In that still darkness, Lucas was walking alone, lost in a whirlpool of thoughts, until he found himself—unintentionally—standing in front of a familiar house, one whose walls had sheltered him since childhood. He knocked several times, and when one of the servants opened the door and saw his face, he said:
"Master Lucas, please come in."
Lucas entered the house he had always considered his true refuge, more than the one he was born in. Here, he had found the warmth of Louis' parents, a warmth he never felt from his own father. Even after their passing years ago, he never stopped coming to this place—for his friend Louis—and over time, a strong, unbreakable bond formed between him and this family.
He knew his way well, heading straight toward the dining hall, as dinner time hadn't ended yet. In the corridor, he ran into Myrna, Louis' younger sister, a tall seventeen-year-old who resembled her sister Viola in features.
With surprise and , she said, "Lucas?"
He looked at her silently, but she was used to his presence. He had always been considered part of the family, often visiting at this time with Louis—or alone—and staying late before returning to his own home.
She asked, noticing the grim expression on his face, "Why do you look angry? Did something happen?"
He shook his head and said flatly, "No, nothing happened... Where's your sister?"
She replied with a small smile, "She went up to her room after finishing dinner."
He turned without another word and continued on his way.
She watched him walk away and said playfully, "Heh… lovebirds chirp even in the evening."
She laughed and walked off, while he continued until he reached Viola's room. He stopped for a moment, then knocked.
One of the maids opened and said, "Lady Viola… it's Master Lucas."
Viola turned quickly, then ordered the maid to leave. Lucas remained standing at the threshold, his head bowed.
She gently approached him and said, "Lucas, come in."
He entered without a word, and she closed the door behind him. He stayed in place, unmoving, as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders.
She approached him again and stood in front of him. She held his hand and whispered, "Lucas... what happened?"
He didn't respond. His gaze was still fixed on the floor.
She spoke even more gently, placing a hand on his cheek: "Hey… look at me."
At last, he lifted his eyes to her. She smiled at him… then embraced him tenderly.
"I'm here for you. I'll listen to you till morning if you want… Just calm down, and if you're not ready to talk, that's okay."
She knew him well… knew everything about him. Since childhood, he would come to her—sometimes bruised by his father, sometimes broken—and he never changed. Viola was the only one who knew how to comfort him without hurting him. Perhaps that was the most important reason why he fell in love with her.
She stepped back a little, and he looked into her eyes. That look had saved him countless times. Then she said with a warm smile, "Let's sit for a while, hmm?"
They sat together, exchanging a few light words, until the door suddenly burst open violently.
Louis shouted, his face red with anger, "You!"
Both of them looked at him in surprise. They were sitting on the couch. He advanced quickly, grabbed Lucas by the collar, and yelled, "How many times do I have to tell you not to come into my sister's room like this?!"
Lucas replied, turning his face away, "You're breathing in my face… it's disgusting."
Louis scowled, "What did you say?!"
Lucas answered coolly, "I said you're too loud."
Viola immediately intervened, "Louis, stop! We're just talking."
Louis loosened his grip and stepped back, running his hand through his hair. "Whatever… talk all you want, but not in my sister's room. Go to the reception room."
Viola said, "Calm down, Louis. Sit with us if you want."
He reluctantly sat down, then looked at Lucas. He knew Lucas came like this whenever something bad happened at home, and he guessed quickly this time, saying sarcastically, "Don't tell me you ruined your mother's dinner again."
Lucas didn't answer. He turned his face away.
Louis continued with a sigh, "You're really annoying… I asked you to attend to make her happy, not the opposite. What did you do this time?"
Lucas said, "So it's your fault, not mine."
Louis looked at his sister mockingly and said, "There he goes again… always blaming others for his own mistakes."
Viola laughed and said, "Enough, Louis. Leave him alone."
Louis stared at her, "Hah… always defending him."
Lucas responded firmly, "Because I'm always right."
Louis scoffed, "That's not true… it's because she love—"
He suddenly fell silent and looked down.
Viola looked into her brother's eyes and immediately understood what he was about to say. Sorrow crept into her features, and she slowly turned toward Lucas, who was silently looking at her, before lowering her head.
Lucas too realized what Louis was about to declare. He didn't want to see sadness on Viola's face, nor be the cause of it.
He looked at Louis and asked calmly, "Love what?"
Louis hesitated, then averted his gaze, "Because she… loves to tease me, nothing more."
He then looked at his sister, who was still staring silently at the floor.
Louis sighed and said, "Lucas, it's really late… you can go back home now."
But Lucas replied firmly, "I don't want to. I'll stay here tonight."
Louis snapped, his face tense, "Huh? Didn't you say your mother's birthday party is tomorrow? You should apologize in the morning before work, or you'll ruin it for her."
