A Bittersweet Victory
Luna quietly watched Kingsly.
He sat in a lounge chair, a cigarette burning between his fingers.
The crimson glow of the cigarette stood out against the dimly lit terrace, highlighting his stern profile.
She noticed an uncharacteristic emotion on his handsome face for a fleeting moment.
It seemed like sadness or loneliness, but such feelings seemed impossible to see in Kingsly.
As if sensing her presence, he stubbed out the cigarette and said, "It's late; why aren't you asleep?"
Luna snapped out of her thoughts and walked over to him.
As she approached, she noticed a half-empty bottle of brandy on the small table beside him, along with a glass containing some amber liquid.
She sat beside him, resting her chin in her hands, gazing at him with gentle admiration. "I rarely see you smoke," she said.