They stepped inside.
The house was warm.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Neither of them spoke.
Too tired.
Artavius changed first.
Quick. Efficient.
Valentine turned away—
muttering something under her breath.
Then she changed too.
And then—
they both looked at the bed.
One.
Silence.
A long pause.
"…great," Valentine muttered.
Artavius exhaled.
Clearly annoyed—but controlled.
"The bed is big enough."
He walked over.
"You take that side."
A small pause.
"I'll sleep here."
Like it was nothing.
Valentine narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…how generous."
No response.
They lay down.
The blanket—
warm.
Heavy.
Then—
the chain.
Valentine pulled it slightly toward her side.
"Mr., I need space to sleep."
Artavius didn't even look at her.
"Then don't pull it."
"…I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
A pause.
"…move."
"…you move."
Silence.
Neither moved.
Eventually—
they both stopped arguing.
Too tired.
The room went quiet.
Minutes passed.
Then—
subtly—
Valentine shifted in her sleep.
Closer.
The chain followed.
Artavius frowned slightly—
eyes still closed—
and moved back.
A second later—
she moved again.
Closer.
"…seriously?"
he muttered under his breath.
He shifted again.
But this time—
there wasn't much space left.
Another small movement—
and she ended up closer than before.
Unaware.
Completely asleep.
Artavius opened his eyes slightly.
Annoyed.
"…no sense of personal space."
But—
he didn't move this time.
Just closed his eyes again.
And let it stay.
When she shifts closer again —
he's not fully awake.
Not fully asleep either.
Just… drifting.
And then—
something soft.
A faint scent.
His brows crease slightly.
"…what is that…"
Not strong.
Not obvious.
But there.
"…roses?"
A pause in his half-sleep.
"…there are no flowers here…"
His breathing slows again.
"…then where…"
Silence.
Then—
without realizing—
he shifts just a little.
Not away.
Not closer.
Just… still.
And sleep pulls him back.
Meanwhile—
Valentine, completely asleep—
lightly grips the fabric of his sleeve.
Unaware.
And this time—
he doesn't react.
Doesn't notice.
Doesn't move.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Only the faint sound of wind brushing against the windows… and the soft rhythm of two uneven breaths.
Artavius woke first.
Slowly.
Like someone pulled him out of sleep without asking.
His eyes didn't open immediately—but when they did… the first thing he felt wasn't the cold.
It was warmth.
He frowned slightly.
His gaze shifted.
And there she was.
Valentine.
Closer than she was supposed to be.
Her head slightly tilted toward him… hair falling loosely across her face… one hand lightly gripping the sleeve of his shirt—as if even in sleep, she refused to let go completely.
He stared.
A second too long.
"…what is this habit…" he muttered under his breath.
No response.
Of course.
She was still asleep.
Careless.
That's what he told himself.
Careless… the way she slept like nothing in the world could touch her.
His eyes lingered.
Just for a moment.
Her breathing was calm. Steady. Almost… peaceful.
"…troublesome."
But he didn't move.
Then—
His gaze dropped.
To their hands.
Still cuffed.
The chain rested between them, loose now… no longer pulling, no longer forcing distance.
Silent.
For once.
Artavius exhaled slowly.
"…if she wakes up like this, she'll start talking again."
That was reason enough.
Or at least—that's what he decided.
Carefully… very carefully… he shifted his hand.
Lifting their joined wrists just slightly.
The metal made the faintest sound.
His eyes flicked to her face instantly.
She didn't wake.
Good.
He adjusted his grip, trying to reach the lock without disturbing her—
And then—
She moved.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Her fingers tightened around his sleeve… and she leaned closer.
Closer than before.
Artavius froze.
Completely still.
His breath halted midway.
For a second… he didn't even blink.
"…seriously?"
He waited.
A second.
Two.
Three.
Nothing.
She settled again.
As if that movement meant nothing.
As if he meant nothing.
"…unbelievable."
But his voice was quieter this time.
Lower.
He tried again.
Slow.
Precise.
The key slid into the lock.
A soft click.
Barely audible.
And then—
The cuff loosened.
The chain slipped free.
Just like that.
But neither of their hands moved.
Not immediately.
For a brief moment… they remained there.
Close.
Unbound.
And yet—
Still.
Then—
Artavius pulled his hand back.
Quick.
Controlled.
Like nothing had happened.
The distance returned.
Just like before.
The warmth disappeared almost instantly.
The space between them—
Felt wider than it should have.
He looked away.
"…finally."
But something about it—
Didn't sit right.
Silence filled the room again.
Colder now.
Sharper.
A few minutes passed.
Maybe less.
Maybe more.
He didn't count.
Didn't care to.
Then—
She moved again.
This time slower.
Unconscious.
Effortless.
Valentine shifted in her sleep…
And drifted closer.
Again.
There was no chain now.
No force.
No reason.
Yet—
She closed the distance like it never mattered.
Her shoulder lightly brushing against his arm.
Her presence… returning.
Quietly.
Naturally.
Artavius noticed.
Of course he did.
His eyes flickered toward her for a brief second.
Then away.
"…she never learns."
A pause.
"…or maybe she just doesn't care."
This time—
He didn't move.
Didn't pull away.
Didn't create distance.
He just lay there.
Still.
Silent.
Aware.
And for the first time—
The absence of the chain didn't change anything.