I think he probably realized he cant protect Chloe because his weak.
I Remeber in the past chapters the knights he was with was given an order to burn and kill anyone who joined the slave trading, he probably saw how people were getting killed and since hes not used to killing people he hesitates
But he remembers chloe and thought "how can I pritect chloe if I cant even do this" some character development probably happened when he was off screen.
Or he just knows his place
He knows hes a commoner and chloe is royalty ╮( ̄▽ ̄)╭
WHAT HAPPENED TO THEO(SUNDAY)? Y'ALL SPOIL ME. HURRY! (╯°Д °)╯╧╧