The following days were a delicate balancing act. Liana moved through the Verden estate like a ghost, performing her duties with practiced precision while keeping her thoughts and feelings tightly contained. Every smile, every nod, every careful movement in front of her parents was a performance — a mask that hid the storm brewing in her heart.
But beneath the calm exterior, her mind constantly wandered to Eren. His presence lingered in her thoughts like the soft scent of roses after rain. She remembered the way his eyes had met hers, steady and unyielding, yet full of unspoken understanding. That quiet reassurance haunted her, comforting and dangerous in equal measure.
Adrian's support was a secret anchor. Every whispered conversation, every small act of guidance, gave her courage. Yet the shadow of Darius loomed over every step she took, a reminder that their love was not only forbidden but under threat.
---
That afternoon, Liana ventured into the garden once more, claiming a desire to walk among the flowers. The estate seemed unusually quiet, the servants bustling through their routines but giving the garden a wide berth. She found Eren beneath the old oak tree, his hands buried in soil as he tended the roses.
"Miss Liana," he greeted softly, looking up as she approached. "I thought you might come today."
"I… I needed to see you," she admitted, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and longing. "It's… it's hard to be apart, even for a few hours."
Eren stood, brushing the dirt from his hands. "I understand," he said quietly. "And I feel the same. But we must be careful. Every moment together is a risk. Darius is clever, and your family… they watch more closely than you think."
Liana nodded, her chest tight. "I know. But I… I can't stop thinking about you. I can't pretend my heart doesn't belong to you."
Eren's eyes softened. "Then we endure," he whispered. "Quietly, carefully. But we endure."
---
Their fragile moment of peace was shattered by the distant sound of carriage wheels crunching over the estate gravel. Liana's stomach dropped as she recognized the polished black carriage — Darius.
"He's here," she murmured, fear threading through her voice.
Eren's jaw tightened slightly, and he moved closer, though still maintaining a careful distance. "Stay calm," he instructed. "Do not let him see what he shouldn't."
Darius emerged from the carriage, his posture impeccable, his expression smooth, but the sharpness in his dark eyes betrayed his awareness. He surveyed the garden, and when his gaze landed on Liana and Eren, it lingered just a second too long.
"Miss Liana," he called, his tone deceptively casual. "Enjoying the afternoon? Or… have you been avoiding your obligations again?"
Liana's throat tightened, but she forced a polite smile. "I… I was walking among the roses. The air… it's pleasant this time of day."
Darius' eyes flicked to Eren. "And you, sir? Enjoying the company of our heiress?" There was a dangerous edge in his voice now, subtle but undeniable.
Eren's posture remained calm, but his dark eyes bore into Darius with quiet defiance. "Just tending to the garden," he replied evenly. "As is my duty."
The silence stretched, charged and heavy, until Darius' lips curved into a sharp, controlled smile. "Interesting," he murmured. "I will be watching. It seems… some attachments cannot remain hidden for long."
He turned, his steps deliberate, leaving behind a tension that wrapped the garden like a suffocating fog. Liana exhaled shakily, feeling both fear and an irresistible thrill.
"You see?" Eren said quietly, his hand brushing hers almost by accident, sending a jolt through her. "He notices more than we hoped. We must be cautious. Every movement, every glance… it can betray us."
Liana nodded, her heart racing. "I know. But I… I cannot stop caring for you."
Eren's eyes darkened with an emotion too intense to name, and he stepped closer, their shoulders nearly touching. "Nor can I stop caring for you, Liana," he said softly. "Even if the world would never bless us, even if it calls our love impossible, I will not abandon it. Or you."
Her chest tightened at the raw honesty in his voice. She had dreamed of such words, imagined them in stolen moments, but hearing them spoken quietly, deliberately, made her breath catch and her heart ache.
---
That evening, Liana returned to her room, her thoughts a whirlwind. The sun had faded, leaving the estate bathed in twilight, the long shadows of the halls stretching across the polished floors. Adrian was already there, leaning against the doorway, his expression calm but serious.
"They are suspicious," he said quietly. "Your parents, Darius… they sense something. You must be more careful than ever."
"I know," she whispered, pressing her hand to her chest. "But I can't stop thinking about him, Adrian. I can't pretend that he doesn't matter more to me than anything else in this world."
Adrian stepped closer, his voice gentle but firm. "Then you must hide it, carefully. Protect your heart, yes, but protect the reality of your situation too. Darius will test you. He will try to manipulate your choices. And your parents… they will push. But I will help you. Always."
Tears pricked her eyes. "I… I don't know what I would do without you."
"You'll never have to find out," Adrian said softly. "But remember, Liana… love like yours is rare. Precious. And it is worth every risk — as long as we are smart about it."
Her heart swelled with gratitude, fear, and determination. She knew the road ahead would be dangerous, fraught with obstacles and sharp edges. But she had tasted the truth of her feelings — the warmth, the courage, the quiet rebellion of loving someone forbidden.
---
The next morning, Liana found herself walking toward the garden before anyone else had risen. The world outside the estate was calm, the town streets quiet in the soft light of dawn, but within her heart, a storm raged. Every moment spent away from Eren felt like a betrayal to herself, yet every step toward him was a risk that could shatter their fragile connection.
When she reached the fountain, Eren was already there, standing with his back to the rising sun, the soft light catching his features and making him seem almost ethereal.
"You're early," he murmured as he noticed her approach.
"I… I couldn't wait," she admitted, her voice trembling with the intensity of her feelings. "Every second apart… it feels unbearable."
Eren's eyes softened, and he stepped closer, though still leaving enough space to avoid drawing suspicion. "I understand," he said. "And yet… we must be careful. Even the smallest misstep could alert those who would see us apart. Darius… your parents… they are clever. But I will not let them destroy this. Or you."
Her breath caught. "You'll protect me?"
"Always," he replied simply, and in that one word, she felt an unspoken promise — a vow that transcended the dangers surrounding them.
For a long moment, they stood together, letting the gentle morning light wrap around them, the garden becoming their hidden world. A world in which love could exist, fragile and forbidden, yet undeniably real.
And as Liana's heart swelled with the impossible warmth of being seen, understood, and loved by Eren, she knew — no matter how dangerous, no matter how impossible, no matter how the world might try to intervene — she would not abandon this love.
A love the world would never bless… and yet, it had found them. And in that finding, it had made them stronger than the dangers surrounding them.