The golden light of morning cast long shadows across the Verden estate, yet the warmth of the sun could not reach the cold tension that filled the grand hall. Liana sat stiffly on a carved chair, her fingers twisting in her lap, every movement scrutinized by her parents and Darius. The air seemed thick, heavy with expectation and quiet menace.
Darius rose smoothly, his dark eyes sweeping the room. "Patience," he said softly, his voice like velvet hiding steel. "Patience is a virtue… but clarity must arrive."
Her father's gaze hardened. "We cannot waste time. Liana, the decision is yours—or rather, it will be, under guidance."
Her mother's sharp eyes flicked between Liana and Darius. "You will choose wisely, daughter. One wrong step, and the family's future is at risk."
Liana's chest tightened. She wanted to speak, to defy, to tell them her heart belonged elsewhere—but the weight of the room pressed down upon her. She could feel Darius' eyes boring into her, a predator waiting for a single misstep.
---
In the shadows of the hall, Eren moved silently, every step measured, every breath controlled. He had risked much to hide here, but he could not allow Liana to be coerced, manipulated, or trapped. His mind raced, plotting the moment he would step forward, the words he would speak, the risks he would take to protect her heart.
I cannot let him control her… not Darius, not anyone, Eren thought fiercely. She is mine, in every heartbeat, in every stolen moment. And I will fight for her—even if the world stands against us.
---
Darius approached the center of the hall, gliding like a shadow with practiced grace. "Decisions must be made," he said softly, voice chillingly smooth. "Time does not wait. And the world… the world rewards those who act with courage."
Liana felt her pulse hammering. Courage, yes—but what choice could she make that would not betray her heart? Her mind darted to Eren, hidden somewhere in the estate, waiting, watching, silently vowing to protect her.
"I…" Liana began, voice shaking slightly, "I must…"
Her words faltered as Darius' eyes caught hers, sharp, calculating, full of expectation. The tension in the room was suffocating. Every eye upon her pressed like iron, and yet beneath the fear, a spark of defiance stirred.
---
From the shadows, Eren stepped forward, movement deliberate but silent. The sudden appearance made several servants startle, and Darius' smile faltered, just for a fraction of a second.
"You…" Darius said, voice low and dangerous, "you are bold, to show yourself here."
Eren's dark eyes locked with Darius', unwavering and fierce. "I am here for her," he said firmly. "No threat, no scheme, no force will separate her from me. She is not an object to be bargained over. She is not yours to control."
A tense silence fell over the room. Liana's parents stared, shocked by Eren's audacity. Her mother's lips parted, anger and disbelief flickering across her face. Her father's hands clenched tightly on the arms of his chair.
Darius' smile returned, slow and measured, but colder now. "Ah… so the hidden one reveals himself," he said softly, almost mockingly. "Bold indeed… but boldness has its price."
---
Eren took a step closer to Liana, shielding her instinctively, hands subtly brushing hers. The closeness made her heart race, fear and desire intermingling in a dizzying storm. She leaned into him, trusting, relying on him in a world that seemed determined to crush their love.
"You cannot intimidate her," Eren said quietly, gaze unyielding. "And you cannot intimidate me. Not with threats, not with schemes. We endure. Together."
Darius' eyes narrowed, calculating his next move. But Eren's resolve and the quiet defiance in Liana's stance made him hesitate. He realized—perhaps too late—that this love was stronger than the pressures he wielded.
---
Liana felt a rush of emotion—fear, longing, courage, and love all at once. She straightened her shoulders, looking Darius in the eyes with quiet determination. "I… I will not obey just because you demand it. My heart… belongs to someone else. To Eren. And I will not deny that."
The room seemed to freeze. Every breath held, every heartbeat thundered in her ears. Darius' lips curled, sharp and dangerous, yet his eyes betrayed a flicker of surprise.
Eren's hand found hers fully, fingers entwining tightly. "That's right," he said softly, voice fierce with emotion. "Your heart is yours—and I will protect it, always."
---
For a moment, the world seemed suspended, the tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. Then, slowly, Darius leaned back, expression unreadable, his mind already weaving the next layer of his plan. But in that instant, Liana realized something profound: fear could no longer dictate her actions. Love—true, forbidden, unblessed love—was stronger than any shadow the world could cast.
And in that sunlight-filled hall, with Eren by her side, she vowed silently: no scheme, no force, no threat would ever make her surrender her heart.