(Aria's pov)
The night was unusually still, the cathedral cloaked in darkness except for the pale moonlight spilling through the high windows. I sat on the edge of my bed for what felt like hours, twisting the fabric of my habit between trembling fingers. My heart had not stopped racing since the parchment had arrived—Leo had asked to meet me, here, at night. And though a part of me screamed to refuse, another part—far more rebellious and foolish—wanted to see him.
I told myself it was to demand answers, to confront him for the lies, the secrets, the betrayals. Yet even as I moved through the silent corridors, my pulse betrayed me. Every step brought a memory of his touch, every shadow reminded me of his eyes—deep, unyielding, impossible to ignore.
The private chamber where he waited was dimly lit, candlelight flickering against the walls, casting long, uneven shadows. He was already there, standing near the window, arms loosely folded, his posture casual yet commanding. Even in the silence, I could feel the weight of his presence.
"Aria," he greeted softly, his voice warm, soothing, but laced with that familiar, subtle command. "You came."
"I… had to," I said, though my voice trembled despite my best effort to sound steady. "I need to understand… everything."
He tilted his head, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "And you will. But first, tell me what troubles you, little dove. Speak honestly."
I hesitated, the words lodged in my throat. My mind replayed the moment in the confessional, the whispers I had tried to bury, the longing I had tried to deny. But now, facing him, the fear and desire tangled into something impossible to separate.
"I…" I began, then faltered. "I… I don't know if I can trust what I feel, or what you say.You betrayed me ,you are not a priest,you....are ...."
Leo's eyes softened, a subtle gleam of amusement dancing in the depths. "Oh dear..Trust is not given lightly, nor earned easily. But you trust me already, even if your mind resists it.And Yes even if I am not what you see."
My pulse quickened. I wanted to deny it, to swear I had not felt the pull of his gaze, the warmth of his hand brushing mine. Yet even as I tried, my chest betrayed me, rising and falling in uneven bursts.
"You've grown attached," he murmured, stepping closer. His presence brushed the edge of mine without fully closing the space, making the air between us tremble. "And attachment… brings vulnerability. But vulnerability is not weakness, little dove—it is the measure of what you are willing to risk for your own truth."
I swallowed hard, my hands clenching the folds of my habit. "You… you're playing with me,how can I trust you." I whispered. "Everything you do… every word… it tempts me, and yet…" My voice broke. "…and yet, I can't stop feeling it."
He leaned closer, until the warmth of his breath brushed my cheek. "Good," he said softly. "Do not fight what is real. To resist the heart is to deny life itself."
Before I could speak, he closed the distance, and our lips met. The kiss was gentle at first, testing, teasing, but it carried the weight of a thousand unspoken words. My body responded instinctively, leaning into him, my hands brushing against the warmth of his chest. Each touch was measured, intimate, and entirely under his control, yet it felt like consent, like surrender.
When we finally parted, my breath came in short, uneven bursts. I felt exposed, vulnerable, and yet inexplicably alive. Leo's eyes searched mine, reading my turmoil, savoring it without cruelty.
"I have something to show you," he said, his tone shifting, smooth, persuasive. "Something that will secure your future… and, perhaps, offer the freedom you seek."
My curiosity piqued, I followed him to a small table near the window. There, laid out in meticulous order, were documents—polished, official-looking. The seal bore a design I did not recognize immediately, but I sensed its weight.
"What… is this?" I asked, my fingers hovering above the papers.
Leo's smile was gentle, coaxing, but it carried a subtle edge I had learned to fear. "A marriage contract, Aria. Three years. A formal agreement between us."
I frowned. "A marriage contract?"
"Yes," he said softly. "Three years of… arrangement. Not a prison, not a chain. But a promise. You will be free—from your family, from the church, from obligations you did not choose. And after three years… you may leave, to live your life as you wish."
I blinked, uncertainty battling the relief in my chest. "And… what do I give in return?"
Leo's gaze was unwavering. "Your trust. Your presence. But not your freedom. That remains yours, in every sense after three years. For now… I only ask that you walk with me."
I chewed my lip, considering. Could I trust him? Could I believe that a life beyond these walls was truly possible? My mind screamed caution, yet my heart… my heart remembered the warmth of his hands, the way he had called me 'little dove', the dangerous pull of his eyes.
"Why… why should I believe this will help me?" I asked finally.
"Because," he replied, stepping closer, "in this time, you are no longer bound by your family's cruelty. You are no longer bound by the expectations of the church. You may breathe freely, make choices freely, and when the three years are done—you may leave, and live your life as you see fit."
I wanted to argue, to resist, but my knees threatened to buckle under the weight of his gaze. "And… if I sign?" I asked, barely above a whisper.
"Then you choose freedom, little dove. And in choosing freedom, you also choose yourself… and perhaps, me."
My breath hitched as he stepped even closer, his presence overwhelming. The tension between us had grown electric once more, and instinctively, I leaned toward him. Our lips met again, urgent, consuming. Every kiss was a promise, every touch a question, every sigh a surrender I could not contain. The candlelight flickered across his face, highlighting the intensity of his expression—soft, charming, yet utterly commanding.
When we finally parted, I could feel the racing of my heart in every fiber of my being. "I… I need to think," I whispered, my voice trembling.
Leo's eyes held mine, steady, unyielding. "Of course, little dove. Take all the time you need. But remember…" He tilted his head, a shadow of that familiar, teasing smile crossing his lips. "Even the most cautious heart eventually finds the cage it cannot resist."
He stepped back then, retreating into the moonlit shadows, leaving me alone with the documents and the tumult of my own emotions.
And as I stared down at the contract, my thoughts chaotic and my pulse still pounding, the world felt simultaneously terrifying and intoxicating.
Leo's POV (final sentence):
"And so, the bird flutters willingly into the bars I have set, unaware that the trap is already complete," he whispered, a faint smile curling against the shadows of the room.
To be continued.....