?Chapter 652:


    “It’s my duty.” Evelyn scowled, her voice rigid. “Are you really losing it over this?”


    I ignored her, my voice barely more than a whisper. “You don’t understand… you don’t understand…”


    “I know the three princes once favored you exclusively,” Evelyn continued, her face serious and her tone edged with reprimand. “I recognize that you feel unbnced, but that doesn’t justify your actions. You have to understand, the princes belong to none of us.”


    I stared at Evelyn, her figure vivid through the rain.


    Her face was pure and beautiful against the storm, like a delicate flower, and she stood there holding a graceful umbre. Her clear eyes met mine.


    Meanwhile, my hair clung awkwardly to my neck and face, my clothes soaked through. I felt like a pitiful fool, utterly ridiculous inparison to her.


    My heart twisted in pain, and I turned away, swallowing back the tears that threatened to break free.


    I had always known the princes didn’t belong to anyone, but their past tenderness, their fleeting affection, had tricked me into believing that maybe, just maybe, they would love only me forever.


    Now, those sweet memories felt like daggers, twisting deeper with every breath.


    Evelyn sighed, her voice soft but firm. “Think about it. If this continues, I’ll report this to His Majesty. Let him handle it.”


    With that, Evelyn turned and walked away, her graceful figure slowly vanishing into the rain.


    I stood there, lost, watching her fade into the mist, her shape growing more distant with every passing second.


    Finally, I could hold it in no longer. The sobs I had buried deep erupted from my throat, blending with the sound of the rain, echoing in the silence.


    g?lnσν????s?c?m fuels your imagination


    I crouched down, hugging my knees, crying like a child abandoned and alone.


    And just when it seemed like the storm would never end, something miraculous happened.


    As it happened, I was shielded from thest of the rainfall by an umbre that appeared over my head. To my surprise, when I turned around, Martin was standing there.


    Makenna’s POV:


    “M-Miss Dunn…” Martin greeted me awkwardly, his voice faltering. “Are… are you alright?”


    I quickly wiped away the tears with the back of my hand, desperately trying to hide the mess I had be. But my puffy eyes and tear-streaked face betrayed me. “I’m fine. What are you doing here?” I sniffled, my voice rough from holding back the tears.


    Martin flinched, his gaze dropping to the ground as if it could hide his nervousness. “I… I was just passing by and saw you standing in the rain, so… I came over.”


    He couldn’t seem to meet my eyes, his focus fixed on the damp pavement.


    Seeing how uneasy he was, I forced a small smile, trying to ease the tension. “Thanks, Martin.”


    He gave a sheepish grin. “You’re wee. It’s the least I could do.”


    Without another word, he pushed the umbre into my hands, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Miss Dunn, you’ll catch a cold if you stay out in the rain. Take the umbre.”


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