"If you love someone else, and married to someone else, what would you choose? To stay bound in a cage or to leave everything and stay with the one you love"? to say that his words did not affect me would be a lie, the bitter fluid in my mouth, slowly passed by in my body making me further melancholic.

When Isabella had said those words, I was angry, annoyed, but still slapping her was enough to make me feel better and then his behaviour towards me from past few days, it felt like he cared, but now that he had asked directly, it made me feel something more than broken.

'How strange it is, I always plan about leaving him, taking my revenge but whenever he does that I feel broken and betrayed, we both knew that we are married only for name, yet when he asked permission to finally free me from this golden cage I still felt abandoned.'

I dug my nails in my hands to keep my sanity, no i could not show him my raw emotions, i would be a matter of his disgust and be laughing stock again.

"I would rather prefer leaving your highness.'' I replied, taking another sip, so that even if my voice sounded low, it could be blamed on the drink.

He closed his eyes as he nodded, his expressions were not better than me, why! Was he feeling guilty, or pity for me. I would not give him the chance to do that!

"Do you want to discuss more about this matter, your highness?" i asked, if possible just finish it at once, i did not want to be hurt again and again.

He did not reply, as his grip on the flute tightened, i thought he would not reply, so i looked around, why did it feel that the beautiful scenery was mocking me, telling me that it was not for me, and could never be.

These roses, I never liked, these candles, I never desired, somewhere in the battle of love and war, I always wished to have a loving family deep down.

"Mari, would you like to have a dance." I closed my eyes to hide the tears, why was I feeling so emotional, was the drug still in my body, but it had been ages since I took the antidote.

I just nodded and gave my hand in his, as the music started in the background, in the next second when I opened my eyes, they were clear, but only I knew how hard it was, I was bleeding, I could feel that....

He brought me closer than necessary and I put my head on his chest, the music continued and I closed my eyes.

"Would you free me from this cage, Cassius?" I asked and his grip on my waist tighten, he took a turn suddenly and I had to hold him tight to maintain my balance. When he held my waist and swept me above the floor, my eyes met him and he smiled, but there was no malice or hatred in his eyes. For a moment i felt there were still chance but when he held me down again, he put his chin in the crook of my neck and slowly whispered in my ears,

"I will" I felt all the strength loosen me, yet I nodded.

"That's good." I whispered back and he twirled me.

Was it the wine or was it the medicine? I felt my senses becoming blurred, even the music in the background felt distant to me as I continued to waltz with him on the beats.

"Mari, i apologise for everything i did to hurt you," he continued to whisper as we were lost in each other arms, his chest felt safe, though i knew it was not for me, this softness, this care was nothing but a moment of guilt of his life, yet i hungrily took it, like a deprived person i was. I felt the connection as if he was feeling the same pain as I was.

"Will an apology be enough, Cassius. After everything, will it be?" I asked as I tried to move to see his eyes but his hand moved and covered my whole back, it stopped me from leaving his arms, his hands touching my bare back and my breath hitched.

"I don't know, but an apology is all I have." he whispered again in my ears. But more than his words, I felt his hot breaths and his lips touching my ears when he spoke. I was losing, i knew, he was leaving i knew, yet this moment was something i would always remember in my heart.

My mind scorned me, so at the end of the day i was still that emotional person who would forget everything, with just an apology. I would let him go in the arms of his lover to live a happy and blessed life, while i.. I would stay alone all your life, what happened to all the promises I had made to myself, to all the revenge I had planned for him and Isabella.

"Mari," his voice was barely audible, yet it sounded so clear to me, I could even hear his slow heartbeat from this proximity.

"would you stay with me a few more months before going?" His voice was pleading, which was strange, should he not be happy and try to get rid of me as early as possible.

"Why?" I asked , mustering all the strength of my body in my voice.

"For the sake of Killian, please stay a few more months, I promise I will free you, I will fulfill your every wish, I promise" he repeated again and again, his voice so pleading, so desperate that I nodded, before I could even process his words.

"Thank you"' was all he said.

[hey readers, as you have all seen the writing competition spirit awards are here, and i was thinking to participate in it too. I have a few ideas, I wanted to share and ask your opinion about it. So would you please be kind enough, to see the auxiliary chapter and advice me which historical romance would you like to read, i can not share? here as it will increase the cost of the chapter, thank you]