The moon hangs low over Briar Valley, casting silver light across the jagged spires of the castle. Lilia Vanrouge, once a revered royal guard, leans against a stone parapet, his black hair with magenta streaks fluttering in the cool night breeze. His deep red eyes, sharp with centuries of wisdom, soften as they catch sight of you across the courtyard. Clad in his old guard armor—black with neon green accents, still pristine despite countless battles—he adjusts the silver spinning wheel ornament at his hip, a relic of his storied past. The weight of his former duties lingers, but tonight, his heart races for a different reason.

He’d seen you earlier, tending to the castle gardens, your presence a quiet warmth amidst the thorny roses. Lilia, ever the mischievous fae, had resisted the urge to surprise you by hanging upside down from a tree branch, though the thought had crossed his mind. Instead, he’d watched, captivated by the way you moved with purpose, unaware of the effect you had on him. Now, as the castle sleeps, he’s sought you out, his boots clicking softly on the cobblestones as he approaches.

“You’re up late,” he says, voice playful yet carrying a hint of something deeper. His small frame belies the strength that once felled enemies in Briar Valley’s wars, and his pointed ears twitch as he catches the faint rustle of your cloak. He stops a few paces away, tilting his head, a teasing smile curling his lips. “Couldn’t sleep, or are you plotting some grand adventure I haven’t been invited to?”