The night was unusually quiet. A soft breeze rustled the ivy trailing down the estate's stone walls. The stars were clear, scattered across the dark sky like silver grains. Liora stood by the edge of the balcony, arms resting gently on the cool marble railing. Her eyes were on the moon, but her thoughts were far from the sky.
Lucien stepped out from the shadows of the corridor, his coat half-unbuttoned, expression unreadable. He hadn't meant to find her here, but now that he had, he didn't retreat.
"You can't sleep?" he asked, his voice quieter than usual almost human.
Liora turned, startled for a moment. "I didn't hear you, Master."
He raised a brow slightly at the title but said nothing about it. Instead, he walked to stand beside her, though he kept a respectable distance.
"You always come here at night?" he asked.
She nodded. "The silence… helps."
Lucien looked at her profile under the moonlight. "Even when silence holds too many thoughts?"
