When Eltham's confession got stuck in his throat, he felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. It dawned on him that Brittany had never considered their engagement anything more than a convenient arrangement, not a matter of the heart. Gripping the steering wheel tightly, he struggled to maintain his composure as the atmosphere inside the car grew tense.

After a while, Eltham managed to regain his calm. "You're right," he conceded, "coexisting peacefully is the best we can hope for now."

Brittany didn't dwell on the conversation. Exhausted from the long day and with little energy left to spar with Eltham, she yawned, "I'm beat. I could use a nap."

"Go ahead, I'll wake you when we get there," Eltham offered, a hint of warmth returning to his voice.

With a light, carefree smile, Brittany thanked him and eased into the leather seat, letting her guard down for a moment of rest.

Eltham slowed the car down, his gaze unintentionally drifting towards Brittany.

The crisp autumn air turned biting cold, as if overnight, turning Craneville into a frostbitten landscape. The chill seeped through the windows, numbing his fingers.

for a blanket from the back seat, he gently covered Brittany with it. As he pulled away, his hand accidentally brushed

untouched by age, her features refined and youthful, embodying

found himself captivated

sprite of the night, her laughter and bright eyes enchanting everyone around her. Raised in a world of strict discipline, Eltham was accustomed to concealing his emotions,

unbridled spirit and unconventional thinking cracking open his meticulously controlled life, making a

peacefully felt like a cold bucket of water, dousing his fervent emotions, leaving him unable to

good things often

...

was already eleven, and

to go to bed, insisting Yuri stay up with him in the garden, waiting for his mother's

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