The air outside was colder than before.
Fresh.
Quiet.
Artavius stood near the door, glancing back.
"Hey, Valentine."
She looked up.
"…what?"
A small pause.
Then—
"Want to see the forest?"
Valentine blinked.
Surprised.
What happened to him…?
But instead of questioning—
A small smile appeared.
"…yeah."
~~~~~~~~~ OUTSIDE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The forest stretched endlessly.
Tall trees. Damp ground. Silence broken only by wind brushing through leaves.
They walked side by side.
Not too close.
Not too far.
The weather began to shift.
Wind grew stronger.
Tiny droplets of rain started falling—
light… scattered… cold.
Valentine looked up.
"…it's going to rain."
Artavius didn't respond.
A few steps later—
She suddenly stopped.
"Hey—Artavius."
He turned slightly.
"…what now?"
She pointed ahead.
"There… do you see that?"
A small flower.
Hidden between wet grass.
Delicate. Bright against the dull green.
"…it's beautiful."
Artavius glanced at it.
Then at her.
"Do you want it?"
She looked at him.
Eyes lighting up a little.
"…yes."
A pause.
"Then go get it."
Valentine frowned instantly.
"You're so mean."
He almost smirked.
Almost.
"…fine. Stay here."
He stepped forward.
Rain getting slightly heavier now—
the ground softer beneath his steps.
He bent down.
Picked the flower carefully.
For a second… just looked at it.
Then walked back.
Held it out to her.
Valentine took it.
Gently.
Like it mattered.
"…thank you."
A small pause.
Then—
"You're not that evil as I thought."
Silence.
Artavius blinked.
"…wha—"
He looked away quickly.
"I—what are you saying? I am evil. You just—just shut up."
Valentine laughed.
Soft. Light. Unfiltered.
"You're so shy."
"Keep quiet."
But his voice lacked its usual edge.
The rain grew slightly stronger now.
Wind brushing past them.
For a moment—
everything felt… almost normal.
Then—
Valentine spoke again.
Casually.
Carelessly.
"…by the way—"
She looked at him.
"Are you the son of Cassian… or whatever his name was?"
Silence.
Everything stopped.
The wind.
The softness.
The warmth.
Artavius's expression changed.
Completely.
His eyes turned cold.
Sharp.
Distant.
"Don't interfere in my life."
Valentine froze.
"…I was just—"
"I said don't."
His voice was low.
Firm.
Not loud—
But enough to cut through everything.
The rain fell harder now.
Valentine's fingers tightened slightly around the flower.
She didn't say anything.
And just like that—
The distance returned .
back when they returned the house was quiet again.
Only the faint sound of pages turning filled the room.
Artavius sat near the table.
A book in his hand.
Focused.
Calm.
Like nothing else existed.
Valentine stood at a distance.
Watching him.
Maybe… his personal life is messed up…
That's why he doesn't want to talk about it…
She hesitated.
Then walked toward him.
"Hey, Artavius…"
No response.
"…what are you reading?"
His eyes didn't lift from the page.
"None of your business."
Silence.
Valentine blinked.
"…can you stop being so rude?"
He turned a page.
Unbothered.
"I thought we were… friends."
That made him pause.
Just for a second.
Then—
"We're not."
Now he looked at her.
Eyes calm.
Cold.
"Why would you even think that?"
A small pause.
Then—
"You're a pervert if you think you can be friends with your kidnapper."
That hit.
Hard.
Valentine's expression fell.
Not dramatic.
Not loud.
Just… quiet.
"…fine."
She turned away quickly.
"Don't talk to me then."
She grabbed a random book from the table—
And walked to the bed.
Didn't look back.
Didn't say anything else.
And that silence—
Stayed.
Time passed.
The house grew quieter.
Night settled.
The house was dim now.
Only faint light from outside slipping in.
Artavius sat alone.
The same book open in front of him.
But—
He hadn't turned the page in a while.
"…tch."
His jaw tightened slightly.
