The Espada estate stood darker at night.
Not because of the torches or the stone, but because silence lived differently there. In House Fierro, silence felt disciplined. In House Reyes, it felt suffocating.
In House Espada, silence hunted.
Álvaro crossed the front hall while servants bowed low enough to avoid his gaze. He shrugged off his coat carelessly, tossing it into the hands of a startled attendant without breaking stride.
"General," one of the guards called carefully. "Lady Rosa is in your chambers."
His steps paused for only half a second.
Then warmth softened the sharpness in his face. "Is she?"
The guard nodded quickly. "She arrived some time ago."
Before Álvaro could continue, another guard approached, visibly tense. "Your father requests your presence immediately."
The warmth vanished.
Álvaro turned slowly, and the guard nearly paled under the weight of his stare.
"Tell my father," Álvaro said calmly, "that Rosa is in my chambers."
The guard swallowed.
"And tell him," Álvaro continued, voice colder now, "that I shall not keep her waiting. He should be aware of that."
The corridor seemed to still.
Everyone in the Espada estate knew Don Esteban inspired fear. But Álvaro… Álvaro inspired caution. The kind reserved for sharp weapons left unattended.
The guard lowered his head immediately. "Of course, General."
Álvaro walked away before another word could be spoken.
His chambers were warm compared to the rest of the mansion, lit by amber candlelight and lined with books, maps, and abandoned weapons. The heavy atmosphere of the estate never fully reached this room.
Rosa lay across the top of his bed as though she owned it, one leg swinging lazily while she read a novel.
Álvaro stopped at the doorway just to look at her.
Comfort.
That was the dangerous thing about Rosa Fierro. She made impossible things feel safe.
Without lifting her eyes from the page, she spoke. "You're late."
"And yet," he replied smoothly, shutting the door behind him and removing his gloves, "You waited for me anyway. I'm touched."
She finally looked up, unimpressed. "Your ego enters rooms before you do."
He grinned and began removing the belts fastened around his sleeves. "You wound me."
"Not enough apparently. You're still alive after that ridiculous duel."
Álvaro walked closer until he stood beside the bed. "You came all the way here just to scold me?"
"I came because I've heard things. Where have you been?"
He smirked, "Do you really care to know?"
Rosa stood up, taking a step closer with annoyance clearly written on her face, "I've been here suffocating from boredom, having a thousand and one things to say and no one to tell them to... So yes Álvaro Espada, I do."
Álvaro smirked, undoing his buttons, "Well, as a man..." He side glanced at her as he removed his inner shirt and was now shirtless, "I went to satisfy my very manly and greedy loins."
Rosa's cheeks shone slightly red, "Ew! Which unlucky mistress have you punished with being beneath you."
Álvaro smirked walking close up to her, she subconsciously took a step backwards. He raised a brow taking another step closer. He tucked her hair behind her ear as he leaned to whisper in her ear.
She immediately moved her leg to kick his groin which he caught by the knee and raised up so that she lost balance and fell to the bed with him on top her.
Her face turned bright red and her lips went pale, her long lashes making her look more flustered than scared.
He smirked.
He lowered again and whispered in that very low commanding voice that made people's legs go weak, "Trust me bestfriend, being underneath me is very far from unpleasant. It's almost heavenly."
Rosa's breath hitched, her eyes going wide as she whispered his name, "Alvaro?"
He signed mentally.
When was she going to get the cue. He leaned away, getting off her, "Don't worry bestie. Taking you isn't on my things to do. For one I wouldn't want to ruin your fantasies of having your first time with your prince charming."
Rosa seemed to be dazed for a second then slowly drifted back to consciousness, "Fuck you Espada."
Álvaro smirked removing his trousers, "Last name basis now huhn?"
Rosa sat up, "What was that you horny asshole?"
Álvaro raised a brow, "Cursing isn't something a lady should participate in."
Rosa rolled her eyes touching her ear, where he had touched, "Oh please I'm anything but a lady around you."
He smiled. That was why he'd fallen for her. Smart, bold and couldn't be intimidated. She could make her silence speak louder than a thousand voices and yet ramble so endlessly just because she felt like it. That prince didn't deserve her.
Rosa sighed, "Yunno, if I didn't know you this long I might have actually taken your flirting seriously but then they're just makes you. Damn you."
Álvaro smiled softly slipping on his robe, "Yea... So what stories have you heard?
That caught her attention and eased the tension in the room.
Rosa sat up dramatically. "Rumors. Stories. Whispers." Her eyes gleamed with excitement. "You were impossible to find, and I had so much to tell you."
Álvaro sat beside her, leaning back on one hand comfortably. "Should I be worried?"
"Yes."
He sighed, "Excellent."
She pointed accusingly at him. "Don't encourage me."
"I encourage you constantly."
"That explains my bad decisions."
He laughed quietly, watching her far more than listening to the words themselves. Rosa always entered rooms like sunlight without realizing it. Loud where he was quiet. Soft where he was sharp.
She nudged his shoulder. "Are you even listening?"
"Always."
Her expression softened for the briefest second before she launched back into excited gossip about assassination rumors, suspicious nobles, and how she was certain half the court was hiding something.
Álvaro listened this time.
Not because of the rumors.
Because every time Rosa spoke freely around him, he was reminded there were still pieces of the world untouched by cruelty.
And he intended to keep it that way for as long as he could.
He'd protect her.