This Chapter is dedicated to italma_rios. It’s a new month. Thank you for carrying me through last month. I really appreciate your presence here. 🫂💜

You have become such a warm part of this journey for me. Your presence is comforting, encouraging, and genuinely refreshing in a way words can barely explain. It feels like having someone quietly cheering beside me while I build this world Chapter by Chapter.

Thank you for loving these characters.

Thank you for staying through the tension, the pain, the slow burns, and the chaos.

Thank you for being patient with me, even if you think the storyline is slow. 🫂✨️

.....

Aire stood before one of the taller shelves in the library. Her fingers trailing lightly along the spines of books arranged in careful rows.

The scent of leather, dust, and ink settled around her in familiarity, and steadiness. It grounded her.

Her gaze moved slowly, reading titles without fully seeing them. Her mind was not entirely present.

It lingered somewhere softer and quieter.

It li gered with him.

Alaric had left her room an hour ago.

He had stayed longer than necessary, and longer than expected. He has stated long enough that the silence they shared became something shared instead of empty.

Long enough for her to forget the weight of the morning.

They hadn’t spoken much because the didn’t need to.

He had sat beside her, close enough for their shoulders to brush occasionally, and close enough for that quiet spark to return again and again until it no longer startled her.

The spark now felt normal and warm, and she wanted it every second. She exhaled softly. Her fingers paused over a book before pulling it free.

The book had English text in them.

The cover was worn, and the edges were softened with time. She opened it slightly, glancing at the first page before closing it again.

The moment she closed the book, she heard sudden footsteps around her. The footsteps were soft, and not enough for her to panic, or want to leave. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The footsteps slowed near the entrance of the library, and paused. Then it resumed again, lighter this time.

"Luna?" The voice was gentle, and warm.

Aire turned.

Michelle stood by the entrance. Her posture was respectful as she stood there, and her expression was open in a way that felt inviting.

Aire blinked once, then straightened slightly.

"Yes?" she replied.

Michelle stepped in fully, closing the distance slowly as though careful not to disrupt the quiet around her.

"I didn’t mean to disturb you," she said softly. "I saw the door open and thought... you might need assistance."

Aire’s brows lifted faintly.

Assistance?

Her gaze dropped briefly to the book in her hand, then back to Michelle.

"I’m alright," she said at first.

Michelle nodded immediately, not pushing.

"Of course," she replied easily. "You always seem to be."

That made something settle in Aire. The words didn’t feel wrong, but she couldn’t pick up what exactly felt wrong in the words.

Aire’s lips curved faintly before she could stop it. She smiled lightly, to push the negative air she felt from the words to the back of her mind.

Michelle noticed Aire’s inner thoughts, but didn’t point it out.

Instead, she moved a little closer to the shelves beside Aire. Her fingers brushed lightly over a row of books as though simply appreciating them.

"The library can be overwhelming at first," she added. "There’s more here than most people know what to do with."

Aire huffed softly under her breath.

"That is true," she admitted.

Her gaze flickered back to the shelves. "I was just looking," she added after a moment. "I’m not sure what I need yet."

Michelle nodded thoughtfully.

"That’s the best way to start," she said. "Looking before choosing."

Aire glanced at her again.

There was no pressure in her tone. It settled around Aire in a way she didn’t expect. How come she has never seen this maid around?

"Do you read often?" Aire asked, almost without thinking.

Michelle smiled faintly. "When I can," she said. "Not as much as I’d like."

Aire tilted her head slightly. "Why not?"

"Work. I’m a maid," Michelle replied simply, chuckling lightly. Then, softer, she added. "And... not always having the right books."

Aire paused. Her gaze lingered on Mitchell.

"You can read here," Aire said after a moment. "Anytime."

Michelle blinked, surprised, but not in a way that felt exaggerated. She had noticed that anyone can always count on the Luna to receive an enemorous amount of kindness.

"Truly?"

Aire nodded once. "Yes."

Michelle’s smile deepened, warmer now. "Then I will," she said. "Thank you." She paused, then parted her lips again. "How about my kitchen duties? I can’t_"

"Perhaps I can make it work." Aire cut her off softly. "I can ket you work under me. That way, you have more time off."

Mitchelle jaw dropped. This time, she was suprised I’m a way that felt more than exergeratted.

"Thank you, Luna." She appreciated, truly grateful, but short of words. She never expected being closer to finishing the task would be this easy.

Aire looked away again, but her lips curved slightly.

Michelle stepped closer.

"May I?" she asked gently, gesturing toward the book in Aire’s hand.

Aire hesitated for half a second, then handed it to her.

Michelle took it carefully, flipping it open with practiced ease. Her eyes skimmed the page briefly.

"It’s a good one," she said. "Simple, but... grounding."

Aire watched her. "You’ve read it?"

Michelle nodded. "A long time ago."

She closed the book and handed it back.

Aire took it, her fingers brushing lightly against Michelle’s for a brief second.

Michelle’s gaze shifted slightly then, just a fraction. Her eyes moved to the side of Aire’s face, just behind her ear, and her brows pulled together.

Aire noticed the shift.

Her brows pulled together faintly.

"What is it?" she asked.

Michelle didn’t answer immediately. She stepped a little closer, her gaze softening with curiosity rather than alarm.

"There’s..." she began gently, then paused. "May I?"

Aire stilled. "....what?"

Michelle lifted her hand slowly, giving Aire time to pull away if she wished.

Aire didn’t. Although, her breath slowed slightly.

Michelle’s fingers hovered near her hair before carefully brushing a small section aside.

It was the first time she touched a silver hair, and Mitchell savoured the feeling. The strands of Aire’s hair are the softest and most lush strands of hair she has ever touched.

Her touch was light, careful, and respectful. Then she saw it fully. It was a small delicate mark.

It was a curved like a half moon, resting just behind Aire’s ear, hidden beneath strands of silver hair. It looked like a birth mark.

Michelle’s breath caught softly.