The faint light of dawn seeped through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the wooden floor. The steady rhythm of quiet footsteps echoed through the cabin, accompanied by the subtle sound of controlled breathing.
Evelyn stirred from her sleep, blinking slowly as her senses adjusted to the gentle morning.
She followed the faint noise to the living room, stopping in her tracks when she saw Lucien—shirtless—going through his morning routine.
His movements were sharp, calculated—like a blade being honed to perfection. Each strike, each motion, was executed with the kind of precision that only came from years of relentless training.
Evelyn found herself watching in silence, captivated.
It was strange. She had seen him fight before—seen how easily he could dismantle someone in combat. But there was something different about this.
It wasn't violence.
It was… discipline.
Lucien suddenly stopped, his golden eyes flicking toward her.
"You're staring."
Evelyn's face flushed, and she cleared her throat. "I wasn't—"
Lucien arched an eyebrow, but didn't press the matter. He simply grabbed his towel and disappeared into the bathroom without another word.
---
By the time Lucien returned, fully dressed, Evelyn had taken it upon herself to make breakfast—partly out of gratitude, and partly to prove that she could contribute something too.
The result… was disastrous.
Lucien sat at the table, eyeing the overly salted omelette on his plate. He cut a small piece, chewing slowly with his usual blank expression.
"Too much salt."
Evelyn's face turned red. "You could at least pretend it's good."
Lucien looked at her, deadpan. "Lying isn't my specialty."
Evelyn huffed, taking a bite herself—only to immediately gag at the overwhelming saltiness. She coughed, reaching for the glass of water in front of her.
Without a word, Lucien pushed his own glass toward her, his expression never changing.
Despite herself, Evelyn couldn't help but smile a little.
---
As the morning stretched on, Evelyn found herself growing more curious about Lucien.
She began testing him—little things, just to see how he would react.
"Do you have any hobbies?"
"No."
"Ever had a pet?"
"No."
"What about friends? Did you ever—"
"No."
Every answer was curt, every wall firmly in place.
But Evelyn wasn't one to give up easily.
At one point, she casually tapped his shoulder—just to see if he would flinch.
In a blink, Lucien's hand shot out, gripping her wrist with iron strength.
Evelyn's heart jumped, but Lucien's eyes softened the moment he realized what he was doing. He released her immediately, his face as calm as ever.
"Reflex."
Evelyn rubbed her wrist, trying to ignore the way her heart was still pounding.
He wasn't just trained—he was wired.
---
By midday, Evelyn's restlessness got the better of her.
"Let's go out."
Lucien barely glanced at her. "No."
"Come on. Just a little walk."
"It's not safe."
"If you don't come with me, I'll just go alone."
That made him pause. His golden eyes flicked toward her, narrowing slightly—measuring.
Finally, with a reluctant sigh, he grabbed his jacket.
---
The town was small and quiet, nestled in the hills far from the city's chaos. The streets were lined with old shops and cafes, the air carrying the faint scent of rain-soaked earth.
Evelyn led the way, glancing back every now and then to make sure Lucien was still following.
He moved like a shadow—always alert, always scanning his surroundings. Even in a place like this, he couldn't let his guard down.
But for a brief moment, something seemed to catch his attention.
A little boy crouched near an alleyway, holding out his hand to a stray cat. The boy whispered softly, trying to coax the animal into giving him a high five.
Lucien stopped, watching silently from a distance.
Evelyn noticed.
"You find that interesting?" she asked, her voice light.
Lucien's gaze flicked toward her, then back to the boy.
"It's… strange."
Evelyn's heart ached a little at how unfamiliar the sight seemed to him.
---
By the time they returned to the cabin, the sun was setting behind the hills.
Evelyn glanced at Lucien, noticing the way his shoulders seemed just a little more relaxed than before.
Maybe he didn't realize it—but something in him was starting to shift.
They stood by the door, the quiet hum of the evening wrapping around them.
Evelyn hesitated before speaking.
"Lucien… you know, you don't always have to be so guarded."
Lucien didn't respond.
But this time, he didn't deny it either.
Evelyn smiled faintly to herself.
It was small—but it was a start.
---
End of Chapter 30.