Moonlight bathed the clearing where Aria and Wilfred had met, their fragile bond barely woven, suspended in a silence heavy with emotion.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps broke the stillness. Roy appeared, his features tense, eyes flashing with fury.
— "Aria!" he shouted, grabbing her arm roughly.
She startled, turning toward him, surprised.
— "Roy, I… let me finish."
But he wasn't listening. With a firm gesture, he pulled her behind him, shielding her with his own body.
— "Go home. Now."
Roy's tone was harsh, almost desperate.
Aria tried to free herself, but he held her tightly.
— "Roy, what's going on? Why are you speaking to me like this?"
He lowered his voice, but each word burned like a warning:
— "This Wilfred… this cursed king, he's enchanting you, Aria. That's why you follow him, why you stay near him despite everything I've said."
His eyes searched hers, full of fear and burning anger.
— "He's not what you think. You're too fragile to play with that kind of shadow. He will destroy you."
Tears welled up in Aria's eyes.
— "You don't understand. It's not a spell, it's something else. He's… different."
Roy clenched his jaw.
— "Different or not, he's dangerous. And I won't let you fall into his claws."
A heavy silence fell between them, then Aria whispered, almost to herself:
— "Maybe I'm not so fragile."
Roy looked at her for a long moment, his expression softening.
— "Maybe… but I'll be here. No matter what."
He gently guided her back toward the house, the weight of his words hanging between them.
Behind them, hidden in the shadows, Wilfred watched with clenched fists, his gaze burning with silent fury.