His gaze was not lecherous, though; it was more like appreciating her beauty than lustful.
The last thing he wanted was to appear disrespectful and driven by his own desires while she was making her decision, especially a decision that had to do with him.
The silence stretched on, none of them spoke for a while, they simply took sips of their tea, Kyle even had a refill. Then, after a deep breath, Jasmine spoke.
"I've made up my mind."
Kyle straightened slightly, his expression sharpening and surprisingly expectant.
"I don't want to be just another pawn for my family," she said, her voice calm, though her fingers still trembled a little.
Kyle smiled a little.
'It took a lot out of her just to make that decision. I can see she is not used to deciding her own fate.'
'What a pitiful way to live. I can't say I appreciate being someone's tool for convenience. I know from my memories that it's normal here, especially for those born in nobility. Still, I just can't come to terms with it.'
'But that is just my ego talking; if I truly believe in what I am saying, the least I can do is do what I can to protect that smile on her face.'
While Jasmine decided on her future, Kyle made his own decision. Not just to set her free, but to make her his.
'After all, I'm only human. And humans are greedy by nature, especially men. Who would not want to have such a beauty by their side?'
Jasmine continued...
"All my life, I've followed every instruction. Cultivated harder. Obey the family elders. Smile for the nobles. And now, when I felt like I was finally seen as worth something, they want to sell me off like livestock, cancel promises they made when they thought I'd be average. I hate being thrown around like a piece of meat to starving dogs."
She turned to face him fully now, her amethyst eyes still wet but defiant.
"But the moment I heard you were attacked, really heard it, I… something inside me broke."
Kyle blinked. He didn't interrupt; he listened intently as she made her choice.
"I couldn't sleep," she admitted softly. "I kept imagining the worst, that I'd arrive too late. That you'd be gone. And it made me realize something."
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I care about you, Kyle. I don't know when it started… maybe I always did, but buried it under everything else. I don't want to leave you, not like this. Not if there's still a chance…"
She bit her lip, her cheeks blooming red as she looked away.
"…if there's still the slightest chance that we could… be something real. The faintest glimmer of hope that, at the end, I can say, I decided this on my own. I'm willing to take a shot."
Kyle's breath hitched for a moment.
Of all the possibilities he had anticipated, cold indifference, political distance, or veiled insults, this? This raw, heartfelt honesty?
It floored him. He found his heart racing, hammering against his ribs, as if it might burst out.
A slow smile stretched across his lips.
"Well," he said, taking a step closer, "I can't very well let down a beautiful lady now, can I?"
Jasmine's eyes widened, her blush deepening into full crimson as she lowered her gaze quickly.
"Stop teasing me…" she muttered, but the edges of her lips curved up.
Kyle chuckled warmly. "I'm serious. I may not be the strongest person out there, nor the smartest, but I've got one thing going for me, "
He placed a hand gently over his chest. "I'm persistent."
Then, holding her gaze, he added firmly, "And if you'll have me, Jasmine… I'll do everything in my power to be worthy of you. To make you mine."
Jasmine's breath caught. Her heart skipped a beat.