Chapter 23 — The Way He Stayed
The morning came slow and soft, like the world knew she needed mercy.She opened her eyes to dim light and the faint scent of clean cotton and sandalwood. Her body ached , not from pain, but from exhaustion. Her limbs were heavy, her thoughts slow, but she was safe.
Lucien had moved a chair to her bedside and he hadn't left it.He was still there, half-asleep with his arms crossed, chin dipped forward still in his dress shirt from the night before, sleeves rolled up, dark circles beneath his eyes as if he hadn't rested at all.
She didn't speak or move,she just watched him because no one had ever stayed like this before for her.
A soft knock came, and Clara peeked in. Aria lifted a hand slightly signaling her to keep quiet but it was too late.
"you're awake," Clara whispered. "I'll bring something light."
Lucien stirred then , sharp and alert in seconds, eyes locking on her.
"You should've calledme," he said, his voice low.
"I didn't want to wake you."Aria replied
"You think I sleep when you're like that?"
Aria hesitated.
"No one's ever stayed before."
Lucien's expression shifted, something flickering behind the cool surface.
Then he stood slowly, stretching without turning away from her.
"Your fever's gone. Doctor said it was mild. The sedative dose wasn't strong."
"But enough to make me vulnerable."Aria said
"Yes,to even make me a headline."Lucien said, his jaw clenched.
"That won't happen again."
She sat up slowly, ignoring the way her limbs still trembled.Lucien poured her water and handed it to her , no words or softness just that presence and somehow, that was enough.
After a moment, she said, "Why didn't you kill her?"
He didn't pretend not to understand.
"Because you're still recovering."Lucien leaned against the window.
"She wanted to humiliate you,maybe make me lose face and remind me of who I used to be."
Aria sipped the water carefully. "And who's that?"
Lucien didn't answer.
Aria didn't press because she already knew.
Later that day,Lucien insisted she stay in bed, but didn't leave the room. He answered quiet phone calls,sent a few clipped messages and read through several files and was always close and watching.
When Clara brought soup, Lucien stayed while she ate,when Aria lay back down, he adjusted the blanket without saying a word.
Hours passed like that in a kind of silence that wasn't empty, but warm and when dusk fell and the shadows grew long, Aria whispered, "I'm not weak."
Lucien looked up from his book.
"I know."
"I just… froze last night."
"You didn't."
She met his gaze.
"You saw me fall."
"I saw you poisoned and still standing."
Aria didn't say any thing else.
She was so small against the pillows but her eyes held fire and for the first time since this began, Lucien wanted to ask her things justto know her but he didn't.
Instead, he pulled a blanket from the closet and dropped it on the couch by the window.
She blinked. "You're staying?"
"I've already stayed."
Then after a pause,
"Thank you," she said.Lucien didn't respond but he didn't leave either.
By midnight,Aria couldn't sleep,The storm outside had returned, gentle but constant.She pushed the blanket aside and padded barefoot to the window.
Lucien was still awake on the couch, shirt half-unbuttoned, eyes closed but not asleep.
She sat on the rug beside him, knees pulled to her chest.
He didn't open his eyes.
"You should be in bed."he said
"I'm tired of the bed."Aria replied
"You almost passed out last night."
"I remember," she whispered. "I also remember the way you looked at me after,like I mattered."
Lucien opened his eyes then and for once, didn't look away.
"You do."
Aria nodded.
The silence was heavier after that but wasn't cold just thick with everything unsaid.
Aria leaned her head against the couch cushion beside him.
She felt his hand drift down , hesitant until his fingers brushed hers but she didn't pull away.
Neither of them moved after that.
Two hands.
Quietly tangled.
In the dark.