Dimitri's POV — Morning After the Garden
The estate was quiet in the early light, a fragile hush settling over the stone corridors like fog. Dimitri stood at the edge of the balcony, gloved hands resting against cold marble, eyes fixed on nothing and everything.
He hadn't slept.
The moonlight had long since faded, but the weight of last night hadn't.
He could still feel the ghost of Riella's body pressed against his—her breath shallow, her eyes wide, her fingers brushing his chest before she steadied. It had been brief. Accidental.
Yet it lingered like sin.
He shouldn't have looked at her the way he did.
Shouldn't have wanted to.
Control yourself.
He closed his eyes, jaw clenching as he forced the thoughts back into the recesses of his mind where they belonged. She was not his to want. She was a ward of fate, a piece of the past that fate had returned to him—dangerous, brilliant, untouchable.
Footsteps echoed behind him—measured, familiar.
"You're up early," Kael said as he stepped onto the balcony, arms folded over his chest, his usual sharp gaze a little softened by sleep.
Dimitri didn't look at him. "So are you."
"Habit," Kael said simply, leaning against the opposite pillar. "Place like this makes it hard to stay asleep."
Silence stretched between them—not uncomfortable, but thick with the kind of unspoken history that brothers-in-blood often shared.
Dimitri didn't need to explain himself. Kael didn't ask.
They stood like that for a while—two statues in shadow and morning gold.
Finally, Dimitri exhaled. "Anything from the border?"
"Quiet. Too quiet." Kael's tone shifted, more alert now. "Kaien said the patrol found unfamiliar markings near the old trail."
"Scouts?"
"Maybe. Could be stragglers. Could be nothing."
Dimitri nodded once. "Increase the watch. I want rotations doubled near the west perimeter."
Kael inclined his head, but didn't move.
The wind lifted again, brushing strands of hair across Dimitri's face.
Kael glanced sideways at him. "You look tired."
"I am."
"Don't fall apart yet," Kael said lightly. "You're the only one holding the threads together."
Dimitri didn't reply, but something hardened behind his eyes.
As Kael turned to leave, he paused at the threshold.
"Watch your back," he said quietly, without turning around. "Not everyone here is as loyal as they seem."
Dimitri's gaze didn't follow him—but he heard the unspoken warning in his brother's voice. And he knew it wasn't about spies or soldiers.
It was about feelings. Attachment.
Things far more treacherous than war.
When Kael's footsteps faded down the hall, Dimitri finally let his shoulders fall, the weight of restraint bearing down on him again.
And somewhere deep in his chest, against all reason—he wanted to see her again.
Even if he knew he shouldn't.
---
The afternoon sun filtered gently through the estate's high windows, casting warm golden rays across polished floors and soft velvet drapes. Bags were packed, goodbyes were nearing, and Chloe's carriage waited just beyond the courtyard—horses pawing impatiently at the cobblestones.
Amelia adjusted her shawl, glancing around. "Are you sure you're ready to go?"
"I think so," Riella murmured, though her heart fluttered with a strange weight.
Chloe appeared behind them with a faint smile. "The journey back should be easy. The staff already loaded our things. We'll be home before evening"
As the three girls stepped toward the grand entrance, voices rose near the stairs. Seraphine descended with calm elegance, the pale blue of her gown catching the light like frost.
"Oh, I'm glad I caught you," she said smoothly. "Riella, might I borrow you for a moment?"
Riella blinked, surprised. "Of course."
Amelia and Chloe exchanged a quick glance but didn't object.
Seraphine led her just out of earshot, voice lowering. "There's a dressmaker coming today. A personal favor. She only visits rarely, and I'd love your opinion on her designs—especially since you have such an eye for detail. Would you consider staying behind for just one more night?"
Riella hesitated.
"I'll have one of the guards escort Amelia and Chloe," Seraphine continued. "I'll see to it that you return tomorrow morning."
It was clear Seraphine had made up her mind long before she asked. Riella sensed something beneath the request—something intentional—but Seraphine's expression remained smooth as silk.
"I suppose… if Amelia's alright with it."
She looked over.
Amelia frowned slightly but nodded. "If you're sure."
"I'll be fine," Riella said, though her heart thudded quietly beneath her ribs.
As Chloe and Amelia departed, Riella stood beside Seraphine on the steps, watching the carriage disappear through the gates. The silence between them stretched.
"You didn't really want to talk about fabric, did you?" Riella asked softly.
Seraphine's lips curved, not into a smile but something knowing. "No. But I did want you to stay."