The Third Prince Of Darkness

Catherine\'s cold exterior faltered for a moment. The uncertain emotion in her eyes revealed the sensitivity and fragility she hid behind her icy expression. At that moment, I realized that Catherine was not just a princess trying to appear strong in the struggle for the throne, but also a delicate soul, crushed under a substantial burden.

Catherine tilted her head slightly and looked at me more carefully. "Help me? Why? Everyone involved in this battle for the throne has something to gain, Arthur. What\'s yours?" she asked, her voice still sharp but now a little more vulnerable.

"I do have something to gain, of course," I said honestly. "But my goal isn\'t just power. I\'ve seen the kindness and strength you keep hidden inside. The Tiamat Empire could have a much brighter future with a leader like you. Unlike your uncle, who has enslaved your people to the Tamerid Empire, you will be an empress who fights for their good."

The coldness on Catherine\'s face broke even further, and she fell silent for a while, running her fingers thoughtfully along the table. Perhaps for the first time, someone was approaching her not just as a candidate for the throne, but as a person with her own inner world.

"Whether your good intentions are genuine or not, time will tell, Arthur," she said in a softened tone, looking directly at me without averting her gaze. "But if you\'re telling the truth… maybe knowing that I\'m not alone in this war could give me a bit of hope." When she finished this sentence, a radiant smile formed on her face.

It was such a sweet smile that it could melt the heart of someone like me. That smile of Catherine\'s was beginning to close the distance between us. The young woman, known as the ice princess, despite her apparent coldness, harbored more warmth deep inside than many others. At that moment, I might have found the best opportunity to truly get close to her.

"Princess," I said resolutely, "my intention is to help you, but also to walk the same path with you. The battle for the throne is not a lonely fight; it\'s a game won with the right allies. I could be one of those allies."

Catherine was a little surprised to hear my words. At first she wanted to open her mouth to say something, but then she gave up and remained silent. She took a sip from her coffee cup with her little fingers.

Catherine paused for a moment, her eyes on my fingers, clearly deep in thought. "Arthur," she said finally, but hesitated for a moment, "... What\'s the real reason you want to help me?"

Catherine\'s question made the air in the room even heavier. As I thought about how to respond, I could see the doubt in her eyes. She truly wanted to know what I desired—beyond the kindness on the surface, she was curious about my deeper motivation. At this point, I had no choice but to be honest, because Catherine was smart enough to detect lies immediately.

"The real reason?" I repeated, buying myself a little time. Then, after taking a deep breath, I looked into her eyes. I had to take a risk. "Princess Catherine… I admire you. I admire you so much that this admiration has turned into more of a romantic affection.... Despite losing your parents at a young age, you are still standing strong and continuing the fight.

Honestly, when I first learned about your situation, I pitied you, but now I see how distasteful those thoughts were. You are not someone to be pitied... You never were. I have deep feelings for you, princess. I apologize for this inappropriate confession, and you don\'t have to take it seriously. I just wanted to answer your question and make sure there\'s no doubt left in your mind.

Trust me, I will never turn my back on you."

When Catherine heard my words, a flash of shock and mixed emotions appeared in her eyes. For the first time, I saw such an expression of surprise on the face of the strong, composed princess. Her eyes momentarily revealed the inner world of the young woman standing before me. Her lips parted slightly, but it seemed like she couldn\'t find the words to say.

The icy hardness in her eyes was melting, replaced by a deep emotional turmoil.

"Arthur..." she whispered, her voice struggling to conceal her true feelings. Her hands lay motionless on the table, and though she tried to avert her gaze, she couldn\'t manage it. "I... wasn\'t expecting this."

"You don\'t have to respond to my feelings, princess. All I ask is that you trust me, princess. " I said.

Silence dominated the room for a while. I could feel the storm raging in Catherine\'s mind, and that she didn\'t know what to say. I was seeing her so surprised and vulnerable for the first time. The always strategic and composed princess was struggling to cope with her own emotions, and seeing her like this made her seem more human to me.

