The silence after Aria's whisper stretched too long. It felt like the walls themselves leaned closer, listening, waiting for one of them to speak. Sebastian's hands curled into fists at his side, his entire body coiled tight like a bowstring ready to snap. Lorenzo didn't move at all. He just stared at her with those sharp, unreadable eyes, the crown glinting faintly in his hand.
Aria shifted, trying to hold her ground even though her chest was heavy with fear. Her words were still echoing in her head, maybe I already belonged to him long ago. She had not meant to say it aloud, but the truth had clawed out of her throat before she could stop it.
Sebastian finally broke the silence. "Don't say nonsense like that again." His voice was sharp, almost cruel.
But Aria only shook her head. "I'm not imagining it. I felt it the moment he touched my hair at the hospital… I knew that touch. Like a shadow from before."
