The gentle sway of the carriage was oddly calming. For a long while, neither spoke, the clatter of wheels over cobblestones filling the silence.
After what felt like ages, Stella finally broke it.
"Thank you, Duke," she said softly, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "For coming to… rescue me from that uncomfortable situation."
Kayden gave a small, tired smile. "I suppose it was my responsibility," he murmured. Both of them aware that this had less to do with kindness and more with preserving appearances — and yet, at least they had each other for that much.
After a pause, Kayden's gaze lingered on the passing scenery. "I should apologize… it was because of me you were in such a position to begin with. The rumors about me and…" his voice faltered for a second, "…about me being in love with Lady Ruby… they were bound to surface one day. I just didn't expect it to be so soon… or like this."
Stella bit her lip. Normally, she would have handled this with ease, a polite smile and a diverting remark. But something about the sadness in his voice chipped away at her composure.
"…Duke," she began hesitantly, "I know I shouldn't be asking you this, but… why didn't you ever tell Lady Ruby about your feelings?"
The words hung heavy in the air.
Kayden's entire body stiffened. His hand, resting on his knee, curled slightly into a fist. When he finally turned to her, his eyes shimmered with a sorrow so deep it made Stella regret even bringing it up.
"I'm sorry, you don't have to—"
"I didn't tell her," Kayden interrupted quietly, his voice barely a whisper, "because she was already in love. In love with your brother."
He looked away then, as though afraid to meet Stella's eyes.
"She looked happiest when she was with him. And I… I didn't want her to feel even a moment of discomfort because of me. So I hid it. I buried it. A few people knew, of course… but never her."
Stella's heart ached. She already knew this — both from the novel and from glimpses she'd seen in the palace — but hearing it from him, raw and unfiltered, felt heavier.
"I see…" she murmured. After a long pause, she asked quietly, "And what if… what if Lady Ruby were to find out now?"
Kayden blinked, clearly stunned. The mere thought of it shook him.
"That… would be a problem," he admitted, voice low. "I don't want her to know. It would ruin what little remains of our friendship. Of course, I'll never be close to her again — not after she married your brother. But… I don't regret loving her."
Stella felt a pang in her chest. He was still holding on.
And yet… for the sake of both their reputations, for the tangled strings of their lives, she knew what needed to be done.
"Then… how about this, Duke Kayden," she said, lifting her chin slightly. "Let's make Lady Ruby — and everyone else — believe that you and I are in love."
Kayden's head snapped toward her. "You mean… to cover up the old rumors by starting new ones?"
"Exactly," Stella replied smoothly. "If people see us acting sweetly together, it'll drown out whispers about Lady Ruby. No one would dare bring up your old feelings if you're clearly happy with your fiancée. Of course…" she gave a faint smile, "we'll respect boundaries. Only a little less formality when others are watching. Nothing more."
Kayden was silent, mulling over the proposal. He wasn't sure how he could pretend to be so affectionate with someone else when a part of him still clung to Ruby. And yet… he had to admit, it was a clever, elegant solution.
"…Let's see," he finally said, a soft smirk tugging at his lips. "I'm not sure how convincing I'll be at acting 'lovely-dovey' with you, Princess Stella."
She chuckled quietly. "That's alright. I'm not asking you to fall in love with me, Duke. Just to protect what's important to us both."
The carriage began to slow as the palace gates came into view.
"I'll give you my answer soon, Lady Stella," Kayden said, his gaze lingering on her face a moment longer than necessary.
Stella wanted to be in the carriage a little longer with him...but it finally came to an end.
And then, with a polite smile, he bid her farewell as the carriage door opened.
Stella's POV
As soon as the carriage came to a gentle stop before the palace gates, Stella let out a quiet sigh. The moment the door opened, she composed herself, offering a graceful smile to the waiting attendants before stepping down. Her steps were steady, poised — as expected of a princess. But inside, her heart felt heavy.
The conversation replayed in her head like an unwelcome echo.
"I don't regret loving her."
The sadness in his eyes… she hadn't meant to bring that up. It wasn't her place. But something about seeing him quietly carrying that sorrow — a wound no one else noticed because he never allowed anyone close enough — it made her ache.
Once inside her chambers, Stella dismissed the maids with a polite smile. The moment the door clicked shut behind them, she let her shoulders drop and sat by the window, watching the dusky sky bleed into night.
"Idiot," she whispered to herself, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Why did I ask him that…?"
She knew why.
Because a part of her — a foolish, tender part — wanted to see if there was room in his heart for anyone else. Even now. Even after everything.
But it was clear… he was still trapped in his past.
And yet… when he smiled at her in that carriage, when he said "Let's see", it felt oddly warm. Not love, not even fondness… but a flicker of something. Perhaps it was loneliness, the kind that recognized itself in someone else.
She sighed, leaning her head against the cool glass.
"Maybe we're both just… surviving."
The palace lights shimmered below, and Stella closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself that brief, aching softness.
Kayden's POV
The ride back to his estate was quiet, save for the steady rhythm of the horse's hooves and the muted rustle of leaves. Kayden leaned back in his seat, one gloved hand resting against his temple, lost in thought.
He hadn't expected Lady Stella's question.
"Why didn't you ever tell Lady Ruby about your feelings?"
It was so direct. No noble pretense, no careful wording. Just a simple, painful truth.
And what surprised him more than the question… was how easily he answered.
He had never said those words aloud before.
"I don't regret loving her."
Kayden exhaled heavily, watching the scenery pass through the window.
But what startled him even more was her proposition. To pretend to be in love with her. To forge a relationship for the sake of extinguishing old rumors and preventing new ones.
Clever.
And dangerous.
He smirked faintly to himself. Lady Stella… what are you playing at?
But there was a strange sort of comfort in her presence. She didn't pity him. She didn't judge. She understood the cruelty of loving someone out of reach.
Perhaps that's why it didn't feel suffocating, sitting beside her in that carriage.
"I'm not sure how convincing I'll be at acting 'lovely-dovey' with you, Princess Stella," he murmured to himself, echoing his own words.
And yet, a part of him was curious.
Could two broken, lonely people protect each other… while pretending to fall in love?
The estate gates appeared ahead, and Kayden straightened up, his decision still unsettled — but not entirely unwilling.
I'll give you my answer soon, Lady Stella.
And for the first time in years, he didn't feel entirely alone in the world.