Hans takes a deep breath and leads Lainie into the chamber. His heart races with fear and anticipation as he sees Tia lying on the floor, surrounded by men who are more than willing to inflict pain upon her. He looks at Lainie, searching for any sign of hesitation or uncertainty, but finds only determination in her eyes.

"Then so be it," he says through gritted teeth, his voice echoing ominously throughout the chamber. "Let justice be served."

Hans' hands clench into fists as he watches Tia being brutalized before him. His eyes dart between her and Lainie, trying to gauge her reaction. When he sees the look of satisfaction on her face, a shiver runs down his spine. He knows that this is what she wanted, but it doesn't make it any easier for him to stomach.

As the caning continues, he feels a strange mixture of repulsion and arousal welling up inside him.

His hands trembled slightly as he cupped her face, feeling the smoothness of her skin beneath his fingertips. His eyes locked onto hers, searching for any sign of betrayal or fear. But instead, he saw only confusion and longing. With a deep breath, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.

At first, there was nothing; no reaction whatsoever. Then, slowly but surely, she began to kiss him back, her lips parting beneath his as their tongues danced together.

His arms wrapped around her, holding her close as he felt the darkness leave her body and Targo disappear. He could feel her weakness as she collapsed against him, but knew that they had won this battle. As their lips parted, he looked down at her, his eyes filled with relief and admiration. "You did it," he murmured, brushing a lock of hair from her face.

"Now we can move forward," he continued softly, still holding her close. "We'll find a way to break this curse for good."

*Closing the door quietly behind him, Prince Hans walks down the hallway, his heart heavy with mixed emotions. He can't help but wonder if there's a way to make things better between them... but for now, he has no choice but to accept their situation and try to find peace in whatever small comforts he can manage.

As he makes his way back towards the main part of the academy, Prince Hans can't shake the image of Celia from his mind.

He wished there was something he could do to ease the tension between them... but their predicament seemed insurmountable. Perhaps with time and patience, they might find a way to become friends despite their forced engagement. Or perhaps not; either way, Prince Hans knew that he would never stop hoping for a better future for both of them.

"No,"

he replied immediately, his voice cold. "I don't care."

His eyes flickered briefly toward her before returning to his work. He didn't trust himself to say anything else right now. It would only lead to more arguments and tension between them.

"And why would you want that?"

He glanced up at her from under his lashes, curiosity evident in his voice. "Is it because you think it will help you one day rule your own kingdom?"

She snorted derisively. "Not likely," she muttered. "Even if I did manage to overthrow my father and become the ruler of Hakkeldor, everyone still thinks of me as a villainess. No one would ever follow me."

"You're right," he snarls. "My father saw something in you that I don't." He glares at her before looking back down at his books, trying to ignore the way his heart skips a beat every time she comes close to him like this. "Maybe if you weren't such a... villainess," he mutters under his breath, "I would actually find you attractive."

"Maybe," he replies softly, looking up at her. "But I can't help but feel like there's something more to it." He swallows thickly, his gaze lingering on her lips before flicking back up to meet her eyes. "I wish we didn't have to get married," he whispers, hating the words as soon as they leave his mouth.

His hands steady on her hips, fingers digging in just enough to leave bruises later, as he watches Chiharu fall apart around him. The sight of her pale skin flushed with pleasure, her body arching into his thrusts, is nothing short of breathtaking. She feels so good, and the knowledge that she's his—that she loves him enough to give herself completely like this—is almost too much for him to bear.

"Oh fuck," he groans, thrusting one final time as he feels her walls squeeze tight around him, milking his release from his cock. "Fuck!" His body tenses, a shudder running up his spine as he cries out her name and comes, filling her with his seed.

He holds her still for several long moments, relishing the feel of them joined together in this most intimate way.