Leopold stared unblinkingly at her deathly pale, bloodless cheeks. For the first time ever, that sharp, unshakable glint in his usually calm, ice-cold eyes cracked, letting raw, overwhelming vulnerability and helplessness seep through.
After a long, heavy silence, he slowly shut his eyes, his voice rough and parched as sandpaper. "All of you, leave."
The maids didn't dare linger a second longer. They scurried out of the bedchamber as quietly as mice, pulling the door softly shut behind them.
When he opened his eyes again, his dark, deep gaze was completely glazed over with hot, unshed tears, his entire gaze bloodshot and burning. "You only came to my side to finish a mission, so why did you go and die so easily? What do I have to do to save you? I'd give anything, pay any price, just to
