The morning sun had barely begun to rise, casting soft golden light across the Verden estate, when Liana awoke with a tight knot in her chest. The tension from the previous days had grown, each passing hour adding weight to her shoulders. She dressed quickly, careful to maintain the composure expected of an heiress, yet every fiber of her being ached to escape — to run to the garden, to Eren, to the only place where her heart felt safe.
Adrian appeared at her door without knocking, a rare occurrence. His expression was grave, his voice low but urgent.
"Liana," he whispered, "today will be… difficult. Darius has spoken with your parents, and they are watching more closely. You must be careful. Every movement, every word… it is under scrutiny."
Her heart pounded in response. "I… I understand, Adrian," she murmured, trying to steady her voice. "But… how can I endure this?"
"You endure because your heart is stronger than fear," Adrian said firmly. "And because Eren… he is waiting. You cannot let them see your heart's truth. Not yet. But you will not face this alone."
She nodded, feeling the fierce warmth of his support, even as the dread in her chest tightened like a vise.
---
The day unfolded with a calculated, oppressive tension. Every interaction with her family carried subtle threats. Every mention of Darius was layered with expectation and danger. Liana's careful mask of compliance grew heavier with each passing hour, yet she could not shake the desire to steal moments with Eren, the one person who made her feel truly alive.
Finally, as the afternoon sun began to soften, she found her chance. The estate garden, usually alive with the bustle of servants, was quieter than usual. She slipped through the side entrance, heart hammering, careful not to draw attention.
Eren was already there, tending the roses, his hands precise and steady. He looked up, dark eyes meeting hers, a mixture of relief and concern softening his features.
"You came," he said quietly, his voice low, carrying more meaning than words alone could convey.
"I… I had to," she whispered. "I cannot… I cannot go a day without seeing you. Every moment apart feels… unbearable."
Eren straightened, his gaze scanning the perimeter, alert and cautious. "And yet, every moment here carries risk," he murmured. "Darius is clever. Your parents… they will notice the smallest deviation. But…" His eyes softened as he stepped closer, careful to maintain a distance that did not betray them, "…I will not let them take this from us. Not today. Not ever."
Her chest tightened, a mixture of fear and longing flooding her. "Even if it is forbidden… even if the world refuses to bless our love… I cannot stop caring for you."
Eren's hand brushed hers, light and tentative, yet electric. "Nor can I stop caring for you," he said. "No matter the danger, no matter the obstacles. You are… everything."
---
Their fragile moment of peace shattered with the sound of footsteps crunching sharply against the garden gravel. Liana's stomach dropped. Darius.
He emerged from the shadows, tall and confident, his gaze sharp and predatory. The charm that masked his jealousy and cunning did nothing to soften the intensity in his eyes as he scanned the garden, noting every detail, every movement.
"Miss Liana," he said smoothly, voice honeyed with subtle venom, "enjoying the garden… or someone's company?"
Liana's pulse raced. She felt both fear and an undeniable thrill. "I… I was walking," she said carefully, trying to steady her voice.
"And you, sir?" Darius said, turning to Eren with a calculated smile. "Tending the flowers… or something else? Some attachments… are hard to hide, aren't they?"
Eren's posture remained calm, though his dark eyes were sharp and unyielding. "Just performing my duties," he replied evenly, betraying nothing.
Darius' lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. "Interesting," he murmured. "Very interesting indeed. Some things… the world refuses to bless, yet they persist. And I cannot help but… notice."
The implication hit Liana like a knife. Her fingers clenched, heart hammering, breath caught somewhere between fear and defiance. Eren placed a subtle, grounding hand on hers, a silent anchor amidst the storm.
"You see?" he whispered, voice low and fierce. "He is testing us. Every glance, every word… every heartbeat matters. We cannot falter."
"I know," she whispered, leaning slightly toward him, though careful not to betray their closeness. "But I… I cannot stop loving you. Not now. Not ever."
Eren's eyes darkened, fierce and protective. "Nor can I stop loving you, Liana. Even if the world stands against us, even if it calls this forbidden… I will not abandon you."
---
The tension escalated further when the estate's servants reported whispers — Darius had begun subtly questioning them, asking if they had seen anything unusual between Liana and Eren. The veil of secrecy grew thinner, and the weight of every interaction became suffocating. Liana moved through the house like a careful shadow, every smile measured, every glance calculated, all while her heart ached for Eren's touch and reassurance.
That night, in the quiet of her room, Adrian appeared again. His expression was grim, voice low and urgent.
"They are closing in," he said. "Your parents, Darius… they suspect. You must be more careful than ever. But there is a plan — a way to protect yourself, and him. And I will not let them separate you."
Liana's eyes filled with tears. "I… I am terrified," she admitted. "I do not know how much longer I can endure this… the danger, the secrecy… the fear of losing him."
"You endure because your love is worth it," Adrian replied, voice firm and unwavering. "Because Eren… he is worth it. And because the heart that loves this fiercely… does not falter easily."
---
The next morning, as the sun rose, Liana stole away to the garden once more. Eren was there, waiting beneath the oak tree, his expression calm yet tense.
"I feared yesterday might have been too close," he murmured. "But we must continue. Carefully. Every step, every gesture… it matters. Darius is clever, Liana. Cleverer than we imagined."
"I know," she whispered, chest tight. "And yet… I cannot stay away from you. Even if it is forbidden, even if it is impossible… I cannot stop loving you."
Eren stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Then we endure," he whispered. "Hidden, careful, but steadfast. And when the world turns its back… we turn to each other. Always."
Her heart swelled with emotion — love, fear, longing, determination — all wrapped into one burning, uncontainable force. In that garden, beneath the soft morning light, the roses glowing faintly around them, the world could refuse to bless their love, could refuse to accept it, but it had already taken root. And that root… was stronger than fear, stronger than danger, stronger than anything the world could throw at them.
A love the world would never bless… and yet, it had found them. And in that finding, it had made them unbreakable.