Silence.

Two seconds.


Five seconds.

Ten seconds.

Until Luana cleared her throat softly, then repeated the facts she had just revealed to her husband.


If you want to slap me, then I'm ready. If you want to kick me out right now, then I'll leave immediately. I just can't lie to myself, that I already love you, Rey.

"I do not have an ounce of royal blood in my body, Mr. Rey," Luana gave a further explanation.


An explanation that should have made Rey let go of their embrace a few tens of seconds ago, but it seemed that the man was still holding Luana tightly as he chose to remain silent.

Rey's heart sank when he heard Luana now calling him 'mister', when she had just casually spoken to him and mentioned his proud name moments ago.

"I shouldn't be here, I shouldn't even look you in the eye." Luana's voice was the only tone heard in the dark room. "I don't have anything, I don't deserve to be close to you like this."

The tears that had been pooling in her eyes slid down just like that, through a single blink that she had been trying her best to hold back. There was nothing left of her life, now that she had revealed what she had been hiding so tightly.

Rey's wrath was the reward she had to receive, even though it was not entirely her fault that she was involved in the life of a noble like Rey Lueic.

Luana's body trembled along with the sobs that began to be heard, hoping that Rey would not think she was playing a drama now. Luana's heart was truly broken, and she was ready for whatever lay ahead.

"I'm not who you think I am," Luana said again. There was no more reason to hide, because now Rey had to know who she really was. "I am not a distant relative of Madam Collins, but I am a servant at her mansion."

The words sounded very clear, but Rey did not loosen his embrace at all. The man pulled Luana even closer, as if he wanted her to share her grief and pain with him.

"Stop, Luana," Rey whispered with his lips touching his wife's lobe. "Stop it, please."

"I can't be beside you." But Luana did not heed the nobleman's request. "No matter if the world collapses, Lord. You and I can't possibly be together. I don't even have the right to look into your eyes, you know?"

The tears flowed even faster, followed by the shaking of Luana's tiny body that was now trembling in her husband's arms. The sobs filled the room, with tears of sadness that succeeded in making Luana's face red and wet.

Turning the body of the woman he had embraced with all his soul, Rey faced Luana to look into her eyes. But the woman was still downcast, as if unable to return Rey's gaze.

She was afraid.

She was afraid Rey would see her differently.

She was afraid he would let go of the warm embrace and throw her out onto the street.

She was really afraid.

"I know, Luana," Rey whispered still in a very low tone of voice. "I know. I know who you really are."

Like being stabbed by thousands of needles simultaneously, Luana felt a sting that was now becoming excruciating. Brushing the tears away with the back of her hand, she breathed shallowly.

"Look at me," Rey demanded. "Luana, look into my eyes."

Luana had nowhere to run. Rey's grip that now felt firm on the skin of her back forced the woman to raise her head little by little, summoning up the courage to look into the eyes of someone as honorable as Rey Lueic.

"I... can't." After only a second, Luana had already lowered her gaze again. "I can't."

If Luana thought that this revealed fact only made her hurt, then she was wrong. Because Rey's heart had been filled with so many stones that eroded it, while the man was still forcing himself to be strong.

Resilient to fate, resilient to the circumstances they now faced.

"Luana, please." Rey's voice was melodious, making Luana almost forget that she shouldn't expect more this time. "Please, look at me."

Luana granted her husband's request now, as her head moved up. Looking up, she let her bead meet Rey's bluish irises. The irises he loved, the irises he adored out of the billions of irises in the world.

"I know everything," Rey said between sobs. "This is not only hard for you, but also for me, Luana. I wish I could ask the universe to stop differentiating us by fvcking shit caste."

Sickening, that's what Luana caught from Rey's tone just now. There was despair in there, which was also followed by deep confusion.

Luana chose to close her lips tightly, because she knew there was no way out for them.

"I don't want to let you go, Luana," Rey took over speaking now. "I want you to stay here, I don't want anyone to take your place. I want you to be my wife, I want you to be the great lady of Lueic. I want-"

"No, sir," Luana interrupted, followed by a shake of her head. Her beady eyes began to glare, igniting a disappointment that hurt to the core. "You know that's not possible."

Rey growled in frustration, but he did not at all loosen his hold on Luana.

Because Rey was also afraid.

Afraid that Luana would actually leave if he loosened their embrace.

Afraid he wouldn't be able to see her face anymore.

Afraid he would be alone again if Luana walked away from him.

Afraid he would never see his wife again.

"Please don't give up on me, Luana," Rey pleaded. "You just have to believe that we can get through everything. Didn't you promise to trust me?"

Luana's heart sank as she thought about what might lie ahead for them. After all, a relationship between different castes could never be real. Where should they run to? Where should they turn to?

"I can't, sir. I can't do it." There was no reason to hold on, especially since this position belonged to his own master. "Please, let me go."

"I won't," Rey was firm this time. Cupping the young woman's forehead, Rey let a single tear fall from her bluish bead. "I won't let you go, no matter what. Do you hear that, Luana? You can never leave."

Selfishness had led Rey to hold on to Luana, even though Rey knew what might be waiting for them ahead would surely hurt his wife. Luana sobbed again, with her hand now gently rubbing Rey's teary bead.

The man was crying for her. A nobleman had held her despicable hand tightly.

"Don't cry," Luana pleaded with a smile forced at the corners of her lips. "You do not deserve to cry over a slave like me."

"You're my wife!" snapped Rey quickly. "You are Mrs. Lueic, and you always will be. Do you hear me?"

There was a note of desperation in Rey's tone, as Luana could now only shake her head vaguely. Resigning herself to the situation was probably better, even though her heart was so torn.

"Let me go now, Master."

"I am not your master!" Again Rey barked in a tone of voice that he raised, not knowing how to manage the anger that was building up in his chest. "I am your husband, Luana! Your lawful husband! Stop calling me master! I'm sick of it!"

He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs, he wanted to take Luana away to make her feel safe and not threatened. Without Rey realizing it, his raised tone of voice made Luana close her eyes for a few seconds.

"Sorry, honey, sorry," Rey rubbed his wife's cheek. "I'm sorry that I yelled at you."

Luana didn't know what to say, because her heart was numb. Everything felt false, even though Rey seemed to be offering something (maybe) for her. But as someone from a low caste, Luana knew she didn't have even a shred of hope.

"I have one request," Luana whispered after a few moments of silence. "My last request to you, and I hope you grant it to me."

Rey shook his head hesitantly, worried that Luana would again ask for separation. He couldn't. The man could not give Luana what she asked for.

"Anything but separation," Rey replied. "Whatever you ask, just don't ask me to let you go."

Luana really didn't want to let herself be lifted up by hope, because she knew again they wouldn't make it. Never.

Just this once. Just one more time.

Moving closer, Luana kissed Rey's lips and stayed there for a few seconds. Didn't grab him, just kissed him. A kiss that flowed with love, as well as deep sorrow.

"Sweetheart."

"Let me fall asleep in your arms tonight," Luana whispered. "Just one more time, I really want to sleep in your arms."

Something rippled in both of their hearts, a gaping wound that opened wider with their warm embrace.

Luana leaned her head against the nobleman's broad chest and closed her eyes to drown out all the sorrow. Hoping that everything was just a dream when she woke up later, hoping that this was not real.

Supporting his wife as she began to close her eyes, Rey held Luana tightly in a mixture of emotions. Stroking her hair as gently as possible, Rey whispered softly in his wife's ear.

"I love you, Luana. I love you."