingedwithfrustration.“Ijustdo.“Hetookastepclosertoher,andforthefirsttime,shesawthevulnerabilitybehindhiseyes.Foramoment,shefeltlikeshewaslookingatastranger?apersonwhowastiredoflivinguptoexpectations,tiredofbeingtreatedlikeatool.

“Iwanttoknowwhy,“shesaid,hervoicefirmnow.Sheneededanswers,andshewasn‘tgoingtoleavewithoutthem.Hesighed,rubbingthebackofhisneckbeforespeakingup.

“BecauseIdon‘twanttobekinganymore,“hesaid,hisvoicelacedwithdespair.“I‘vebeendoingitforsolong,butit‘snotwhatIwant.I‘mtiredofbeinginapositionwhereeveryonelooksatmedifferently.Ijustwanttobeabletomakemyowndecisions,withouthavingtoconsiderthefateofthekingdom.“

Hereyeswidenedasshelistenedtohiswords.Shehadneverseenhimlikethisbefore?vulnerableandscared.Foramoment,sheforgotaboutherownproblemsandjustfeltasurgeofcompassionforhim.Helookedsolost,soalone.Butthenhespokeup,andherheartsank.

“Besides,“hesaid,hisvoicedrippingwithsarcasm,“I‘msureyou‘dmakeagreatqueenanyway.“Hiswordsstung,andshefeltapangofhurt.Howcouldhesaysuchthingstoher?Didn‘theknowthatshewasfightingforherownhappiness,notjusthersbutalsothefutureofthekingdom?

Butbeforeshecouldrespond,hecontinued.

“Look,I‘msorry,“hesaid,hisvoicefilledwithregret.“Ididn‘tmeantohurtyou.It‘sjust...sometimesIfeellikeI‘mlivingsomeoneelse‘slife.LikeI‘mapuppetonstrings,andeveryoneispullingthemarionette.“Helookedather,hiseyespleadingforunderstanding.

Shefeltalumpforminherthroatasshelistenedtohiswords.Sheknewexactlywhathewastalkingabout?theweightofexpectations,thepressureoflivinguptosomeoneelse‘sstandards.Butforhim,itseemedlikeaninsurmountableburden.

“Maybewecanfindawayoutofthistogether,“shesaidsoftly,hervoicebarelyaboveawhisper.Shetookastepclosertohim,andforthefirsttime,hesawthesincerityinhereyes.“Iwanttohelpyou,Lemeng.“