Astrid said nothing, focusing instead on plucking the soft petals of a rose nearby. The delicate sensation mirrored her own fragile emotions. Her long eyelashes shimmered under the moonlight, and her subtly trembling shoulders betrayed her feelings.
Then, she felt the warmth of his breath near her ear.
"Please forgive my rudeness," Michael whispered, his voice low and intimate.
Her eyes widened in surprise, her heartbeat quickening. A tender sensation brushed her lips—soft and fleeting, like the touch of a rose petal. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still.
From a distance, Charles V and the Duke of Capone watched the couple's kiss beneath the garden's silvery glow. The king chuckled.
"Ah, to be young again."
"Indeed," the duke replied with a knowing smile.
