Barbara sat in her cell, pondering Kaisar's proposal for the whole night. The sound of footsteps approaching quickened her heart. The door creaked open to reveal Kaisar's imposing figure.
"Then what is your answer?" he asked, his tone steady.
Barbara met his gaze, trying to mask her uncertainty. "Do you wish to marry a woman who has fallen from nobility to disgrace? I am no longer the daughter of a marquis your uncle wanted to wed," she replied, half-convinced he was mocking her situation.
"Who said that matters?" Kaisar frowned, his expression revealing no pity. He had never viewed her as a needy noblewoman; to him, she was strong, clever, and the perfect match.
