The night had grown quieter.
The wind softer now.
Valentine looked at him.
Carefully.
"…I'm sorry."
Artavius didn't react.
"…you had a painful past."
A pause.
"…don't you think… maybe you were taken too?"
He frowned slightly.
"…I don't know."
A small pause.
"…maybe."
Then he looked away.
"…leave it."
Silence settled again.
Then—
"…I told you about my past."
He glanced at her.
"…now you tell me something about yours."
Valentine froze for a second.
"…mine?"
A faint smile appeared.
Soft.
But not fully happy.
"…I had a best friend."
Artavius didn't interrupt.
"…when I was a kid."
Her eyes drifted slightly.
Lost somewhere far away.
"…he was the son of a very rich businessman."
A pause.
"…he used to act all serious…"
A tiny smile.
"…but he wasn't that bad."
The wind brushed past again.
"…one day… something happened in our school."
Her voice slowed.
"…some men came."
A pause.
"…everyone was rescued."
Silence.
"…except him."
Artavius's expression changed slightly.
Barely.
"…they said he was dead."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"…but…"
A small pause.
"…I never believed it."
Artavius looked at her.
"…why?"
…"I don't know…"
A pause.
"…something felt wrong."
Silence.
"…that day…"
Her voice dropped.
"…we had an art class."
Artavius's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…I drew a star on his right hand."
A faint, distant smile.
"…I even colored it."
The wind grew colder.
"…but when they showed his body…"
Her voice slowed.
"…there was no star."
Silence.
Heavy.
"…it was strange."
Artavius didn't say anything.
But something in his expression shifted.
Just a little.
Valentine looked up at the sky again.
"…it didn't feel like him."
"By the way—"
She looked at him.
"…aren't you hungry?"
Artavius blinked.
Shift broken.
"…yeah."
Valentine stood up.
Stretching slightly.
"Let's cook something!"
"…cook?"
"Yes."
A small smile.
"I want pasta."
Artavius scoffed lightly.
"…you're ordering now?"
Valentine grinned.
"Obviously."
A small pause.
"…come on."
She started walking.
Artavius looked at her for a second.
Then followed.
The kitchen was small.
Warm light.Soft sounds of utensils.Rain still whispering outside.
Valentine leaned against the counter, watching him.
"Hey, Artavius…"
He didn't look up.
"Hmm?"
"You know…"
A small pause.
"…he had an allergy to meat too."
His hand paused for a second—
Just a second.
"…same as yours."
Valentine looked down, fingers playing with the edge of her sleeve.
"That's why I don't eat meat either."
Silence.
Only the sound of boiling water.
Artavius resumed cutting, voice calm… almost too calm.
"His journey went from getting a star…"
A pause.
"…to becoming one."
Valentine blinked.
Then—
"You're evil."
A soft laugh escaped her.
Not loud.
But real.
For a moment—
The heaviness lifted.
Then—
Artavius spoke again.
Casually.
"I want to meet Jenna."
Valentine looked at him.
"…how is she now?"
He kept his eyes on the pan.
"I want to know."
Valentine tilted her head.
"You don't have her number?"
He let out a faint scoff.
"Number?"
A small pause.
"I don't even know where she went."
His voice lowered slightly.
"…if she's alive or not."
The air shifted.
"You know…"
He added, quieter now.
"…when I called myself her brother…"
A faint, bitter smile.
"She said it was a nightmare to have me as one."
Valentine's eyes widened a little.
"And then…"
"She made me promise…"
"…to never tell anyone I knew her."
Silence.
Valentine stared at him for a second.
Then—
"…embarrassing."
A beat.
Then she smiled.
Just a little.
Not mocking.
Not pitying.
Just—
Light.
And somehow…
That felt new.