02/18- Engagement is off

A tense silence fell over the group as Lucian took a deep breath, his golden eyes darkening with an intensity none of them had seen before. The air around him shifted, growing thick with an unspoken tension, and then, with a voice filled with unwavering finality, he spoke.

"The engagement is off."

Aeliana's heart skipped a beat. She stared at him, blinking in disbelief, as if she had misheard. "What…?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sudden crackle of thunder in the distance.

Lucian turned to face her fully, his expression set in stone. His usual warmth, the gentle affection he always held for her, was gone—replaced by something cold, distant, and resolved. "I can't do this anymore, Aeliana," he continued. "This whole thing—it was arranged for the sake of duty. I convinced myself that it was right, that we could make it work. But the truth is, my heart isn't in it."