A black imaginary aura appeared over Lucas's head, as if darkness gathered around him. He muttered in frustration, "Apologize? Apology?... Impossible…"
Louis spoke impatiently, "What arrogance is this? Can't you just lower your head a little… for your mother at least?"
Viola laughed at the scene and said as she looked at them, "It's fine, let him stay. I'll talk to her tomorrow on his behalf."
Louis protested, "But, sis…"
She interrupted him gently but firmly, "Louis, it's fine… I'll take care of it."
Lucas had his own room in the manor; it wasn't something new. He occasionally stayed the night. He entered it to prepare for sleep, while Louis and Viola stood at the door watching him.
Louis, yawning, said, "Hey man, you'll regret it tomorrow if you don't apologize to your mom."
Lucas didn't answer.
Louis waved his hand, mumbling, "Whatever, I'm tired… I'm going to bed. Good night."
He left, and Viola remained standing at the door, quietly watching. Then she called, "Lucas…"
He looked up at her.
She said in a soft tone, "Louis… just now… I think we both understood what he was trying to say, didn't we?"
He didn't answer, only looked down.
She asked in a faint voice, "Lucas, what should I do now?"
He stayed silent and looked at her again, so she continued, as if seeking a confession:
"If the Crown Prince proposed to me … and married me...will you still… love me?"
Lucas said nothing. Words failed him.
Viola said in a trembling voice, "Lucas, please… answer me."
He finally answered, in a low but firm voice, "That time hasn't come yet. Why are you thinking about such things now?"
He didn't answer her like he used to do this time
She looked at him waiting for a deeper explanation but he was silent
Viola looked him directly in the eyes and said softly, but with an invisible weight in her voice:
"Your wife… she's very beautiful. And educated and well-spoken."
Lucas's expression shifted slightly as he said with surprise:
"Why are you bringing her up now?"
Viola smiled faintly, tiredly, then continued as if she hadn't heard him:
"She's also very smart… can you believe she invented that paper from scratch? I couldn't believe … how could someone do that alone, with only kitchen tools?"
He said firmly,
"Viola…"
But she ignored him and continued, her voice starting to tremble:
"And at the party… when she entered the hall… I couldn't believe what I saw, she was…"
Her words caught in her throat, and tears began to fall silently.
"She was beautiful… so beautiful when dressed up. Even I couldn't stop looking at her the whole time. I'm sure… that you…"
She fell silent.
But Lucas stepped toward her quickly, his voice sharp:
"That I what? What are you trying to say?"
She looked at him, her tears still falling, and said in a broken voice:
"Maybe you fell in love with her without realizing it."
Lucas shouted, his eyes wide with clear anger:
"What the hell?! What on earth makes you think I'd fall in love with her?!"
She smiled faintly, her face still wet:
"It's just a feeling… I admired her, and I'm a girl… so how could you possibly resist…"
He cut her off, his voice rising louder than ever:
"You know me better than anyone else! I've never cared about any woman but you! I fell in love with you only! And that won't change even if you marry someone else! That's my answer to your question… now leave!"
He suddenly turned, heading toward the bed and turning his back on her.
Viola hesitated for a moment, then said in a barely audible voice:
"I'm sorry, Lucas… Even if you said that now, something inside me… tells me you're not telling the truth. What if your heart changes one day… I just… feel powerless."
At that, Lucas slowly turned around, his eyes glowing with pain from her words:
He was silent for a few seconds, then said in a broken voice for the first time:
"You know, Viola… you're not the only one who feels powerless."
He stepped closer, stared at her for a long moment, then continued:
"I'm far more powerless than you… because I couldn't protect the one thing I loved in my life."
He looked into her tear-filled eyes, the eyes he had always loved, eyes he couldn't bear to see sad because of him:
"I feel like a liar… a hypocrite… because I'm standing here now, and you're crying, because of me… and I have nothing to stop it. No words, no actions, no promises…"
His voice trembled as he muttered:
"I hate myself, Viola… because I let you go through all this alone. Because I'm standing here now, doing nothing but surrendering."
Viola raised her eyes to him, her lips trembling, but she didn't interrupt.
He continued, his tone like a final confession:
"Every night, I rethink every moment we shared… and wonder how things got to this point? How did I allow myself to lose you… and then hurt you after that?"
He sighed and said:
"I'm not as strong as you think… I'm just a weak man, who can only love you in silence and choke every time he sees you in pain because of him."
Viola stepped closer in silence, raised her hand, and gently touched his face.
She felt his body trembling with anger and said, "Then… tonight, let's forget everything happening around us. I'm not afraid anymore. I… I want you now."
His eyes widened in shock, as if he didn't hear her right. He held her hand that was on his cheek and slowly pulled it away, saying:
"Viola… what did you just say?"
She looked him in the eyes steadily and said without hesitation:
"Exactly what you heard… I want you now, Lucas."
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