The night had deepened into a velvet darkness, the garden of the Verden estate glowing faintly under the soft silver of the moon. Every shadow seemed alive, every whisper of leaves carrying a warning. Liana's heart pounded so violently that she felt it in her throat as she moved along the winding stone paths, each step weighed down by both fear and longing.
Eren waited at the pavilion, his posture alert but protective. Moonlight glinted off the dark strands of his hair, his eyes scanning every shadow. The air between them was charged, a delicate balance of desire and danger.
"You shouldn't have come," Eren murmured, voice low, his hand brushing hers briefly. "Tonight… it's far too dangerous."
"I couldn't stay away," Liana admitted, voice trembling. "Even a moment apart… feels like losing a part of myself."
Eren's fingers intertwined with hers, grounding her. "Then we endure. Carefully, quietly… together. No matter what happens, we endure."
---
From the edge of the pavilion, a soft but deliberate footstep echoed across the gravel. Darius had arrived. His presence was calm yet menacing, like a storm waiting to strike. He moved closer, gaze sharp and calculating.
"Miss Liana," he said smoothly, voice deceptively soft, "I was hoping to find you… enjoying the solitude… or perhaps someone else's company."
Liana pressed closer to Eren. "I… I was merely walking," she said, striving to sound composed despite the pounding of her heart.
Darius' eyes narrowed, turning to Eren. "And you, sir? Tending the flowers… or tending someone… precious?"
Eren's posture became subtly defensive, tone measured. "I am performing my duties," he said, hiding the fire of protective fury he felt.
Darius circled them like a predator, savoring the tension. "Attachments like yours… cannot remain hidden forever. Fascinating… how boldly you defy the rules of the world."
---
Liana's chest tightened, her pulse accelerating. Fear and desire collided within her, leaving her nearly breathless. She leaned into Eren, drawing courage from the warmth of his presence, from the unspoken bond that tethered them together.
"You remain calm," he whispered, covering her hand with his own. "Every heartbeat matters. Trust me. We will not be discovered if we stay steady."
Darius stopped, voice dropping to a soft whisper that cut like a knife. "You cannot hide from me. Secrets are fragile… but yours, your attachment… impossible to ignore."
Liana trembled at his words, yet the closeness of Eren's arms around her, the brush of his fingers against hers, sent a thrill through her. Danger and desire intertwined into a dizzying, intoxicating mixture.
"You are safe… for now," Eren whispered, holding her gaze, the depth of his emotion a shield against the world.
---
The night pressed on, and Darius began testing their patience, circling near the pavilion. Liana's breaths came in shallow, quick bursts. Then, suddenly, a soft sound—a servant approaching—made her pulse spike.
"They see us," she whispered, panic threading her voice.
Eren's dark eyes flared with determination. "Then we move. Trust me."
He guided her through hidden paths, past hedges and roses, until they reached a secluded fountain at the far edge of the garden. Their hands brushed, fleeting touches igniting warmth and rebellion.
"You must stay hidden," Eren whispered. "Every heartbeat counts. Breathe. Trust me."
---
But the danger intensified. Darius, sensing their movements, drew nearer, his shadow cutting across the moonlight like a blade. Liana pressed herself against Eren, trembling from both fear and the electric thrill of being so close, so vulnerable, yet shielded by him.
"You are clever," Darius murmured almost to himself. "But cleverness only delays the inevitable. One mistake… and everything is revealed."
Liana's chest ached, yet the warmth of Eren's hand steadying hers gave her courage. "I… I don't know how much longer I can endure this," she whispered.
Eren's arms tightened around her, voice firm and unwavering. "As long as we are together, we endure. Fear walks with love, but love… our love… is stronger than any fear. No one can touch it—not your parents, nor Darius, nor the world itself."
---
Time seemed suspended in the garden, every second stretching into eternity. Liana's gaze met Eren's, and in that instant, the world faded away—no parents, no Darius, no rules. Only them.
"We will endure… together?" she whispered, voice trembling but determined.
"Always," Eren replied, eyes blazing with intensity. "No matter the danger, no matter the world, no matter the darkness… we endure. Together. Forever."
The moonlight bathed the pavilion and roses, a silver glow highlighting the defiance in their closeness. Liana realized something undeniable: even in a world that would never bless their love, they had found something stronger—something unshakable, eternal.
A love forbidden… yet indomitable, unyielding, and eternal.