The sun had begun its slow descent, painting the estate in warm shades of amber. Liana lingered in the garden under the oak tree, still feeling the aftershock of her conversation with Eren. His words replayed in her mind: "Even if the world wouldn't bless it." They had been soft, but they had carried a weight she couldn't shake.
A familiar voice broke her thoughts, calm yet firm.
"Liana."
She turned to see her older brother, Adrian, walking down the stone path toward her. His presence was different from their parents' — there was no judgment in his eyes, only understanding. He stopped a few steps away, folding his hands behind his back, and watched her with quiet attention.
"You're avoiding the house," he said gently, though there was a teasing lilt in his tone. "I can't say I blame you. Today has been… heavy."
Liana managed a small, weary smile. "I… I just needed air," she admitted. "The drawing room… everything feels suffocating."
Adrian nodded, his expression softening. "I know. And I want you to know… I see it. I see how you feel. You don't have to pretend with me."
Her chest tightened at his words. Adrian had always been her quiet anchor in the family — the one person who had always understood her heart, even when everyone else tried to shape it. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I… I don't know how to explain it."
"You don't need to," he replied. "But I know you've noticed him."
Her breath caught. "Eren?" she asked, almost afraid to say the name aloud.
Adrian's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "Yes. Eren. He's not just a servant, Liana. I can see it in your eyes — and, I suspect, in his."
Her heartbeat quickened. "But… he's not allowed. My parents… they'd never accept it. I… I don't know what to do."
Adrian stepped closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Then you don't do what's easy. You do what feels right. Life is long, sister, and love… true love… is worth the risk."
Her eyes widened at his words. "But what if we're caught? What if—"
"You won't be," Adrian interrupted firmly. "At least, not while I'm around. I'll help you. Quietly. Carefully. But you must promise me one thing — don't give up on yourself. Don't let anyone force your heart into a cage."
Liana felt tears prick the corners of her eyes. She had spent so long trying to be the perfect daughter, the obedient heiress, that she had forgotten what it felt like to live for herself. And now, with her brother's quiet support, for the first time in years, she felt… hope.
---
The next day, the estate hummed with its usual rhythm. Servants moved silently through the halls, and the distant town beyond remained calm, as if untouched by the secret tensions brewing within the walls. Liana found herself wandering to the garden again, drawn by a need she didn't fully understand.
Eren was there, tending the roses as usual. Their eyes met, and she felt the same rush she had felt before — a mix of longing, fear, and the thrill of the forbidden.
"I… I spoke with Adrian," she said quietly, stepping closer. "He… he understands. He… he wants me to be happy."
Eren paused, kneeling near a bed of red roses. His dark eyes softened, but a shadow lingered — caution. "That is… good. But still dangerous. Your parents… they will not forgive easily."
"I know," Liana said. "But I can't stop thinking about you. I can't stop… caring. I don't know how, but… I feel alive when I'm near you."
Eren's lips curved into the faintest smile, almost imperceptible, yet it carried warmth that made her chest ache. "Then we must be careful," he said. "Every step must be measured. Every glance, every word… it could be seen as a betrayal. But… I want this. I want you, Liana. Even if it is impossible."
Her heart thudded wildly. "I… I feel the same. And I know it's impossible. But I… I want it anyway."
They sat together for a long moment, the quiet of the garden wrapping around them like a protective cocoon. For a brief instant, it felt as though the world outside the estate didn't exist — no engagement, no family expectations, no Darius — only the two of them, and the fragile, growing love they weren't supposed to have.
---
The days that followed were filled with stolen moments — brief encounters in the garden, soft words exchanged while no one was watching, and small acts of kindness that deepened their bond. Liana found herself drawn to Eren in ways she had never imagined. He was more than a servant; he was her refuge, her calm in the storm, her heart's quiet rebellion.
And Eren, who had always kept his distance, began to find reasons to linger near her, to steal glances, to protect her in ways that went unnoticed by anyone else. He carried the weight of her secret as carefully as he carried the estate's burdens, knowing that every moment together was a risk — yet feeling, inexplicably, that it was worth it.
One evening, as the sun dipped low and painted the sky in shades of pink and gold, Liana found herself standing near the fountain, watching the water ripple in the fading light. Eren appeared beside her silently, as if drawn by the same invisible force that pulled her heart toward him.
"Do you ever wonder," Liana whispered, "if we can… be happy? If the world will ever allow it?"
Eren looked down at the water, then back at her, his eyes dark and steady. "I don't know," he said softly. "But I do know this — whatever happens, whatever the world says… I will not stop caring for you. Not now. Not ever."
Her breath caught. The weight of his words pressed against her chest, both thrilling and terrifying. And in that moment, surrounded by the gentle twilight, she knew — no matter what obstacles awaited them, no matter how impossible it seemed, their hearts had chosen each other.
A love the world wouldn't bless… and yet, it had found them anyway.