Kreios kept his gaze fixated on the door where Leira had exited, his thoughts momentarily distracted then, he suddenly noticed Renzille rise from her chair, and with a rush, he swiftly moved to her side.
His movements were quick, instinctual, as he approached her and positioned himself beside her, a look of concern radiating from his gaze as he fixed his attention on her.
"Careful." The beastman said, his hands holding her arm and hand gently.
Renzille attempted to brush aside any concerns with a gruff declaration of reassurance, though the slight wince on her face contradicted her words. "I am fine. It is not like I was hit on my leg, no?"
The way she insisted that she was fine was stubborn, wincing as she gingerly made her way towards the bed.
The look of pain that was etched on her expression betrayed her attempt to downplay her discomfort and the sting on her cheeks, like.. Her injuries were nothing to concern herself with.
Kreios' gaze followed Renzille's movements, his lips pressed together as he observed her stubborn determination.
"Your stubbornness is remarkable." He commented as a thought crossed his mind, making him inquire. "Should I summon the family physician to examine your injuries once more?"
His offer was laced with worry, his desire to ensure her well-being evident in his words, but there was a flash of mischief behind those icy gaze of his.
Renzille's deep breaths filled the air as she insisted. "There's no need. I'm truly fine, really."
She reiterated, her words lacking conviction— her attempt to downplay the severity of her injuries was weak, but she persisted, comparing her current injuries to those she had endured before.
"These mere slaps are nowhere near as those I endured in my past life." She declared, asserting her resilience.
Kreios could only let out an exasperated sigh, his concern evident as he retorted. "Yes, it's true that this isn't your past life anymore, but you can't act as if receiving slaps like this is nothing, and you certainly can't expect me to simply stay quiet about it."
"Look.. This isn't the first time it happened and I'm quite confident that he'll come back for more." Renzille stated bluntly, followed by a grunt. "It happened a handful of times in my first life, too.. So what's the difference it would make this time around?"
His gaze softened a bit, his voice edging towards a nag. "Unlike your unfaithful husband from your previous life, I will worry and I will care.. I may not give you strength, but I can assure you that I will support you by standing by your side."
Renzille paused in her tracks, caught off guard by the unexpected words from Kreios.
Her expression softened slightly. "You truly don't have to concern yourself with me.. Speaking of which.. I'd like to have a serious discussion with you."
Kreios met Renzille's gaze steadily, his hands involuntarily clenching on her arm and hands before he pulled them away, nodding.
"Okay, but please, take a seat first." He said, letting her walk on her own.
There was a sense of unease and concern in his expression, and it was evident that her words had struck a nerve— but the thought of her offering protection even if it meant endangering herself didn't sit well with him.
Renzille plopped down on her bed, a sigh escaping her lips.
Kreios exhaled heavily, despite his inner turmoil, he looked at her and asked. "What was it that you wanted to talk about?"
Renzille turned away and retrieved a folder from a nearby drawer, then turned back towards Kreios, holding the folder in her hand, then she handed it to him, her voice steady as she stated. "It's a marriage contract."
Kreios accepted the contract, his eyes scanning over it briefly, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "A marriage contract? What for?"
His gaze lingered on the document for a moment, as he tried to comprehend its importance and why Renzille would present it to him so suddenly— the surprise and uncertainty were evident in his words, but he didn't want to jump to conclusions.
Renzille's sigh escaped her lips once more, her expression scrunching into frown. "In truth, I chose you in an attempt to retaliate against Cross."
She turned away, her gaze shifting as she revealed the truth. "But in the process, I have drawn you into my mess.. My own problems, and that doesn't make me feel good about myself."
There was guilt in her voice, fully aware of the consequences of her actions and the impact they would have on Kreios.
"By choosing you as my betrothed, I'm.. Endangering you and your lover." She stated, a grimace falling on her face as she darted her eyes to look at the beastman.
As expected, a horrified look settled on the beastman's pretty face.
"How.. How did you know?" He inquired, his hold on the folder tightening and causing the edge to crinkle under his grip.
"I noticed when you refused to look at me and kept your eyes on the crowd." Renzille pointed out as she flashed him a smile, both understanding and supportive. "I was enamoured with your beauty, but that doesn't mean I wasn't paying attention."
"Then.. Why did you continue? Why did you pursue me?" Kreios asked, his eyebrows furrowing.
"Because that would make my plan easier." She said with a matter-of-fact tone and offered him reassurance as she continued. "However, if you're willing to wait for five years, I can divorce you then and grant you the life you desire without demanding anything in return."
There was determination and promise in her words, willing to make sacrificial choices to ensure Kreios' happiness, even if it meant letting him make a compromise to make himself happy.
"You're.. You're going to set me free after five years?" Kreios blinked, feeling a little incredulous at her words.
Renzille felt a sense of relief wash over her as she agreed to his question, her smile widened. "Yes, you'll have the freedom to do as you please. If you wish to meet with your lover, I'll even help you sneak out with them."
Kreios' expression brightened considerably, his handsome and beautiful features graced with a genuine smile as he expressed his gratitude. "Thank you. I actually had to end things with my former lover because of my status as a marriage prospect."
Renzille paused and frowned. "Why?"
"She.. She wasn't happy with what happened so I just chose to let her go.." He admitted, regret and melancholy coloring his words.
"But still.. Thank you." Kreios smiled and despite the circumstances, he was genuinely grateful for the understanding and support he was receiving from Renzille.
Renzille returned his smile. "It seems that this contract is beneficial for us both, no? You can win your lover back. I'll even give you the things you may need in order to do so— just don't have regret and don't let this kind of circumstance ruin what you two had."
"But.. I already let her go." Kreios mumbled, his gaze drifting down to the contract. "How can I win her back?"
"I'll help you win her back.. But you must help me get my revenge." Renzille proposed and gestured towards the contract, a smile settling on her lips. "Sign it, then we have a deal."