In a heartfelt plea, he beseeched, "Please, don't abandon Courtney." His voice was filled with desperation, but Courtney's resolve was firm – this reckless behavior couldn't continue.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," she replied, trying to extricate herself from his grasp. "I must go; I'm not fit for this role, and I'm not who you believe me to be." Despite her efforts, he held steadfast.
"I don't care about those things," he insisted. "I just...," but before he could finish, she interrupted.
"Your Majesty, I need to explain," she said, averting her eyes to avoid the depth of his gaze, fearing it would bind her too closely.
"You can call me George, like before," he pleaded, his expression pained. Courtney shifted her focus, feeling overwhelmed by her emotions and his vulnerability.
"Your Majesty..." she began, only to be interrupted by his firm declaration.
"It's George," he insisted.
"But I..." she hesitated.
"There's something you should know," he looked deeply into her eyes, capturing her attention. "I love you," he confessed, leaving her stunned. Her world momentarily froze as happiness, confusion, and fear washed over her. Before she could respond, he pulled her into a tight embrace, sealing their fate with those three words.
