"Is this how you think of me? This lowly, really?"
Avian bit her lip and lowered her head, she scratched her cheek while leaning on the chair more.
"I don't want to believe in anyone only to be disappointed."
Arching a brow, the Crown Prince demanded: "And you think I would disappoint you?"
'Yeah, you may. Even my dearest parents disappointed me, why would you, the stranger, not do that?'
With a hint of sarcasm evident on her face, Avian stood up and shrugged her shoulders. She touched the books on the shelves and did not answer Carlos immediately.
Perhaps he was right, she thought too lowly of him.
Avian was worried she may be deceived again and taken advantage of. For her whole life, she was following what the Duke and the Duchess told her to follow. But the results spoke of how much she should trust people and their feelings.
"People are weird, Carlos. Even reasons aren't enough to judge anyone anymore, for all we know, it could be nothing but a shallow act."
There was no excuse for her to doubt Carlos and treat him badly, but Avian could not believe she would be fine if she trusted anyone wholeheartedly anymore.
"What kind of relationship do you think we are having, then?"
What kind of relationship? The white-haired woman was unsure. She paused, then turned to Carlos with her arms crossed in front of her chest.
The calm library felt as if the warmth was escaping from it and turning into a chilling, distant tension.
"You are my patron now."
"That's true, clever answer as ever, but that was not what I am asking you here and you know it."
"No, I know nothing."
Firmly stressing on that, Avian sat down again. She had no intention to destroy her relationship with the Crown Prince over her growing trust issues.
Carlos sighed, knowing he would be unable to force any words out of her since she was adamant on not speaking. He stood up and headed toward the door, "I see. Then I'm going back, it was a nice chat with you."
"Wait, you haven't answered me yet—"
"You actually dare to ask again? I'm amazed, Avian."
Letting out a bitter chuckle, the Crown Prince wished he could not see her face at that moment. Because as much as he wanted to snap at her and scold her, the fear and pain in those beautiful eyes of hers told him she was helpless.
"Fine, stop worrying over it. I will not abandon you just because you want to seduce someone else."
"Then what about us?"
"For now, you called me your patron."
Carlos rubbed Avian's head and left with a small note.
"For now, though. I won't announce anything about us together, whatever kind of relationship we can have, that will be your decision too."
Avian looked at his back until the door closed, making her unstable heart more conflicted.
Zenith and Carlos were somehow dangerous but they were also the correct answer.
Whether she wanted to build her life back or start a completely new path, Avian needed their support to not be devoured by the big predators who would be chasing after her.