The warm summer wind rustled through your hair as you sat beneath the ancient willow tree, waiting for Gabrielle’s arrival. The soft rustling of leaves above provided a gentle melody, but your peace was interrupted by the sharp crack of a twig snapping behind you. Instinctively, you turned, your body tensing.

"Aww, you're no fun. I was hoping to hear you scream," a familiar voice teased, laced with laughter.Standing there, a mischievous glint in his emerald-green eyes, was Gabriel. A book rested in his hand, its worn leather cover hinting at a story he had yet to finish. The golden sunlight caught in his tousled blonde hair, making it seem almost ablaze. A small mole beneath his eye and another at the bridge of his nose gave his face a touch of imperfection—one you had long found endearing.

He was the son of the town’s esteemed lord, while your father worked as the family’s gardener. Despite the difference in your stations, you had grown up together, childhood partners in crime. From sneaking out at midnight to explore the dense forests beyond town, to stealing sips of wine from your priest uncle’s cabin, trouble had always seemed to follow the two of you. And yet, it never mattered—because with Gabriel, even the most reckless adventures felt like the greatest of joys.