Henry and I had been enemies because of our families. Both families trained both of us at a young age to fight, so there's no surprise that I and he are violent and bloodthirsty.

And tonight, I was standing in front of Henry. I was on the rooftop of the building with a lot of dead bodies on the floor from the fight, and the only person who is alive is the both of us.

My dress is torn, my  hair is disheveled, and there is a bloodstain on my body from the fight while Henry is standing in front of me with a gun in his hand, pointing it at me.

His eyes lock on mine  in a piercing glare while I just stand there near the railing, feeling weak from the fight, with a cut on my arm that is still bleeding. Henry takes a step closer to me, daring you should give up already, u are about to faint, he said in his low, husky tone

get here before you fall

The cold wind whipped through my hair as I struggled to stay on My feet. The rooftop was drenched in blood, the bodies of the men I had slaughtered scattered around me  like fallen puppets. My breathing was uneven, every inhale burning my lungs.

Blood dripped down my arm from the deep cut I received during the fight, staining the torn fabric of my dress. my body screamed in exhaustion, but surrender had never existed in my vocabulary.

Especially not to him.

Henry.

The man I had been taught to hate before I  even learned how to write My name.

I were raised with blades in my hands and blood on my knuckles. The two of us had spent our entire lives trying to kill each other—or perhaps something far more dangerous than that.

Henry stood before you, dressed in black, his clothes stained crimson. There was blood smeared across his jaw, bruises decorating his face, and his gun was aimed directly at your heart.

His cold gaze remained fixed on you.

"You look terrible," he muttered in his usual mocking tone.

I laughed bitterly despite the pain. "And you look beautiful with blood on your hands."

His jaw tightened slightly at My words.

my vision blurred for a moment, forcing me to grip the railing behind me. The blood loss was beginning to catch up with me.

Henry noticed immediately.

He always did.

He took a slow step towards me, lowering the gun slightly.

"Daring give up already?" he asked in his low husky voice before his expression darkened when he saw my body sway.

He sighed softly and held out his hand.

"Get here before you fall."

I almost laughed at the absurdity of the situation.

The infamous Henry—the ruthless monster who would burn kingdoms to ashes—was asking me to come to him.

"What?" I whispered weakly.

"I won't repeat myself."

"You'll shoot me if I do."

"If I wanted to shoot you, sweetheart," he said quietly while taking another step closer, "you would've been dead ten minutes ago."

My heart betrayed you by skipping a beat.

His eyes traveled to the blood running down my arm before they softened for just a second—a softness reserved only for you and hidden from the rest of the world.

"You lost too much blood."

"So did you."

"Mine isn't important."

I scoffed. "Since when?"

"Since it's yours that's spilling."

For a moment, neither of you spoke.

The city lights shone beneath the two of us as the cold wind carried the scent of blood and gunpowder through the night.

"You should kill me, Henry," i  murmured softly.

"Should I?"

"That's what we've been raised for."

He smiled bitterly at that.

"No," he answered immediately. "That's what they raised us for."

The words caught my off guard.

"We're enemies," i reminded him.

"To everyone else, perhaps."

"And to you?"

His piercing gaze met my before he slowly lowered his gun completely.

"To me?" He laughed quietly before shaking his head. "You've never been my enemy."

my breath caught in my throat.

He took another step closer until only a few inches remained between the two of us.

"You know what's funny?" he murmured softly.

"What?"

"They spent years teaching me how to kill you."

His fingers gently wrapped around my bleeding hand, careful not to hurt you.

"But somewhere along the way..." his voice became softer, "...I learned how to love you instead."

The world around you seemed to fall silent.

"You idiot," i whispered, tears threatening to spill from my eyes.

Henry smiled faintly before pulling you into his arms.

"Maybe."

my body finally gave out against his chest, exhaustion consuming  me as darkness slowly crept into the edge of my vision.

Before i lost consciousness, i felt him press a gentle kiss against my forehead.

And for the first time in my life, his voice held no hatred when he whispered,

"Rest now, my love. I'll kill anyone who tries to take you from me—even if it's the world itself."

The grand doors of Henry's mansion opened with a loud thud.

Rainwater dripped from his black coat as he stepped inside carrying you in his arms. Blood stained both of our clothes—some of it mine, some of it his. my once beautiful dress was torn from the battle, my hair disheveled and sticking to my pale face.

The entire mansion fell silent.

Everyone stared at the unconscious woman sleeping against the chest of the man they feared the most.

Then someone's eyes widened in horror.

"IS THAT HER?"

"What the hell?!"

"Henry!"

The entire family stood up from their seats.

His grandfather, Theodore Blackwood—the head of the family—slammed his cane against the floor.

"What nonsense is this?!"

