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That he would extend his hand to herâand she would accept his touch.
Just like that, like a fantasy story, she wondered if there would be a miracle, an ending wrapped in happiness.
Even if only for a fleeting moment, she indulged in such a foolish thought.
ââŚheh.â
Sarah let out a short laugh at the absurdity of what sheâd done.
There was no way things like that happened in real life.
In the end, she was nothing more than a commodity raised in Count Cernardâs householdâdestined to live with her legs spread, a coquettish smile on her lips, fawning over a man she didnât even love.
She asked herself how she was any different from the pr0stitutes in the red-light district and gave a self-deprecating smile.
For a woman like her, marrying the man she loved was nothing more than a delusionâan undeserved wish.
ââŚI miss you.â
She gently wiped away the moisture forming at the corners of her eyes as if nothing had happened.
There was no use crying or whining.
‘Yeah. Letâs laugh. Better to laugh instead. If itâs inevitable⌠then laugh.’
Even if she had to sell her wretched b0dy to someone else, Sarah took a deep breath and made a firm vow: her heart would never break.
She glanced at the clock hanging in one corner of the room.
It was time.
Time to leave.
With a soft sigh, Sarah turned away from the windowâor at least, she tried to.
If not for the sound of someone calling her name, she would have.
âSarah.â
Outside the window, a voice called out to her.
The moment she recognized who it belonged to, her lips parted instinctively, and she spoke his name.
ââŚCain.â
She slowly lifted her eyes toward the window.
There he was, standing diagonally from the spot where she had just been gazing at the night sky.
Why was he here?
Why now?
Did he come to her in this momentâright when she had been on the verge of giving up?
Was this a dream?
Her heart wavered.
Could it be a delusion, a fantasy born of longing?
ââŚAh.â
No, it wasnât a dream. It couldnât be.
That was Cain.
Without a doubt!
For a moment, her heart surged. There were so many things she wanted to sayâso many words piled up like a mountain. But only one made it past her lips.
ââŚWhy did you come?â
She missed him terribly⌠but she didnât want him to know. Not that she had been sold off to another man.
The woman named Sarah Cernard wanted Cain von Estel to remember her as someone goodâsomeone worth loving.
âWhy did I come? Isnât it obvious?â he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. âI came to steal you away.â
âWhat?â
At the sound of his bold, almost playful tone, Sarahâs heart began pounding wildly again. For a moment, she allowed herself to slip into that sweet illusionâthat maybe, just maybe, he really had come to save her.
But the words that left her mouth next were sharp and bitter.
âYouâre being reckless. Truly reckless, Cain.â
She was pleased. Overjoyed, even, that he thought of her. That he had come to keep the promise he once madeâto save her.
ButâŚshe was scared.
This was madness.
And she knew all too well how relentless Count Cernardâs dogs could be. If she escaped with him, they would chase them to the ends of the earth. Heâd get hurt. He could die.
And thatâabove all elseâwas something she could never accept.
Soâ
ââŚCain. Thereâs no place here for you to intervene. Iâm here of my own will.â
Wearing the coldest expression she could muster, Sarah spoke the words she hoped would drive him away.
âWhen did I ever ask you to save me?â
‘Please knowâIâm so glad you came.’
âItâs fine. Go back. As you know, the Heir Decaraznan is a very handsome man, isnât he? So I donât think itâs such a bad thing to become his concubine. Nobles marry this way all the time.â
‘Honestly⌠I think I fell in love with you a long time ago.’
âIâm sorry, but letâs just pretend you didnât say anything. So you donât have to worry about me anymore. Goâgo back to your room before anyone sees.â
‘I want you to save me. So badly.’
But it would be too selfish. She didnât want to drag him into something that would end with only one of them broken.
At some point, Sarah had begun putting him ahead of herself.
Cain said nothing as he watched her with solemn eyes.
Thenâ
ââŚAh.â
He reached out, took Sarahâs hand, and wrapped his other arm around her waistâpulling her into an embrace.
âItâs okay,â he murmured, âyou can complain later. Iâve temporarily disabled the alarm spell, but itâll reactivate soon. We need to escape before weâre discovered. The escape route is nearly ready. Our odds are good.â
He met her eyes with unwavering resolve.
âSo stop talking and come with me.â
ââŚC-CainâŚ!â
Cradled in his arms like a princess, Sarah flushed, wriggling in embarrassment. But when she realized resistance was futile, she dropped her head.
âLetâs go, Sarah. Tonight, Iâll end this nightmare that binds you.â
As he spoke those words, Sarah looked at him in stunned silence, then bit her lip.
ââŚItâs foolish,â she whispered. âThis whole thing⌠itâs bound to end in failure.â
Even so, she let her body rest against his chest.
As ifâfor the first time in a long timeâshe was truly happy.