Part 1
The first light of dawn stretched over Marivelle like a soft brush painting the streets with gold and rose. The air was crisp but gentle, carrying the scent of dew-kissed grass and the faint perfume of cherry blossoms that still clung stubbornly to the last branches of early spring. From their apartment balcony, Liana watched the town awaken slowly, the faint murmur of morning life stirring below: the bakery doors opening with a cheerful chime, the distant clatter of carts rolling across cobblestones, and the soft, rhythmic patter of a dog chasing a ball in a nearby park.
Beside her, Eren stirred, still wrapped in the warmth of the blankets that cocooned them. Liana reached out instinctively, brushing a strand of dark hair from his forehead. "Morning," she whispered, voice barely more than a breath.
"Mmm… morning," he murmured, half-asleep, eyes still closed. "You're up early again."
"I wanted to see the sunrise," she said softly. "And… to see you awake in it."
Eren shifted, pulling her close, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I could get used to this," he said. "Waking up beside you, with the sun spilling over the city like this… it feels like a dream I never want to end."
Liana pressed her lips to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her. "It's real," she murmured. "Every single bit of it. We're here, and it's ours."
The two lingered there, wrapped in blankets and quiet intimacy, until the sun fully claimed the sky and the town glimmered in warm light. Then, hand in hand, they ventured down to the streets, ready to greet the day together.
---
Breakfast was a leisurely ritual. Eren brewed coffee, the rich aroma filling the apartment, while Liana arranged fresh fruit, toast, and soft-boiled eggs on the table. They talked quietly about the town, about the small improvements they hoped to make to their home, and about the festival that would soon arrive in Marivelle.
"You know," Liana said with a teasing smile, "I'm convinced that no one else in this town will ever make pancakes like you do."
Eren grinned, flipping one with exaggerated care. "Of course not. I am a master, after all. You should count yourself lucky."
She laughed, reaching across the table to touch his hand. "I do. Every single day."
The morning stretched into early afternoon as they wandered through Marivelle's cobblestone streets. Vendors were setting up for a weekend market, bright fabrics and fragrant herbs spilling into the pathways. Children ran past on errands for their parents, laughing freely, and townspeople exchanged greetings with familiar warmth. Liana felt a deep, almost dizzying contentment settle in her chest. Every glance at Eren, every touch of his hand, every shared laugh reminded her that she had survived the shadows of the past and had found something extraordinary.
---
They stopped by the riverside, a quiet stretch of water where reeds swayed lazily in the current. Liana removed her shoes, letting her toes dip into the cool, clear stream. Eren sat beside her, the faint ripple of water brushing against his boots as he watched her.
"You look… happy," he said quietly. "Truly happy."
"I am," she replied, eyes closed, letting the sun kiss her skin. "I never thought life could feel like this… simple, yet so full. You make it feel like… freedom."
"And you," he said softly, taking her hand, "make every ordinary moment extraordinary. I never want this to end, Liana. Not even for a single day."
She smiled, leaning into him, pressing her cheek to his shoulder. "Then it won't. Not as long as we have each other."
Hours passed like this, a gentle weaving of conversation, laughter, and quiet reflection. They skipped stones across the river, whispered silly challenges to one another, and shared stories from their childhoods—moments of vulnerability that strengthened the invisible threads binding them together. Every laugh, every teasing glance, every fleeting touch reinforced the certainty that their love, once forbidden, was now unshakable.
---
As the sun began to sink toward the horizon, painting the sky in molten gold and soft violet, they returned to the apartment. Dinner was simple—a shared salad, fresh bread, and wine—but even the mundane felt special. Eren pressed a kiss to Liana's forehead as they ate, his thumb brushing hers in quiet affection.
Later, they moved to the balcony, wrapped in blankets, and watched the stars appear one by one. The town below had quieted, lamps casting pools of warm light, while the river reflected the first glimmer of moon.
"Do you ever wonder," Liana asked softly, "how we ended up here? After everything… all the danger, the fear?"
Eren's gaze softened. "All of it brought us here. Every shadow, every obstacle, every moment of doubt… led me to you. And now, nothing can take that away."
She pressed a kiss to his chest, heart full. "I love you. Always."
"And I love you," he replied, voice low and steady. "Forever. No matter what."
Wrapped in each other's arms, beneath the tapestry of stars, they knew their love was beyond the world's judgment. Forbidden once, now radiant and eternal. Every moment was theirs to cherish, every day a promise of endless joy, laughter, and intimacy.