‘Let’s get engaged. We don’t have to be fully married yet.’0

It was to give Charlotte a temporary justification. Not because I was afraid of Vertus’s faction, but to prevent Charlotte’s aides from turning against her. I was making this suggestion to put out an urgent fire.0

Charlotte, still lying down, looked up at me and bit her lip.0

“Why… why go this far?” she asked, bringing her hand to my cheek, just as I had done to her.0

The slightly cold warmth of Charlotte’s hand was transmitted to my cheek. 0

“I’m not someone you should have to go this far for... I’m not...” she said.0

“You’re precious,” I replied.0

“...”0

“You’re precious to me.”0

Despite the whirlwind of emotions and thoughts that felt like they would split my head open, this was all I could say.0

“Isn’t that enough?”0

This was the wrong choice. This decision would not bring happiness to anyone; it would only ensure someone’s survival. 1

Wasn’t that enough? Was it better to just let Charlotte die? Was choosing the lesser of two evils, just to avoid the worst outcome, truly the right thing to do?0

Charlotte, hearing my words, began to cry, her face contorted, eyes tightly shut.0

“Reinhart… I’m so… so grateful, but…”0

In the end, Charlotte wept, overwhelmed with sorrow.0

“It’s too… sorrowful…”0

She felt sorrowful because she knew I was making this choice not out of love, but to protect ...0