Why did I say that…
He closed the book.
Silence felt… heavier now.
After a moment—
He stood up.
And walked toward the room.
Valentine was lying on the bed.
Still.
Peaceful.
"…of course."
He leaned slightly against the door.
"She must've been a sloth in her past life…"
A pause.
"She sleeps half the day."
But his voice wasn't irritated.
Not really.
He stepped closer.
Slowly.
"…hey, Valentine."
No response.
He frowned slightly.
"…are you really asleep?"
Still nothing.
"…I was going to ask her to come to the terrace…"
A pause.
He glanced toward the bed.
"…but what can I do… she's sleeping."
"Hey. I'm awake."
He turned.
Valentine was sitting up now, hair slightly messy, eyes half-lidded.
"…you were sleeping."
"I wasn't."
A small pause.
Then—
"Complete your sleep. It's important."
His tone carried a faint tease.
Valentine blinked.
"…I'm sacrificing my sleep, okay?"
"…fine. Come."
on the roof the night air was cold.
Gentle wind brushing past.
The sky stretched endlessly above them—
Filled with stars.
Valentine looked up.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…the sky is full of stars."
Artavius followed her gaze.
"…yeah."
A pause.
"…it is beautiful."
She smiled softly.
Then—
Without hesitation—
She lay down on the cold floor.
"The wind feels so nice here…"
Artavius glanced at her.
Shook his head slightly.
But didn't say anything but did the same thing.
Silence.
Comfortable this time.
Then—
He spoke.
"…you wanted to know about my family, right?"
Valentine turned her head toward him.
Didn't interrupt.
Just listened.
A pause.
Longer this time.
"…Cassian isn't my father."
The wind grew slightly stronger.
"I don't even know who my parents are."
Valentine's expression softened.
"I don't know where I was born… or why I ended up there."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"In that villa… of Lysanvare's…"
"…no one was close to me."
A pause.
"…except one person."
Valentine listened quietly.
"Ewilyn."
His voice changed slightly.
Softer.
"She was… the wife of Cassian's younger brother."
Another pause.
"She didn't have a child."
His gaze dropped slightly.
"…but she treated me like I was hers."
The wind passed between them.
Carrying silence with it.
"I have an allergy to meat… I don't even know why."
A faint breath.
"But she never forced me."
A small pause.
"She was the only one who… didn't."
Valentine's fingers curled slightly against the floor.
"…whenever I was locked in the basement…"
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…for mistakes I never made."
Silence.
Heavy now.
"…she was the one who brought me out."
A long pause.
"…so yeah."
A faint, dry smile.
"My childhood was… horrible."
Valentine didn't speak.
Didn't interrupt.
Just… stayed.
After a moment—
He continued.
"On my way to school… there was an old couple."
His tone softened again.
"I used to go to their house whenever I scored good marks."
A faint exhale.
"They appreciated me."
A pause.
"They had a granddaughter."
A slight smirk.
"She hated me."
Valentine almost smiled.
"…her name was Jenna."
A short, quiet laugh escaped him.
"They gave me a toy car once… when I got the highest marks."
A pause.
"I was really happy that day."
His eyes dimmed slightly.
"…but she took it from me."
Another small laugh.
"So I took it back."
Valentine smiled faintly now.
"…it was mine, after all."
The wind grew colder.
"After their death…"
His voice slowed.
"…she disappeared."
A pause.
"And… Ewilyn…"
Silence.
"…she died in a car accident."
The words came out quietly.
"…she didn't stay in the villa much…"
A breath.
"…but whenever she did…"
He looked up at the sky.
"…it felt like home."
Silence.
Long.
Deep.
"…now…"
A pause.
"…I just have her memories."
The wind passed again.
Colder this time.
Valentine slowly sat up.
Looked at him.
Soft.
Careful.
"…you're not alone."
No drama.
No big speech.
Just that.
Artavius didn't respond.
But he didn't deny it either.
And for the first time—
The silence between them…
Didn't feel empty.