Silent Company and a Brewing Storm

Lucian wasn't the type to get distracted during a case. No, he was known for his sharp mind, his unwavering focus. But today was different. Every document he flipped through, every line he read, somehow turned into her name.

Saraphina.

Ever since he had come to the realization that she was the woman from that night five years ago, it had been impossible to concentrate. And the fact that she was oblivious to it made things worse.

So he made a decision.

He was going to see her.

Of course, he needed an excuse. That's why he grabbed some case files that, in all honesty, didn't need to be personally delivered and made his way to the Vale Villa.

The moment the housekeeper opened the grand wooden door, Lucian was met with a sight he wasn't prepared for.

Saraphina stood in the hallway, balancing a steaming cup of coffee in one hand while the other pushed her wild hair out of her face. Or at least, what should have been her hair. Because woven between those silky locks were a dozen different colored pencils tangled so beautifully in the chaos that he almost thought it was a part of her look.

Lucian blinked. Then blinked again.

She looked like she had just fought a war. Or was still in the middle of one.

Saraphina met his stunned gaze, then gave him a warm smile—as if she wasn't standing there looking like an exhausted, eccentric artist—and breezed past him towards the design studio, leaving behind the scent of jasmine and fabric chalk.

Lucian, still rooted in place, turned his head slightly. "Was that… normal?"

Caelum snorted. "For her? Very." He motioned for Lucian to follow him into the living room.

Lucian wanted to chase after her immediately, but patience was key. Instead, he sat across from Caelum and spread out the case files he had brought.

Well, he pretended to.

Because even as Caelum began explaining a few key details, Lucian's mind was very much not in the room.

He couldn't shake the image of Saraphina, so effortlessly beautiful even in her complete mess. And those pencils—why were there so many pencils? Was she drawing? Designing? Was it a new project? Had she even taken a break to eat today? Did she need help untangling them?

Caelum, noticing that Lucian had barely flipped through two pages, let out a knowing sigh.

"Go."

Lucian snapped his eyes to him. "What?"

Caelum didn't bother hiding his smirk. "Go peep at her in the design room. That's what you're dying to do, right?"

Lucian stood immediately. No hesitation.

Caelum chuckled under his breath as Lucian all but fled the conversation.

Inside the design room, chaos reigned.

Papers were scattered, fabric swatches covered the floor, and Saraphina was hunched over a large sketchpad, pencil gliding swiftly across the page. Every few seconds, she would pause, chew on the end of her pencil (which was another color entirely from the ones in her hair), and then continue.

At her side, Isolde was struggling to restore some order to the mess, folding fabric and collecting discarded sketches with an exasperated sigh.

"Saraphina, I swear, if you throw one more paper on the ground, I'll—"

Isolde stopped mid-sentence when the door opened and Lucian stepped in.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then Isolde, who had an annoyingly good sense for romantic tension, raised a brow and immediately grinned.

"Well, well, well… look who's here."

Saraphina, who was too deep in her sketch to look up, murmured, "If it's not someone with coffee, tell them to leave."

Lucian, amused, leaned against the doorframe. "So if I had coffee, I'd be welcome?"

Her head shot up at the sound of his voice.

There was a brief moment where their gazes met, something unspoken passing between them, before Saraphina huffed dramatically.

"You? Here? Why?"

Lucian smirked. "Visiting."

"Visiting who?"

He stepped further into the room, eyes never leaving hers. "You."

Saraphina felt a strange warmth spread across her chest, but instead of acknowledging it, she cleared her throat and pretended to go back to work.

Isolde, who had seen enough, smirked at the both of them before silently gathering some of the mess and slipping out of the room.

Lucian made himself comfortable, perching on the edge of her desk. He didn't say anything.

He just sat there, watching her.

Saraphina tried to focus. She really did.

But his presence was distracting.

"Do you mind?" she finally huffed.

"Not at all."

"I meant—" she stopped herself, exhaling in frustration.

Lucian, utterly enjoying himself, picked up a nearby fabric swatch and examined it.

"So, what's today's battle plan? Slay some fashion beasts? Conquer the kingdom of haute couture?"

She rolled her eyes. "I'm trying to finalize a new collection."

Lucian nodded as if deeply considering. "And the pencils? War trophies?"

Saraphina groaned. "I forgot they were even there."

Lucian chuckled, then reached over—faster than she could react—and gently pulled one from her hair.

She froze.

Lucian held up the pencil. "Blue. Bold choice."

Saraphina narrowed her eyes. "Give it back."

Lucian tilted his head, examining it. "What if I want to keep it?"

"Lucian."

"Saraphina."

They stared at each other.

Lucian smirked. "Trade?"

"For what?" she asked, wary.

He leaned in slightly, voice dropping. "A smile."

Saraphina did not smile.

Instead, she reached out, grabbed a pink pencil from the desk, and tucked it behind his ear.

Lucian blinked.

Saraphina crossed her arms. "There. Now we're even."

Lucian, utterly betrayed but highly amused, reached up and touched the pencil. "Pink, huh?"

Saraphina grinned. "Bold choice."

Lucian laughed.

And in that moment, everything felt easy.

It felt right.

Meanwhile, outside the design room, Isolde had found Caelum in the library.

"Okay, tell me, what is going on with those two?" she demanded.

Caelum, without looking up from his book, simply smirked.

"What's it worth to you?"

Isolde glared.

Caelum turned a page. "You want gossip? You gotta trade for it."

Isolde crossed her arms. "What do you want?"

Caelum finally looked up, amusement dancing in his gaze. "A kiss."

Isolde's face turned scarlet.

Before Caelum could say another word, she turned on her heel and bolted.

Caelum, watching her flee, chuckled to himself.

"Interesting."

Back in the design room, Lucian continued watching Saraphina as she worked, the pink pencil still tucked behind his ear.

He had come here to investigate.

But instead, he found himself wanting nothing more than to stay.

And fall a little more.