A few weeks had passed.
Not in a way that felt heavy.
Not in a way that dragged.
But quietly.
Naturally.
Life in the mansion had settled into something softer—something almost unfamiliar in its calm. The tension that once lingered in every hallway had faded, replaced by routine, by presence, by the simple act of existing without waiting for something to go wrong.
And in that quiet—
Leah had begun to notice something else.
Not in the mansion.
Not in the world around them.
But in him.
Izana was different.
Not completely.
Not enough that anyone else would notice.
But she did.
He stayed longer.
Spoke a little softer.
Held her a little more often.
And called her—
"my love" And "Li."
—
That night, the room was dimly lit, warm with the soft glow of the lamps.
Leah stood near the wardrobe, gathering her things, preparing to shower.
She had just reached for the tie in her hair when she felt it.
That familiar feeling.
Being watched.
She paused.
Then slowly glanced over her shoulder.
Izana was sitting on the edge of the bed.
Watching her.
Quiet.
Unmoving.
Leah raised an eyebrow slightly.
"…You're staring again."
There was no denial.
No attempt to look away.
"I want to join my wife."
Leah blinked once.
Then smiled faintly.
"…Do you?"
"Yes."
Simple.
Certain.
Leah shook her head slightly, amused.
"…Alright."
She turned back, finishing tying her hair up.
"You can join me."
—
The bathroom quickly filled with steam, the warmth settling around them as the water ran.
It was familiar now.
Easy.
Leah stood close in front of him, razor in hand, carefully shaving the light stubble along his jaw.
Izana stood still, letting her.
His hands rested lightly at her waist.
Not controlling.
Not guiding.
Just there.
Present.
Leah tilted his chin slightly.
"Stay still."
"I am."
"You moved."
"Barely."
Leah huffed softly.
"…You're difficult."
"And yet you continue."
She smiled faintly.
"…I do."
The razor moved carefully along his jawline, her touch steady and precise.
When she finished, she rinsed it, setting it aside.
"Done."
Izana's hand lifted briefly, brushing over his jaw.
"…Better."
Leah smiled.
"Of course it is."
A moment passed.
Then Izana stepped closer behind her.
His hands moved to her hair, gently undoing the tie she had just put in.
Leah let out a small breath.
"You just undid my work."
"I prefer it like this."
His fingers moved through her hair, careful, gentle as he guided it beneath the stream of water.
Leah closed her eyes slightly as the warmth settled over her.
His touch was steady.
Familiar now.
Comfortable.
He worked shampoo through her hair slowly, methodically.
Not rushed.
Never rushed.
Leah leaned back into him slightly, relaxed.
For a while—
Neither of them spoke.
They didn't need to.
—
And then—
Leah's gaze dropped.
Just slightly.
Not intentionally.
Not at first.
But then she saw it.
That scar.
Long.
Faint but unmistakable.
Running just above his hip, trailing toward his back.
Her eyes lingered on it.
Not in shock.
Not in fear.
Just—
Focused.
Because she had seen it before.
Of course she had.
But she had never really looked at it.
Not like this.
Not closely.
Not… consciously.
Her expression shifted slightly.
Thoughtful.
Quiet.
But she said nothing.
—
After the shower, the room was warm again, the faint scent of soap still lingering in the air.
Leah sat on Izana's lap, wrapped in a soft robe, her damp hair falling down her back.
Izana sat behind her on the bed, towel in hand, gently drying her hair.
His movements were slow.
Careful.
Leah sat still.
Too still.
Izana noticed immediately.
"…You're too quiet."
Leah blinked slightly, pulled from her thoughts.
"I'm just thinking."
His hands didn't stop.
"About what?"
A pause.
Leah hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
"…When were you going to tell me?"
Izana's hands stilled.
Slightly.
"…Tell you what?"
Leah lowered her gaze.
"…About the scar... and how you broke the curse."
Silence.
Heavy this time.
Different from before.
Izana's hands resumed, but slower now.
"…It's not important."
Leah's fingers tightened slightly in her lap.
Not important.
That—
That didn't feel right.
She turned her head slightly.
"…You've had time to tell me."
His expression didn't change.
"It doesn't concern you."
Leah froze.
For a second—
She thought she misheard him.
"…Doesn't concern me?"
Her voice was quieter now.
But sharper.
Izana didn't look at her.
"It's nothing that affects you."
Leah slowly shifted, turning more toward him now.
"…It's part of you."
A pause.
"And you didn't think I should know?"
Izana's jaw tightened slightly.
"You're overthinking it."
Leah let out a quiet breath.
A disbelieving one.
"…No."
She shook her head slightly.
"I'm not."
She moved off his lap.
Slowly.
The distance between them suddenly noticeable.
"You've had months," she said, her voice steadier now. "Months, Izana."
Silence.
"You tell me everything else."
Her gaze met his.
"So why not this?"
Izana's expression hardened.
Slightly.
Not fully.
But enough.
"It's not something you need to know."
And that—
That was it.
Leah stared at him.
Hurt flickering clearly across her face now.
"…I don't need to know?"
Her voice wavered just slightly.
"You don't think I deserve to know?"
"That's not what I said."
"It's exactly what you're saying."
Her hands clenched slightly at her sides.
"You trust me with everything—except this?"
Izana exhaled sharply.
"It's not about trust."
"Then what is it about?"
Silence.
He didn't answer.
And that made it worse.
Leah shook her head.
"…You're hiding something."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Her voice rose slightly now.
"You've been avoiding this for months!"
"It doesn't matter."
"It matters to me!"
The words came out sharper than she intended.
But she didn't take them back.
Izana's gaze darkened slightly.
"Not everything is about you, Leah."
Silence.
Immediate.
Heavy.
The words hung between them.
And the moment they left his mouth—
Something shifted.
Leah didn't react right away.
Didn't argue.
Didn't raise her voice.
She just looked at him.
Quietly.
Hurt settling deep in her expression.
Then—
"…Get out."
Izana's expression changed instantly.
"…Leah—."
"Get out."
Her voice was still quiet.
But firm.
He stood.
"I didn't mean—."
"Get out, Izana!"
Her voice broke through the room this time.
Sharp.
Shaking.
"And don't even think about sleeping here tonight."
Silence.
Izana didn't argue.
Didn't push.
He looked at her for a moment longer.
Then—
He left.
—
The door closed quietly behind him.
And just like that—
The room felt different.
Empty.
Leah stood there for a moment.
Not moving.
Not speaking.
Then slowly—
She sat down on the edge of the bed.
Her hands resting in her lap.
Her gaze unfocused.
The anger faded quickly.
Too quickly.
Leaving something else behind.
Hurt.
—
Down the hall—
Izana walked without stopping.
Straight to his office.
He entered, closing the door behind him.
The room was dark.
Silent.
He didn't turn on the lights.
Just stood there for a moment.
Still.
His jaw tightened.
"…I shouldn't have said that."
The words came out quietly.
To no one.
But he didn't move to go back.
Didn't fix it.
Didn't try again.
Instead—
He walked further into the room.
And sat down.
Alone.
With the silence he had created.
And the words he couldn't take.