Chapter . Thirty_nine.

Arthur freezes, his breath caught in his throat, his heart stopping momentarily. Overwhelmed, he stumbles back, collapsing onto the bed, tears streaming down his face.

Madin, equally shaken, moves toward him. He wraps his arms around Arthur tightly, holding him as though afraid to let go.

Arthur clings to him, his own arms encircling Madin in silence. There are no words—only the shared weight of emotions, the years of pain and longing expressed through their embrace.

A knock at the door shatters the moment. A guard’s voice filters through. “My lord, King Harris of the Bugada Kingdom wishes to speak with you before he departs.”

Arthur struggles to steady his voice. “Tell him I’m unwell. I’ll visit him tomorrow.” he says.

“Maybe you should see him. It might be importan__,” Madin begins, trying to pull away, but Arthur tightens his grip.

“No, just... ” Arthur murmurs firmly, unable to even say what he wants to say. Burying his face into Madin’s shoulder.

"Madin, I don't know where to start, but one thing I should have already said is... I am really sorry for what I did to you.

I know only words can't take away the pain I caused you, but if it could help, then tell me anything I can do to fix what I did to you,"

Arthur says, his voice pained and cracking with emotion. "It's been killing me every second since you left. Even now, sitting here with you, I am still worried that it could just be a dream.

Because that's how it has been—dreaming of you, waking up to disappointment and agony."

Madin stays quiet, his lips pressed together as if holding back a dam of emotions. He knows if he starts talking now, he will break down completely, and he refuses to let himself do that.

Arthur, desperate for a response, continues, his voice faltering with guilt. "Madin, I should never have puni—"

"Please! Stop!" Madin snaps, his voice sharp, his emotions barely in check. "I don’t want to remember those things, Arthur. You have no idea what they did to me.

I’ve spent these past three years trying to bury them, trying to put everything behind me, and I’m not willing to talk about them now."

Madin stands up abruptly, his body shaking with suppressed rage and pain. "I’m tired, Arthur. Tired of living a lie because of you. Tired because my whole life has been a lie—not because I chose it, but because everyone sees me as worthless and delicate. A man who can’t even stand up for himself. Well, guess what? I’m not letting anyone take advantage of me anymore!"

Arthur flinches as Madin’s words hit him like a physical blow.

"What happened between us, happened," Madin continues, his voice shaking. "And I don’t need you to do anything to fix it. You can move on now."

"Madin, please," Arthur says, standing as well, his eyes filled with a desperation that mirrors the pain in his heart. "I cannot have this life without you—not when my father is gone too."

"Yes you can," Madin replies sharply. "You needed closure, and now you have it. It will be easy for you to move on now."

"There’s nothing—nothing—that could ever make me move on from you," Arthur says, his voice firm despite the tears threatening to spill from his eyes. "I just confirmed that, Madin. I felt connected to you even without knowing that it's you.

Madin, I don’t want this to sound like an excuse for what I did, but back then, I was afraid—afraid that woman might hurt you and our unborn children. Madin, I never meant to hurt you."

Madin’s brows furrow, his voice cold. "If that’s the case, why didn’t you tell me back then?"

"Because she’s smart," Arthur explains. "She would have known. That might have made it worse. If I insisted choosing you over her, she might have even killed you. She’s a psychopath, Madin, but I promise you—I'll make her pay for everything she’s done to us, to my father."

"Do what you have to do," Madin says, his voice full of emotions. "But there’s never going to be anything between us again. It’s too much pain for us to be together. So let’s just move on."

Arthur stands frozen as Madin walks out of the room, his words echoing painfully in Arthur's mind.

He feels too weak to react.

°°

Madin steps outside of the main mansion, only to be surrounded by palace staff and familiar faces calling his name.

Screaming his name, blocking his path, others have already ran to look for Arthur to inform him about Madin's reappearance.

The commotion is overwhelming.

"Madin?! Oh my God!" Princess Loretta gasps, making her way through the crowd. She pulls him into a tight hug. "Please, Arthur needs you. He needs to talk to you." She says , her voice braced with happiness.

Madin stands stiff, not returning the hug. "We already talked," he says quietly.

Loretta pulls back just enough to study his face. "You’ve been with him?"

"Yes."

"You talked?!"

"Yes"

"And you were leaving? He’s letting you go?" Loretta asks unbelievably.

"My princess," Madin says softly, tears playing on his eyes balls.  "there’s nothing that can be done to redeem the relationship we shared. So we’ve decided to move on."

"I don’t believe that," Loretta says firmly, shaking her head. "There’s no way Arthur would accept that. Madin, please, don’t do this to him. No one is perfect. He made mistakes, and he’s been paying for them for the past three years. Please, give him a chance to fix it."

Before Madin can reply, Arthur’s voice rings out behind them.

"Madin..."

Arthur’s steps are weak but determined as he walks toward them, his face a mix of hope and vulnerability.

Everyone falls silent, stepping back to give him space. He stands before Madin, his eyes locking onto his with a determination that hasn’t been there before.

"I cannot let you go," Arthur says, his voice unwavering. "Not again. I love you, Madin. I always have. I always will."

Madin’s heart races, the depth of Arthur’s sincerity breaking through the walls he’d built. He wants to resist, to hold onto his anger and pain, but he can’t. His love for Arthur won’t let him.

"Arthur..." Madin whispers, trying to disagree but Arthur doesn't give him that chance.

He drops to one knee, his eyes never leaving Madin’s. "I don’t deserve you, but I’m begging you— I know you don't trust me but give me a second chance to earn your trust again. Give me a second chance to be yours , because I really need you__ I need you to be mine. Marry me, Madin. Let me spend the rest of my life proving to you that I will never hurt you again."

Tears stream down Madin’s face, unable to refuse Arthur's plea anymore. He nods, his heart aching with love and the promise of forgiveness. "Yes," he whispers. "I will marry you."

The courtyard erupts in cheers, and before Arthur can even process what is happening, the palace staff and citizens begin organizing a spontaneous ceremony.

°°