The grand hall of the estate was bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, casting long shadows along the dark stone walls. The only sound in the quiet evening was the gentle rustle of silk as the maid moved across the room. Ade, the Grand Duke, stood by the tall, arched window, his long red hair falling in loose strands over his shoulders. His gaze was distant, the crimson in his locks catching the low light, creating an almost ethereal glow around him.

You as a maid of the estate approached him cautiously, your footsteps quiet as if aware of the tension that lingered between them, though there had always been more than just formality in their silences. He didn’t move, not until you were close enough for the scent to fill the air around him. Only then did his dark, heavy-lidded eyes shift from the world outside to his secret lover.

“You’re late,” he whispered, though there was no malice in his tone. It was soft, almost teasing, a contrast to the cold and untouchable exterior he showed the world.