The corridors of the palace were quieter than Eliana had ever heard them…
Eliana held his gaze in the quiet darkness of the room.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Sebastian's question lingered between them like a fragile thread.
Did you ever love him?
Her heart beat faster, not because the answer was difficult… but because she had never truly told anyone the truth before.
"I didn't," she said softly.
Sebastian's expression did not change, but she could tell he was listening carefully.
Eliana drew in a slow breath.
"When Adrian told me he liked me… we were still very young," she continued. "We had grown up together around the palace. He was always kind to me, always protective. I cared about him, but not in that way."
Her fingers traced the edge of the blanket as she spoke.
"I saw him as a brother."
Sebastian remained silent, his eyes steady on hers.
"I remember that day clearly," she said quietly. "He looked so serious when he told me. I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to hurt him."
A small, bittersweet smile touched her lips.
"So I told him I needed time to think."
The candlelight flickered softly across the room.
Eliana continued, her voice thoughtful, almost distant.
"But the truth was… I already knew my answer. I just needed the courage to say it."
Sebastian's gaze softened slightly.
"What happened?" he asked.
Eliana let out a quiet breath.
"Before I could speak to him again… I heard the news."
She paused.
"That he was engaged to Princess Fiona."
The name lingered heavily in the air.
Sebastian watched her closely now.
"I was surprised," Eliana admitted. "Not because I loved him… but because everything happened so quickly. One moment he was confessing his feelings to me… and the next he was promised to someone else."
She looked away briefly.
"And after that, things between us changed."
Sebastian studied her face carefully, as if searching for any trace of lingering affection.
But there was none.
Only quiet honesty.
"So no," she finished gently. "I never loved him."
The silence that followed felt different this time.
Lighter.
Sebastian gave a small, thoughtful hum.
"Hmm."
Then he turned back onto his side of the bed.
Facing away from her again.
Eliana blinked.
That was it?
Her lips parted slightly in disbelief.
After everything she had just explained… that was all he had to say?
A small frown formed on her face.
She shifted closer to him on the large bed.
"Sebastian," she called softly.
No response.
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
Was he ignoring her?
The corner of her mouth lifted with a sudden mischievous idea.
Carefully, she reached forward and lightly tickled his side.
He immediately tensed.
"Eliana," he warned quietly.
But she only laughed softly.
"Smile," she whispered. "You look too serious."
She tickled him again.
Sebastian suddenly moved.
Before she could react, he caught her wrist and pulled her toward him.
Eliana gasped softly as she was drawn against him.
His arms wrapped around her, holding her securely.
For a brief second she froze in surprise.
Then she tried to lift her head to see his expression.
But Sebastian simply leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
It was brief.
Soft.
But enough to make her heart skip.
When he pulled back slightly, his forehead rested against hers.
"Mine," he murmured quietly.
The word was low and certain.
Not harsh.
Not demanding.
Just firm.
Eliana felt warmth spread across her face.
She looked at him, slightly shy now.
Sebastian brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his gaze lingering on her.
"You belong here," he said softly.
The seriousness in his voice made her heart flutter.
With him.
In this room.
In this strange marriage that had slowly begun to feel less like an arrangement… and more like something real.
Eliana nodded gently.
Sebastian's expression softened.
For the first time that night, the tension between them finally faded.
And in the quiet candlelit room, the palace outside felt very far away.