“Lord Keats, whatever game you’re playing…” Aurelia began, but her words seemed to drift away as Ilyas’s thoughts grew increasingly muddled. Games? Why would she think he was playing… oh… It dawned on him what was happening. The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. It wasn’t just that she had misunderstood his playful banter. The weight of this revelation bore down on Ilyas, and he felt a mixture of shock and concern for Aurelia. He tried to mask his emotions, but his eyes betrayed the unease he felt.
Yes, she was physically present, but it was becoming increasingly evident that she wasn’t truly here—her essence, a part of her was missing. Ilyas couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of sympathy and an urgent desire to understand what had transpired in her life since they last saw each other.
Ilyas leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a hushed whisper, ensuring that only Aurelia could hear him. His eyes darted around the room, checking for any prying eyes or listening ears, particularly those of certain individuals who he was grateful were currently occupied and facing the other way. “Can we go somewhere to speak?” he inquired, his tone filled with a mix of concern and urgency.
As Aurelia let her hand drop from his, Ilyas’s gaze followed her fingers, his concern deepening. He waited for her response, uncertain of how she would react or what she would say.
“Leave. Me. Alone.” Her words, sharp and cold, rang in his ears, and Ilyas felt a pang of hurt and frustration. He shook his head firmly, standing up straighter now, his determination evident. “You know I can’t do that,” he replied, his voice resolute. Did she know?
The tension between them hung heavily in the air as Aurelia’s words echoed. The tension between them felt all too familiar, a silent echo of their past encounters lingered beneath the surface. Something made it difficult for him to simply walk away, even in the face of Aurelia’s plea. Aurelia’s plea was also hauntingly familiar, echoing the complexity of their relationship had come to the forefront. It was a plea that had always tugged at him, and he couldn’t help but be drawn to her in spite of the circumstances.
Ilyas didn’t care about her wishes. He took another step closer, his eyes pleading for her to reconsider. “Aurelia, you don’t have to go through this alone,” he urged gently, his voice filled with concern. In addition to concern and urgency, there was a hint of bossiness in Ilyas’s demeanor. He had a tendency to take charge in only a few situations. He was willing to push boundaries and challenge Aurelia’s wishes if he believed it was in her best interest and he knew this was, even if she did not. “Tell me what’s happened, and together we can find a way to navigate it.” The playful banter and teasing would have to be set aside as he focused on getting to the bottom of the mystery and helping her as best as he could.
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