A Dance of Hearts

The winter sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the Malverne Estate, where the snow-covered gardens sparkled like a scene from a fairy tale. Inside the grand halls, the warmth of the fireplaces contrasted the cold outside, creating a cozy and intimate atmosphere.

Ezekiel leaned against the balcony railing, his sharp eyes watching the distant horizon. The weight of the marriage contract had settled between him and Daphne in the past few weeks, but rather than resisting it, they had come to terms with it. Now, something unspoken lingered between them—a shift in the way they looked at each other, in the moments where silence felt heavier than words.

A soft click of heels against the wooden floor made him turn his head.

Daphne stood there, wrapped in an elegant midnight-blue cloak lined with white fur. Her hair, usually styled to perfection, was loose tonight, cascading over her shoulders. The flickering candlelight illuminated the hints of hesitation in her expression, yet there was also something else—curiosity.

"You're brooding again," she remarked, stepping forward.

Ezekiel smirked slightly. "A habit, I suppose."

Daphne came to stand beside him, resting her gloved hands on the railing. "What are you thinking about?"

He turned fully toward her, watching the way the light reflected in her icy-blue eyes. "You."

Her breath hitched for a fraction of a second, but she covered it well, lifting an eyebrow. "Me?"

Ezekiel tilted his head, amusement dancing in his gaze. "It's strange, isn't it? We've known each other since childhood, but now… everything feels different."

Daphne lowered her gaze slightly, her fingers tracing patterns on the railing's smooth surface. "Because of the contract."

"Not just because of the contract." He reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers brushed against her cheek for a fleeting moment, and he felt the way her breath stuttered.

For all her composed elegance, Daphne Greengrass was not immune to him.

She met his gaze again, this time with a hint of challenge. "And what else?"

Ezekiel's voice dropped slightly, laced with something deeper. "Because I want it to be different."

The air between them thickened. Daphne didn't pull away, nor did she retreat behind her usual cool demeanor. Instead, she studied him, as if trying to decipher him.

"…You confuse me, Ezekiel."

He chuckled softly. "How so?"

She turned to fully face him, arms crossing. "We grew up together. You were always the one who stood above everyone else—always ahead, always so sure of yourself. I thought I knew exactly who you were."

"And now?"

Daphne exhaled, looking down for a moment before lifting her eyes again. "Now, I'm not so sure."

Ezekiel leaned in slightly, closing the space between them. "Then let me make it clearer for you."

Without overthinking, he reached for her hand, his thumb gently running over her knuckles. Daphne didn't pull away. Instead, she let him hold her hand, her fingers slowly relaxing under his touch.

"You're not the only one who's uncertain, Daphne," he admitted quietly. "But I do know one thing—I want this. Not because of duty, not because of obligations. I want you."

For the first time in a long while, Daphne looked caught off guard. Her lips parted slightly, her sharp wit momentarily failing her.

The silence stretched, not awkward but charged.

Finally, she spoke, voice softer than before. "You really mean that, don't you?"

Ezekiel's hand slid up to cup her cheek, his thumb tracing a slow path along her jawline. "You should know by now—I don't say things I don't mean."

Daphne swallowed. Then, in a moment of rare vulnerability, she placed her hand over his, pressing his palm more firmly against her cheek.

"…Then show me."

Ezekiel didn't hesitate. He closed the distance, capturing her lips in a kiss that was neither hesitant nor rushed. It was deliberate—filled with the weight of everything left unsaid, of the unspoken emotions they had danced around for so long.

Daphne responded just as fiercely, her fingers clutching at the front of his robe, as if anchoring herself. The taste of warmth, winter, and something unmistakably her flooded his senses.

When they finally broke apart, both slightly breathless, Daphne let out a soft laugh. "Well… that certainly answers a few questions."

Ezekiel smirked. "And?"

She rolled her eyes, but her fingers remained laced with his. "And maybe… just maybe, I want this too."

Ezekiel brought her hand to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss to her knuckles. "Then that's enough for now."

Daphne's gaze softened, and for once, there were no words needed. The contract may have bound them together, but this—this was real.

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