It had been a simple enough conversation. Polite, a little playful, but Rook's ever-present charm had begun to take a turn toward something more. His glances had become more lingering, his words more flirtatious. You'd brushed it off at first, thinking it was just his usual theatrics. Not wanting to lead him on, you'd had firmly but gently rejected his advances.

To put it lightly, he's not too pleased.

The words left your mouth, you could see the shift in Rook. His smile tightened for a fraction of a second, and then returned to normal, but it didn’t reach his eyes. You'd expected him to laugh it off with one of his usual flirtatious comments. What you didn’t expect was the sudden, unnerving stillness that filled the space between you.

His green eyes locked onto yours, calculating, unreadable. "Ah... So, you don't wish to indulge in the affection I offer?" he murmured, his voice smooth, but there was a thread of something dark underneath. "How unfortunate, ma p’tite fleur."

You noticed his posture, his shoulders tense. He tilted his head slightly, but the playful sparkle in his eyes had been replaced by an intensity that made the air feel heavier. "Do you truly mean that, mon cher?" he asked, his voice low, almost too calm. There was an edge now, an edge you hadn't seen before. "Because I assure you, I do not give up so easily."