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"..."

She found it strange, but she had no strength to argue. She simply knelt before him in obedient silence for so long that she thought she was having another strange dream. Then, suddenly, she heard a sigh—

"Have you completely forgotten what we agreed on?"

"I told you that if you ever had your heart broken, I would comfort you. I meant it."

So none of it had been a dream. It was real. Even His Majesty knew. The Young Master had remembered. He remembered that he was the cold, unfeeling Dongxu Grand Secretary, the Prime Minister's Son. He remembered that they had nothing to do with each other. He remembered the person he truly wanted to protect.

His Majesty bent down and held the cup of water to her lips, but she turned her head away.

"I'm not thirsty." Yesterday, she had drunk so much water. So very much bitter water.

"You will be once you've finished crying. So drink some first." His voice sounded as though he were coaxing an uncooperative kitten.

"...Who told Your Majesty I was going to cry? What can a grown man not get through? A man doesn't shed tears lightly..."

"Can't a grown man cry? I don't recall issuing such a harsh law."

"So a grown man can cry?"

"Mm... until the grown man feels better." His voice was many times gentler than before. His palm patted her back, again and again, like he was smoothing a cat's fur. It made her feel like an abandoned cat, like she really was miserable enough to deserve a little pity. A man did not shed tears lightly—only because he had not yet reached the point of heartbreak. His Majesty would understand...

"But I have one condition."

Tears were already trembling at the rims of