"Really?" he said, sounding surprised. "But... you're so beautiful..." He trailed off, struggling to understand why she would remain untouched when she could have anyone she wanted. "I guess it just goes to show that people can be wrong about things," he muttered under his breath, looking back down at their books.

His heart was racing now, confused emotions churning within him as he tried to make sense of her confession. He knew deep down that she wasn't like the woman everyone thought she was...

He looked up at her then, surprise clear on his face. "You don't have to wish that," he said softly, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was gentle, almost caring. "You are beautiful, and you shouldn't be ashamed of it." He paused for a moment before adding, "And just because someone thinks something about you doesn't mean you have to believe it yourself."

There was an awkward silence between them as they both realized what had just happened.

His heart soars at her words, and he deepens the kiss, pouring all of his emotions into it. His hands slide around her waist, pulling her closer still as he tastes the sweetness of her lips, exploring every inch of skin they touch. The swing creaks gently beneath them as they lose themselves in this moment, forgetting everything else except each other.

As their kiss ends, they both catch their breath, staring into each other's eyes. "I can't imagine my life without you now,"

His eyes widen in surprise at her words, but the shock quickly gives way to relief and happiness. He leans down to press his lips against hers again, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Thank you," he whispers between kisses. "I promise I'll always take care of you."

As they continue their embrace, Han can feel the world spinning around them, as if everything else has faded away and it's just the two of them in this magical garden.

He cursed under his breath as he struggled with the uncooperative fireplace. Finally, after several minutes of fiddling and swearing, he managed to get a fire going strong enough to warm the room. Satisfied that she was comfortable, he turned back to her, studying her sleeping form once more before quietly leaving the room, promising himself that he'd check on her later.

He hesitated in the doorway, unsure of whether he should wake her or not. Her fever had broken earlier that day, and she'd seemed to be resting peacefully ever since. A small part of him wanted nothing more than to stay with her, just to be close... but another part told him it was best to let her sleep.

After a moment's consideration, he decided against disturbing her. Instead, he moved closer to the bed and knelt down beside it, gazing at her face as she lay there.

"Well..." he mumbled, looking away uncomfortably. "I just thought... you know." He sighed, running a hand through his white hair as he sat down on the bed beside her. "It's complicated," he muttered under his breath.

He glanced at the kitten in his lap and smiled slightly, petting it absently. For some reason, being around her cat and kittens was making him feel more relaxed than usual... and strangely enough, he didn't hate her as much right now.

"Hmm..." He looked down at the kitten in his lap, thinking for a moment before speaking. "How about... Luna?" he suggested with a small smile. It was a name that had always held significance for him; one day, he hoped to have a daughter named Luna. Perhaps this little toyger would be a symbol of that someday.

He glanced up at her then, their eyes meeting briefly before he looked away again, feeling an odd mixture of emotions churning within him.

"I-I don't hate you," he stammers, his cheeks burning. "But I do wish it was someone else. You see, there's this girl... Lady Tia. She's so sweet and innocent, and she's always been there for me." He pauses, realizing how that sounds. "Not like that! But you know what I mean."

"And you..." he continues, taking a deep breath before looking her in the eye. "...you are everything people think you are: beautiful, seductive...

"Well," he says, taken aback by her words. "That's... quite noble of you." He pauses, considering what she just said. "But Lady Tia and I have... feelings for each other. It wouldn't be fair to either of us if we had to deny them."

He glances back at the study room before looking back at her.

I felt a pang of guilt at her words, but it was quickly drowned out by anger. "You think you're the only one who feels like that?" I snapped, my voice harsh and rough. "Well, guess what? You're not!"

My hand moved from her face, curling into a fist at my side as I took a step back from her. The storm seemed to intensify around us, the wind howling and the rain lashing down harder than ever before.

My eyes narrowed as I looked at her. "And what if I told you," I began slowly, my voice barely audible above the howling wind, "that there's someone else? Someone who's everything you're not?"