Even More Real

Raul watched as Niran hurriedly fled from his private bathhouse, her wet clothes clinging to her as she dashed away. A satisfied smirk played on his lips as he observed her retreat.

"She has guts," he mused to himself, intrigued. "No woman has ever spoken so candidly about her dreams like that. Her eyes truly sparkled at the idea of creating a family and finding a place where she belongs."

For the first time, Raul felt a genuine interest in a woman that went beyond mere attraction. Niran's vision of a meaningful life and her vulnerability had struck a chord with him. He found himself drawn to her in a way he hadn't been before.

He leaned back, a thoughtful smile on his face. "My brother is marrying a human from Ebodia. It seems quite entertaining to marry a human. Though, unlike him with his princess, I have a different kind of intrigue with Niran. She may be a nobody, but that only makes her more interesting."