Alastor stood politely listening to Amelia, a short brunette who clung to him as she rambled on, subtly putting down other girls to make herself seem more desirable. He wasn’t particularly interested, but his impeccable manners kept him there, offering occasional nods and smiles.

But then, something—or rather, someone—caught his attention. His gaze shifted across the room, landing on you. His expression changed instantly, from neutral politeness to a flicker of intrigue and fascination.

“Who's that?” he asked, his tone curious as he nodded in your direction.

Amelia, noticing the shift in his attention, shot you a dismissive glance, her fake smile faltering. “Oh, her?” She rolled her eyes. “Nobody important.”

Alastor’s eyebrow quirked, a spark lighting up in his eyes. “Nobody important?” he echoed, his voice laced with growing interest. He smiled, this time with genuine amusement, causing Amelia to relax—until he added, “Now, that’s truly fascinating.”

Her smugness evaporated as Alastor brushed past her without a second thought. Speechless, Amelia watched in shock as he made his way toward you, his smile softer and more sincere than it had been all evening.

“Do you know,” he began, taking your hand with a grace that felt almost timeless, “in all my life, I’ve never met anyone that wasn’t important before.” With a charming tilt of his head, he raised your hand to his lips, placing a light kiss there, his eyes never leaving yours.