Sold To The Cruel Prince-Chapter 25: Running... To Him

"Aveline, don’t listen to him!"

Theodore’s voice broke through the thick line of bushes, urgent and breathless.

Theron’s hand moved instinctively, reaching for hers. He didn’t like the way her attention had shifted so completely, as if he no longer existed the moment Theodore called her name.

But before his fingers could even brush against her skin, she had already stepped away. She moved toward Theodore without hesitation. It was so natural that it made something in Theron’s chest tighten.

Aveline watched Theodore push through the bushes, slightly out of breath, with a couple of guards close behind him, trying to restrain him. For a moment, everything else faded.

This...running toward each other despite everything, was what they had done for the past five years whenever they managed to meet.

"Don’t touch him," Aveline said quickly, stepping in front of Theodore. "I need to talk to him."

The guards froze at once. Their eyes shifted to Theron.

Only then did Aveline seem to realize what she had done. Her shoulders stiffened slightly, and she turned, almost cautiously, to look at him, as if waiting for permission she hadn’t thought to ask before.

Theron said nothing. He simply stared at her. His hands had already curled into fists at his sides.

For a brief moment, she looked almost... afraid.

That alone made something twist uncomfortably in his chest. Without a word, he turned away. He did not want to stand there and watch.

Aveline hesitated, but only for a second. Then she turned back to Theodore, her expression softening.

"You should accept his offer, Theodore," she said gently, her lips curving into a small smile. Her eyes shimmered with tears.

Every time he had tried to protect her, he had ended up suffering for it. Every time he stood up for her, he paid the price.

"Marry well," she continued softly. "Have many children to fill this mansion with the laughter of happy children... Live happily."

That was what he deserved. After everything he had endured because of her, he deserved a life untouched by hardship.

Theodore looked at her, his brows pulling together. "But you?" he asked quietly. "What about you?"

He wasn’t surprised she would say something like that. Aveline had always been the type to place others before herself. But this...this felt different.

It felt like she was giving something up.

Aveline stepped closer. Her eyes were still slightly swollen from crying, but her smile remained gentle as she reached for his hand and held it.

"I’ll be fine, Theodore," she said. Her fingers tightened around his. "Live your life from now on."

He wasn’t bound to her anymore.

In a strange way, what Theron had done, however cruel it had seemed, had also given her a chance to step into a different life, to a world she had never seen before.

Whatever waited for her there... She would face it.

After everything she had endured over the past ten years, she wanted to believe that the worst was already behind her.

"Be happy," she said softly. "I’ll try to live happily too."

Theodore studied her face. And then, slowly, he smiled. He could see it... That small, stubborn spark in her eyes.

She wasn’t giving up. No matter where she went, she would find a way to survive.

"Goodbye, Theodore," Aveline said. "Thank you... for everything."

His grip on her hand tightened. "Promise me you’ll be happy," he said.

For years, he had carried the quiet responsibility of looking after her. Even when he couldn’t do much, he had tried. And now, standing here, he understood something he hadn’t wanted to admit before.

They could not move forward if they held on to the past like this. Separation was the only way.

"I promise," Aveline said. Her voice was steady, but her eyes drifted toward the graves behind her.

"Take care of my parents," she added softly.

Fresh tears slipped down her cheeks. Leaving them behind again was what would hurt the most.

"I will," Theodore said firmly. "I will."

Aveline turned slightly toward the graves. "Goodbye, Mother... Father..." she whispered.

"Visit often," Theodore said.

Aveline did not respond.

She knew the truth. She was a slave now. She could not expect to return whenever she wished.

Still, after a brief pause, she nodded. It was easier than saying the truth out loud.

Then, without looking back again, Aveline turned and began to walk away.

She spotted him almost immediately.

Even at a distance, Theron stood out—tall, unmistakable, his stride long and unyielding as he walked away from the grove. He didn’t look back. He didn’t slow down.

But somehow... she could tell.

He was upset.

Aveline didn’t know how she knew. It wasn’t in his posture, nor in his steps. It was simply a feeling... something quiet and certain in her chest.

And for reasons she didn’t want to examine too closely, she didn’t want to let him walk away like that.

Without thinking, she gathered the heavy layers of her skirt in her hands and ran. "Wait!" she called out.

He didn’t stop.

"Theron!"

Still, he kept walking, as though he hadn’t heard her at all. Aveline bit her lip and pushed herself faster.

This wasn’t new.

Even when they were younger, he used to do this—walk ahead, ignoring her, pretending not to hear. And she would chase him, stubborn and determined, until she caught him.

She wasn’t about to give up now.

"Theron!"

The name left her lips louder this time, but the effort threw her off balance. Her foot caught in the folds of her skirt, and suddenly...

She was falling.

The ground rushed toward her, far too fast.

Ah.

Not again...

Her jaw tightened as she shut her eyes, bracing herself for the impact she knew was coming.

But it never did.

Instead, something warm and solid caught her. A strong arm wrapped around her waist, lifting her effortlessly as though she weighed nothing at all.

"Whoa—!" she yelped, instinctively clutching at him.

Her fingers tangled into the ornate collar of his coat as Theron steadied her in his arms.

"You still haven’t learned how to run, Little Hare," he murmured.

His voice was low, a quiet vibration against her as she leaned so close to his chest. Aveline blinked up at him, then smiled despite herself.

"But you’ve gotten better at catching me."

It was true.

Back then, whenever she tripped trying to chase him, he would somehow appear just in time, stepping in front of her, taking the fall with her, shielding her from the worst of it.

Some things, it seemed, had not changed.

Her hand lifted almost without thought. Her fingers brushed lightly against his cheek. She couldn’t help it.

Up close, his eyes looked vaster than the starry night sky above them, and deeper than the mountains in the distance that shimmered faintly under the stars, in colors only she could see.

Back then, he had just been the quiet orphan boy she liked to tease. Now, he was someone else entirely.

He was someone powerful... someone who had bought her.

And yet...

Even now, he still caught her the same way. Still protected her without hesitation.

Maybe... he wouldn’t hurt her...

"What?" Theron asked, his brows drawing together slightly.

Aveline shook her head, as if dismissing her own thoughts, and leaned lightly against his shoulder.

He let out a soft, almost disbelieving chuckle.

Moments later, her grip loosened. Her body relaxed against him as her eyes slipped shut, exhaustion finally claiming her.

In the distance, hidden within the darkness, a pair of sharp eyes watched the scene unfold.

Kael.

With a small flick of his fingers, a strip of dark parchment appeared before him, hovering in the air. He closed his eyes briefly, and thin red lines began to form across its surface, twisting into words as though written by an unseen hand.

Another flick... And the message vanished.

Kael’s gaze returned to the two figures ahead.

"I’ll protect you from her, sire..." he whispered under his breath.

His fingers curled slowly into his palms.

"Even if you cannot see the danger... I will make you see it soon."