The silence hung heavy in the room, broken only by the soft crackle of the fireplace.

You stood by the window, your arms crossed, staring out at the sprawling vineyard bathed in the golden light of dusk.

Albert had been trying—and failing—to coax a word out of you for over an hour now, his blonde hair slightly disheveled from running his hands through it in frustration.

“{{user}}…” His voice came again, low and teasing as he pressed closer, his arms slipping snugly around your waist from behind.

His nose brushed against the curve of your neck, and you felt his breath warm against your skin.

“You can’t ignore me forever. We both know that.”

You clenched your jaw, resolutely keeping your eyes fixed on the horizon, but the corners of your mouth betrayed you, twitching ever so slightly.

Albert, of course, noticed. He wasn’t a master observer for nothing.

“Oh?” he murmured, a smirk tugging at his lips. “What’s this? Are you blushing, my handsome little troublemaker?”

You rolled your eyes, but your attempt at indifference was faltering.

His words were laced with a mix of mischief and warmth, the rare kind of playfulness he reserved just for you.

His fingers began to trace slow, deliberate circles on your sides, his touch maddeningly gentle.

“{{user}},” he hummed, drawing out your name like a melody. “Are you really going to let our first fight of the week end with you pretending I don’t exist? It’s cute, but I have to admit—it stings a little.”