The hill was quiet.
The wind moved slowly through the tall grass.
Dante leaned against the black car at the bottom of the hill.
His arms were crossed.
His eyes were fixed on the top.
The ancient tree stood tall against the evening sky.
And beneath it…
Two figures.
Izana.
And Leah.
From this distance they were only silhouettes.
Small shapes against the fading sunlight.
But Dante knew them well enough to recognize them instantly.
He sighed quietly.
"Took him long enough."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
The screen lit up briefly.
6:47 PM.
Dante slid the phone back into his pocket.
His eyes returned to the hill.
They were still sitting under the tree.
Still talking.
Still close together.
Dante tilted his head slightly.
"You better not chicken out up there," he muttered.
The car radio crackled beside him.
Static.
Then a familiar voice.
"Dante."
Dante stepped closer and pressed the button.
"Yeah."
Elias sounded amused.
"You there yet?"
"We've been here for a while."
"And?"
Dante glanced back toward the hill.
"They're still under the tree."
"Still?"
"Yeah."
Elias laughed quietly through the speaker.
"That sounds about right."
Dante leaned against the car again.
"They're eating cake."
There was a pause.
Then Elias said slowly,
"Cake?"
"Yeah."
Another pause.
"You're telling me Izana brought cake."
"It's her birthday."
"I know that."
Elias sounded like he was trying not to laugh.
"But still."
Dante shrugged.
Even though Elias couldn't see it.
"He went all out."
Dante looked back up the hill.
The sky had started changing color.
The bright afternoon light had faded.
Now everything was softer.
Golden.
The sun was beginning to dip lower.
Perfect timing.
Elias spoke again.
"So when does the big moment happen?"
Dante rubbed the back of his neck.
"Soon probably."
"Probably?"
"You know how he is."
Elias hummed quietly.
"Yeah."
Dante kept watching.
"They're laughing."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
Elias chuckled.
"I still can't believe it."
"Believe what?"
"That Izana laughs now."
Dante snorted.
"He always could."
"Not like that."
Dante didn't reply.
Because Elias was right.
Izana used to laugh rarely.
Cold laughs.
Sharp ones.
The kind that meant someone else was about to have a bad day.
But with Leah…
It was different.
Dante crossed his arms again.
His gaze remained fixed on the hill.
"You know," he said slowly.
"What?"
"I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at her."
Elias was quiet for a moment.
Then he replied softly.
"Same."
Dante shifted his weight.
"He used to look at people like they were tools."
"Temporary."
"Replaceable."
Elias sighed on the other end of the radio.
"But not her."
"No."
Dante shook his head slightly.
"Not her."
The wind picked up again.
Grass swayed across the hill.
The tree branches moved slowly.
Dante squinted up toward the blanket.
"They're standing up now."
"Oh?"
"Yeah."
Elias sounded more alert now.
"Is it happening?"
"Not yet."
Dante stepped away from the car a little.
Trying to get a clearer view.
"They're walking."
"Where?"
"Down the hill."
Elias laughed quietly.
"Oh he definitely planned this."
"Obviously."
Dante watched the two figures move slowly toward the pond.
"They're heading to the water."
"The pond?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah he planned this."
Dante smirked.
"That man doesn't do anything without planning it three steps ahead."
The sky continued darkening.
Orange and pink stretched across the horizon.
The kind of sunset people travel to see.
Dante scratched his chin.
"Actually…"
"What?"
"I think he timed this with the sunset."
Elias laughed again.
"You're kidding."
"Nope."
"Romantic bastard."
Dante smirked slightly.
"Don't let him hear you say that."
Elias went quiet for a moment.
Then he spoke again.
"You think she'll say yes?"
Dante stared at the two figures near the pond.
They looked small from here.
But he could see them clearly enough.
"She already said yes in her head."
"You think so?"
"Elias."
"What?"
"She waited two years for him to return."
Elias laughed quietly.
"Fair point."
Dante suddenly leaned forward.
"Hold on."
"What?"
"They stopped walking."
Elias immediately became serious.
"What's happening?"
Dante narrowed his eyes.
"They're standing by the water."
The sunset reflected off the pond.
Everything glowed orange.
"They're talking."
"Can you see clearly?"
"Barely."
Dante took a few steps forward.
"They're facing each other."
"Okay…"
Then Dante suddenly froze.
"Oh."
"What?"
Elias asked quickly.
"What happened?"
Dante squinted harder.
"I think…"
"What?"
"I think he just got down on one knee."
The radio went silent.
Then Elias whispered loudly.
"No way."
Dante smirked.
"Yep."
Even from this distance it was obvious.
Izana kneeling.
Leah frozen in front of him.
"She's not moving," Dante said.
"Probably shocked."
"Yeah."
A few seconds passed.
Then suddenly Leah dropped down toward him.
Dante laughed.
"There it is."
"What?"
"She tackled him."
Elias burst out laughing through the radio.
"That's a yes then."
"Definitely."
Dante crossed his arms again.
Watching the small figures embrace.
They stayed like that for a long time.
Just holding each other.
The sunset slowly disappeared behind the hills.
"Well," Dante said quietly.
"Well what?"
"I guess the boss is getting married again."
Elias chuckled.
"Never thought I'd see the day."
"Neither did I."
Dante looked up toward the ancient tree.
It stood tall above the hill.
Silent.
Old.
Like it had witnessed countless stories over the years.
"You think he'll change?" Elias asked suddenly.
Dante didn't answer right away.
He kept watching the pond.
The two figures were still standing there.
Close.
Talking quietly.
"If anyone can keep him human…"
Dante paused.
Then finished the sentence.
"It's her."
Elias was quiet again.
Then he sighed.
"Let's hope that's enough."
Dante glanced toward the darkening road behind them.
Then back at the hill.
Because eventually…
They would come back down.
Back to the car.
Back to the mansion.
Back to everything waiting for them.
Caesar.
The mansion.
The dangerous world Izana ruled.
But for now…
Dante leaned against the car again.
And let them have their moment.
The hill.
The sunset.
The quiet beginning of something new.