Raelynn stepped onto the stone path leading deeper into the garden, her steps slow as she took in the peaceful surroundings. She inhaled deeply, letting the fresh air fill her lungs before releasing a contented sigh.
It had been a while since she had taken a proper morning stroll. Lately, her mornings had been plagued with exhaustion, nausea, and the overwhelming changes her body was going through. But today felt different. Today, she felt light, as if the weight pressing down on her had montarily lifted.
She had barely taken a few steps when a familiar voice reached her ears.
"Going sowhere?"
Raelynn turned her head to see Elion standing at the entrance of the garden, his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his pants. His hair glistened under the sunlight, and his piercing eyes were fixed on her with a quiet intensity.
"I just wanted to take a walk," she replied, shifting slightly under his gaze.
Elion took a step forward. "Mind if I join you?"
Raelynn hesitated for a brief mont, then shook her head. "I don't mind."
A small smile tugged at the corner of Elion's lips as he closed the distance between them, falling into step beside her. The path they walked was lined with rows of blooming flowers, their colors vibrant and rich under the morning light.
After a few monts, Elion glanced at her. "How's your morning sickness?"
Raelynn blinked, surprised by his question. "Actually… I haven't had any for the past few days."
Elion raised an eyebrow, his gaze flickering toward her stomach before returning to her face. "That's good. Hopefully, it stays that way."
She nodded, absently rubbing her palm against her belly. "Yeah… It's strange. I thought it would last longer, but I feel fine."
Elion only humd in response before they continued walking at a leisurely pace. A sudden gust of wind rustled through the trees, making the leaves tremble and sending a few petals floating into the air. Raelynn ca to a stop as the breeze caressed her face, the cool touch refreshing against her skin. She closed her eyes, letting herself savor the mont.
Elion, however, had his gaze fixed solely on her.
Her long hair lifted with the wind, strands dancing and weaving through the air like silk ribbons. The sunlight caught in her soft brown locks, making them shimr with a golden hue. A faint smile graced her lips, peaceful and free of hesitation. The gentle curve of her cheek, the light blush dusting her skin from the air, the way her eyelashes fluttered slightly—everything about her in that mont held his attention captive.
Before he even realized it, a single word slipped past his lips.
"Beautiful."
Raelynn's eyes fluttered open, turning to look at him with a puzzled expression. "Hmm?"
Elion blinked, snapping out of whatever thought he was lost in, but instead of looking away, he kept his eyes on her. "You're beautiful."
Raelynn's breath hitched. Her eyes widened slightly, and for a mont, she just stood there, processing his words. A slow, creeping warmth spread across her cheeks, turning them a delicate shade of pink.
"W-Why so sudden?" she stamred, unable to et his gaze for long.
Elion didn't answer imdiately. Instead, he continued looking at her.
Raelynn, feeling overwheld, averted her gaze and quickly took a step forward. "We should keep walking," she mumbled, her voice slightly higher than usual.
But in her haste to move away from the situation, she failed to notice a stray vine curling across the path. The tip of her shoe caught onto it, and before she could react, she felt herself stumbling forward.
"Ah—!"
Ti seed to slow as she lost her balance. A jolt of fear shot through her as she lost her balance, but firm hands caught her just in ti.
Her breath hitched as she found herself pressed against Elion's firm chest. One of his arms held her close, while his other hand rested against the small of her back, keeping her from falling any further. The grip was strong yet careful, protective yet gentle.
Raelynn's eyes widened, her heart pounding wildly against her ribs.
Elion's face was re inches away from hers. His gaze flickered down, lingering on her lips for just a second before returning to her eyes.
Raelynn swallowed hard. She couldn't move, couldn't even think properly. Her entire body felt like it was frozen in place.
Elion didn't move away. Instead, his grip on her tightened ever so slightly, his fingers pressing gently against the fabric of her dress. His head tilted forward, just a fraction, his breath warm against her skin. His eyes remained locked onto hers, searching, waiting.
Raelynn felt her breath hitch. Her mind scread at her to do sothing—pull away, say sothing, anything—but instead, her eyes fluttered shut on their own.
And then—
A sudden gust of wind rustled through the trees, making the branches sway violently. A single red petal, caught in the breeze, drifted between them, brushing lightly against Raelynn's cheek before being carried away.
Elion stiffened, pulling back just slightly. His expression shifted, his sharp gaze flickering toward the sky.
Raelynn, still caught in the mont, hesitated before slowly opening her eyes. She stared at Elion, her heart still racing. The mont slipped away before it could fully happen, leaving a strange tension in the air.
Elion released his hold on her, his hands lingering for a split second before he finally let go. He stepped back, clearing his throat lightly, his composed mask slipping back into place.
Raelynn felt an odd sense of disappointnt but quickly shoved it aside. Her cheeks still burned, and she had no idea what to say or how to act. Instead, she rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.
"Uh… thanks for catching ," she muttered, avoiding his gaze.
Elion exhaled through his nose, a ghost of a smirk playing at his lips. "Try not to trip so often."
Raelynn scowled, her embarrassnt quickly turning into irritation. "I don't trip that often!"
Elion raised an eyebrow but said nothing, clearly amused by her reaction.
Raelynn huffed, crossing her arms. But no matter how much she tried to act normal, her heart refused to settle. That mont… the way he had looked at her, the way she had felt… it lingered, refusing to fade.
And she had a feeling it wouldn't disappear anyti soon.
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