His elder brother, Alexander Blackwood, glared at him furiously.

"Have you finally gone mad?"

His aunt Isabella covered her mouth in shock while his younger cousin Ethan almost dropped the glass in his hand.

"The daughter of our enemies?" Ethan whispered.

"You brought HER here?" Alexander shouted.

The servants immediately lowered their heads in fear.

Everyone knew about the hatred between your two families. Hundreds had died because of this war.

And yet the heir of the Blackwood family had returned carrying the enemy princess in his arms.

Henry ignored them all and continued walking.

"STOP RIGHT THERE!" Theodore ordered.

Henry finally stopped before slowly turning towards them.

His cold crimson eyes met theirs.

"Move."

"No," Theodore replied firmly. "Put her down."

"No."

"She's our enemy."

"No."

Alexander clenched his fists in anger.

"She killed dozens of our men tonight!"

"And?" Henry asked coldly.

The entire room went silent.

"And?" Alexander repeated in disbelief.

Henry looked down at my pale face before answering calmly,

"Then they should've been stronger."

Everyone froze.

No one expected such an answer.

Theodore glared at him angrily.

"Henry Blackwood! Have you forgotten who you are?"

"No."

"Then why are you protecting her?"

For the first time, his cold expression softened ever so slightly as he looked at my sleeping peacefully despite your injuries.

"Because she's mine."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Even the servants forgot how to breathe.

Alexander looked ready to faint.

"YOUR WHAT?!"

Henry ignored everyone's expressions before continuing,

"Anyone who touches her loses their hand."

Theodore laughed bitterly.

"You'll choose our enemy over your own family?"

Henry's expression immediately darkened.

"If my family wants her dead..." he slowly looked at every single one of them before continuing, "...then my family becomes my enemy."

The murderous aura surrounding him made everyone instinctively step back.

They knew Henry was dangerous.

They raised him to become the perfect weapon.

But no one realized that the weapon they created would one day be pointed at them.

Suddenly, i whimpered softly in his arms.

my trembling fingers tightly held onto his shirt.

"H-Henry..."

His expression immediately softened.

"I'm here."

"Don't leave..." i whispered unconsciously.

His family could only stare in disbelief.

The ruthless Henry Blackwood—the same man who once burned down an entire building because someone had insulted him—was gently brushing the hair away from your face.

His grandmother softly smiled while watching the scene unfold.

Lady Eleanor Blackwood had always understood her grandson better than anyone else.

"So," she chuckled softly while sipping her tea, "the great Henry Blackwood has fallen in love."

"GRANDMOTHER!" Alexander shouted in disbelief.

"What?" she asked innocently. "I like her."

"You JUST MET HER!"

"And she's prettier than all the girls he has rejected."

Henry looked at his grandmother silently before saying,

"Thank you."

Everyone immediately turned towards him.

HE SAID THANK YOU?!

The servants nearly cried from shock.

Henry thanked someone?!

Lady Eleanor smiled knowingly.

"Oh dear," she laughed softly, "our cold-hearted monster is completely gone."

Ignoring everyone's horrified expressions, Henry gently kissed your forehead before carrying you upstairs.

Before disappearing, he stopped and looked back at his family.

His eyes turned cold once again.

"Listen carefully."

The atmosphere immediately became suffocating.

"She will live here from now on."

"What?!" everyone shouted.

"If anyone hurts her—"

His murderous aura filled the entire hall.

"I won't care whether you're family or not."

After saying those words, he disappeared upstairs carrying the only weakness he had ever allowed himself to possess.

Meanwhile, downstairs...

Alexander sat down while looking traumatized.

"Our family's most dangerous man is in love with our greatest enemy."

Ethan sighed dramatically.

"We're doomed."

Lady Eleanor simply smiled while taking another sip of her tea.

"No," she laughed softly.

"We're getting a granddaughter."

To Be Continued... ♡

The moment Henry entered his bedroom, he gently placed me on his king-sized bed as if I were made of glass.

For someone who had spent his entire life drained in blood and violence, the tenderness in his touch was almost frightening.

"Call the doctor. NOW!" Henry ordered coldly.

"Y-Yes, Young Master!"

Within minutes, five of the best doctors of the Blackwood family arrived.

No one wanted to become Henry's next victim if something happened to Me.

One of the doctors carefully examined my wounds before his expression darkened.

"The cut on your arm is deep, Young Master."

"And?" Henry asked impatiently.

"She's suffering from severe blood loss and exhaustion. If she had arrived thirty minutes later—"

The doctor suddenly stopped speaking.

Henry's eyes slowly met his.

"Continue."

"...she would've died."

Silence filled the room.

Everyone standing there immediately felt the temperature drop.