She took a deep breath and, without breaking eye contact, said, "I... I just need some time. But if you want to be my ally and help me, I will gladly accept that... As for the other matter..." Catherine trailed off. She looked at me for a moment, then diverted her gaze elsewhere. Her fingers fidgeted rapidly, and she didn\'t even care about the strands of hair falling across her face.

I could almost hear the loud beating of her heart, and she would glance at me only to quickly avert her eyes again. Her words were caught in her throat, and her cheeks were beginning to redden. It was clear that she was quite embarrassed, but perhaps due to her being a princess, no man had ever approached her in this way.

"We don\'t even know each other yet!... I-I mean, I\'m sure we\'ll get to know each other better over time! A-and maybe then we can become friends... You and I!" Catherine stammered as she blushed.

Catherine\'s unexpected shyness took me by surprise. Seeing such a human side beneath her strong and cold image made her even more special in my eyes. This side of her reminded me once again of how difficult her life had been and how lonely she was behind the mask of strength. When I looked carefully into her eyes, I realized that I had already achieved my purpose for coming here.

As long as I didn\'t make a mistake, the possibility of making Catherine fall in love with me was now open. And if I succeeded, I would control two of the most powerful empires on the continent.

Now that I think about it, I should visit Evangeline next and inform her of certain matters to prevent any problems from arising.

"Princess Catherine..." I said, softening my voice, "perhaps I should apologize again for revealing my feelings in this way. I didn\'t mean to put you in an awkward position. But know that my feelings stem from my admiration for your strength and will. In time, perhaps... as you said, we\'ll get to know each other better." I stood up.

"Take care of yourselves , Mr. A-Arthur!" Catherine said.

Just as I had suspected, Catherine is a woman with an incredibly large heart, albeit a fragile one. She only wears the mask of the ice princess to cope with her difficult life. Honestly, I have no intention of exploiting her or using her like a pawn for my own gain. I may be a bad person, but I\'m not a monster. Breaking such a delicate heart would be nothing short of cruelty, even for me.

And if a romantic relationship does indeed develop between us, I will treat her just as I have treated my other women. The last thing I want is to break someone\'s heart... After all, I know better than anyone the pain that comes from a broken heart.

"Before I go, there\'s one last thing I want to say, Princess. During the tournament, I plan to put on a show, so if anyone you know happens to cross my path, I may hurt them. But please know that I have no ill intentions." I said as I walked toward the door.

Once again, Catherine\'s gaze froze on me. The mixture of little shock and concern in her eyes was striking. "A show? Well, as long as it\'s within the rules, there should be no problem, Mr. Arthur...."

"Don\'t worry, I won\'t do anything out of rules. So... I\'ll see you later, Princess Catherine."

As I walked through the corridors, my thoughts remained fixed on Catherine. The short time I had spent with her had convinced me that she wasn\'t just a contender for the throne, but a person with deep emotions. Helping Catherine, guiding her to the throne, was no longer just a strategic move. Inside me, there was a growing sense of compassion and a desire to protect her.

But I also knew I had to be cautious. Catherine was strong, but she could also be very intelligent and cautious. To win her over, I needed to tread carefully with every step.

When I stepped outside, I took a deep breath and thought about my next move. My plan to visit Evangeline came to mind. Evangeline was both my fiancée and an important ally, and I had to carefully balance my moves in the battle for the throne. Keeping Evangeline under control would also ensure that my relationship with Catherine grew even stronger.

As strategies lined up one after another in my mind, I also wrestled with the different feelings I was experiencing. Catherine\'s fragile smile and surprise had affected me more than I realized. I was already serious about most of what I had said to her. Despite losing both her mother and father, she had stood strong and continued to fight. It was truly admirable.

But to win this war, I needed to keep my emotions in check and stay focused on my goal. I kept walking and headed towards the unity building owned by Evangeline, not far from here.

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