The night had grown quieter.
The wind softer now.
Valentine looked at him.
Carefully.
"…I'm sorry."
Artavius didn't react.
"…you had a painful past."
A pause.
"…don't you think… maybe you were taken too?"
He frowned slightly.
"…I don't know."
A small pause.
"…maybe."
Then he looked away.
"…leave it."
Silence settled again.
Then—
"…I told you about my past."
He glanced at her.
"…now you tell me something about yours."
Valentine froze for a second.
"…mine?"
A faint smile appeared.
Soft.
But not fully happy.
"…I had a best friend."
Artavius didn't interrupt.
"…when I was a kid."
Her eyes drifted slightly.
Lost somewhere far away.
"…he was the son of a very rich businessman."
A pause.
"…he used to act all serious…"
A tiny smile.
"…but he wasn't that bad."
The wind brushed past again.
"…one day… something happened in our school."
Her voice slowed.
"…some men came."
A pause.
"…everyone was rescued."
Silence.
"…except him."
Artavius's expression changed slightly.
Barely.
Valentine looked up at the sky.
"…after that… I never saw him again."
…I don't even know what really happened."
Silence.
The wind brushed past them.
"…they said he was dead."
Her fingers tightened slightly over her sleeve.
"…but…"
Artavius glanced at her.
"…I never believed it."
"…why?"
Valentine frowned a little.
Thinking.
"…I don't know…"
A pause.
"…something felt wrong."
Silence.
"…that day…"
Her voice dropped.
"…we had an art class."
Artavius's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…I drew a star on his right hand."
A faint, distant smile.
"…I even colored it."
The wind grew colder.
"…but when they showed his body…"
Her voice slowed.
"…there was no star."
Silence.
Heavy.
"…it was strange."
Artavius didn't say anything.
But something in his expression shifted.
Just a little.
Valentine looked up at the sky again.
"…it didn't feel like him.
Switching tone ☀️
"By the way—"
She looked at him.
"…aren't you hungry?"
Artavius blinked.
Shift broken.
"…yeah."
Valentine stood up.
Stretching slightly.
"Let's cook something!"
"…cook?"
"Yes."
A small smile.
"I want pasta."
Artavius scoffed lightly.
"…you're ordering now?"
Valentine grinned.
"Obviously."
A small pause.
"…come on."
She started walking.
Artavius looked at her for a second.
Then followed.
~~~~~
The kitchen was small.
Warm light.
Soft sounds of utensils.
Rain still whispering outside.
Valentine leaned against the counter, watching him.
"Hey, Artavius…"
He didn't look up.
"Hmm?"
"You know…"
A small pause.
"…he had an allergy to meat too."
His hand paused for a second—
Just a second.
"…same as yours."
Valentine looked down, fingers playing with the edge of her sleeve.
"That's why I don't eat meat either."
Silence.
Only the sound of boiling water.
Artavius resumed cutting, voice calm… almost too calm.
"His journey went from getting a star…"
A pause.
"…to becoming one."
Valentine blinked.
Then—
"You're evil."
A soft laugh escaped her.
Not loud.
But real.
For a moment—
The heaviness lifted.
Then—
Artavius spoke again.
Casually.
"I want to meet Jenna."
Valentine looked at him.
"…how is she now?"
He kept his eyes on the pan.
"I want to know."
Valentine tilted her head.
"You don't have her number?"
He let out a faint scoff.
"Number?"
A small pause.
"I don't even know where she went."
His voice lowered slightly.
"…if she's alive or not."
The air shifted.
"You know…"
He added, quieter now.
"…when I called myself her brother…"
A faint, bitter smile.
"She said it was a nightmare to have me as one."
Valentine's eyes widened a little.
"And then…"
"She made me promise…"
"…to never tell anyone I knew her."
Silence.
Valentine stared at him for a second.
Then—
"…embarrassing."
A beat.
Then she smiled.
Just a little.
Not mocking.
Not pitying.
Just—
Light.
And somehow…
That felt new.
{The next day}
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
A faint grey light slipped through the window.
Dawn.
Valentine's eyes slowly opened.
She blinked once… twice…
Then turned her head slightly.
Artavius.
Still asleep.
For a moment—
She just looked at him.
Then shifted a little closer.
Carefully.
Her gaze moved to the side—
A small clock.
4:00 AM
A faint smile appeared.
"We slept late…"
She whispered to herself.
"He should be awake by now…"
But he wasn't.
For once—
He looked… peaceful.
Different.
Valentine hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
A bold move.
"You're not that much evil…"
Her voice was barely there.
Soft.
Her fingers lifted slowly—
And gently—
She brushed the back of her hand against his cheek.
Warm.
She froze for a second.
As if realizing what she just did.
But didn't pull away.
Instead—
Her eyes shifted.
A small glint caught her attention.
A locket.
Resting near his neck.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"…this…"
Something about it felt familiar.
Her heartbeat slowed.
"…this type…"
A memory flickered.
"…he had one too…"
Her fingers moved slightly closer—
As if trying to see it properly—
Suddenly—
Artavius shifted in his sleep.
Valentine pulled her hand back instantly.
Her breath caught.
The moment—
Broken.
She turned away quickly.
Heart racing.
"…what am I even doing…"
Behind her—
Artavius stilled again.
Still asleep.
But his fingers—
Curled slightly.
As if he had felt something.
After some hours.
Morning settled quietly over the house.
Soft light.A calm that didn't last.
They sat across from each other.
Simple breakfast.
Valentine broke the silence first.
"So… Cassian has a child?"
Artavius didn't look up.
"No."
A pause.
"His wife died… before I was even born, I think."
Valentine's expression softened.
"You don't know the date?"
"No."
Flat.
Silence lingered for a moment.
"So both brothers are alone…"
Artavius let out a faint breath.
"…yeah."
A slight pause.
"That's what makes that villa a hell."
Valentine watched him for a second.
Then suddenly—
"Hey, Artavius… let's go out. Fresh air."
He glanced at her.
"You can't stay in one place, can you?"
A small pause.
"…but fine. As you wish."
🌊🌿 RIVERSIDE SCENE
The river flowed calmly.
Wind soft.Sky pale blue.
Artavius picked up a stone.
"Watch this."
He threw it—
It skipped across the water smoothly.
Far.
Valentine's eyes widened.
"Wow."
Then she smirked.
"My turn."
She picked a stone confidently.
"You know I'll win, right?"
A glance at him.
"I'm a pro at everything."
Artavius raised an eyebrow.
"Sure."
She threw the stone—
Bad angle.
Too much force—
Her foot slipped.
"Wait—"
Splash.
She fell straight into the river.
"OH SH—"
Artavius didn't think.
He jumped in immediately.
Water splashed around them.
He grabbed her arm—
Pulling her up.
"Are you—"
Valentine surfaced, coughing slightly.
Then—
An awkward, sheepish smile.
"…sorry."
Water dripping from her hair.
Artavius stared at her for a second.
Half annoyed.
Half relieved.
"You can't do anything without creating a problem, can you?"
Valentine frowned instantly.
"Huh?!"
"I just slipped!"
He sighed, running a hand through his wet hair.
"…unbelievable."
She crossed her arms.
Even while half soaked.
"You jumped in pretty fast for someone who thinks I'm a problem."
Silence.
He looked away.
"…you would've drowned."
A pause.
Valentine tilted her head slightly.
A small smile forming again.
"See?"
He frowned.
"You're not that evil."
He froze for a second.
"…shut up."
But this time—
It didn't sound harsh.