No one dared to breathe.

Henry slowly looked towards your sleeping figure before asking quietly,

"Will she live?"

"Y-Yes! She will live if she rests properly."

Only then did everyone release the breath they had been holding.

The doctor carefully began treating your wounds while Henry remained beside you the entire time.

"Young Master, we'll need to change her clothes to treat the wounds on her shoulder."

"No."

The doctor blinked.

"...Pardon?"

"No male doctor touches her." T-T

The room immediately became awkward.

"Then what do we do?"

Henry looked towards one of the maids.

"Bring my grandmother here."

Everyone: "......."

Only Lady Eleanor could save them now.

Meanwhile downstairs....

Alexander was having an existential crisis.

"Our family's future head brought home our enemy."

"Yes."

"He's threatening to kill us for her."

"Yes."

"He thanked grandmother."

"YES!"

Alexander looked towards Ethan with horror written across his face.

"WHAT HAS LOVE DONE TO HIM?"

Lady Eleanor simply smiled while eating her cake.

"Oh, please. He's adorable."

"HE'S TERRIFYING!"

"Same thing."

Suddenly Isabella looked worried.

"Do you all realize what this means?"

Everyone became silent.

"The other family will come looking for her."

The atmosphere immediately changed.

Everyone knew she wasn't just anyone.

You were the daughter of the family's greatest enemy.

If your family discovered where you were, another war would begin.

Alexander sighed while rubbing his forehead.

"We're dead."

"No," Theodore spoke for the first time since Henry left.

Everyone turned towards him.

"The other family should pray Henry doesn't decide to go to war."

They suddenly realized something terrifying.

If someone harmed you....

Henry would destroy them.

Without hesitation.

Without mercy.

Because Henry Blackwood had never lost anything precious before.

Which meant no one had ever witnessed what he would become when protecting someone he loved.

Later that night...

I slowly opened my eyes feeling warmth surrounding my body.

my head hurt.

Everything hurt.

The first thing i noticed was the unfamiliar room.

The second thing was the warm hand holding mine.

i slowly looked beside me and froze.

Henry was sleeping while sitting beside your bed.

His black shirt was stained with blood, his face decorated with bruises from the fight and his hand was tightly holding mine even in his sleep.

my eyes widened slightly.

He never leaves his guard down.

Never.

Then why was he sleeping beside you?

Suddenly his eyes slowly opened.

For a moment, the ruthless monster looked surprised before relief appeared in his eyes.

"You're awake."

i  nodded slightly.

"Where am I?"

"My room."

"......"

"......"

"What?"

"My room."

i almost sat up from shock before immediately regretting my life choices when pain shot through my body.

Henry gently helped me lie back down.

"you lost too much blood."

"Why am I in your room?"

"Because I brought you here."

"WHY?"

"Because I wanted to."

You suddenly remembered something important.

"Our families—"

"I don't care."

"You should."

"I don't."

i stared at him speechlessly.

"Henry, they are going to kill me."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"YES!"

He gently brushed my hair behind my ear before speaking softly,

"Then they'll die first."

You froze.

He wasn't joking.

That was the terrifying part.

He was completely serious.

Before you could say anything else, the door suddenly flew open.

Alexander stormed inside looking furious.

"HENRY! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR—"

He suddenly stopped speaking after noticing you were awake.

Silence.

Awkward silence.

i looked at him.

He looked at you.

Henry looked ready to kill him.

Alexander smiled awkwardly.

"...Good evening?"

"Get out."

"No."

"Get out."

"No."

"Three."

"What?"

"Two."

"WAIT!"

Alexander immediately pointed towards you.

"I BROUGHT SOUP FOR HER!"

Silence filled the room.

Henry looked at the tray in his hand.

"...You brought soup?"

Alexander awkwardly nodded.

"Mother said sick people eat soup."

i blinked in surprise.

"Thank you."

Alexander froze.

YOU THANKED HIM?!

He slowly looked towards Henry before whispering,

"...Brother."

"What?"

"I like her."

"She's mine."

"I WASN'T FLIRTING!"

For the first time in hours, i  couldn't stop myself from laughing.

The sound immediately silenced the room.

Henry simply stared at my smiling face before unconsciously smiling himself.

Alexander almost dropped the tray.

HE SMILED?!

OH GOD! HE SMILED!

He immediately ran downstairs.

"GRANDMOTHER! CALL EVERYONE!"

Lady Eleanor looked confused.

"What happened?"

Alexander pointed upstairs dramatically.

"THE MONSTER SMILED!"

The entire mansion fell silent.

Henry Blackwood....

Had smiled.

And somehow, everyone knew that this was only the beginning of a far more dangerous story.

To Be Continued...