Episode 19

The library at Damien’s house was quiet, illuminated by the flickering glow of the fireplace, casting soft shadows across walls lined with books and adorned with maps and paintings of battles. Gabriel sat in a leather armchair, a glass of cognac in hand, but he seemed oblivious to the drink’s strong aroma. His gaze was lost in the flames, as if searching for answers that continued to elude him.

Damien, lounging casually against the arm of the sofa, observed him in silence. His friend had been uncharacteristically quiet since they had returned from the theatre, which was unlike him.

"If you keep staring at the fire with that intensity, you might start intimidating the flames themselves," Damien remarked with a slight smirk, attempting to break the silence.

Gabriel did not respond immediately, but his lips curved into a weary smile. "Perhaps flames are easier to intimidate than my own feelings."

Damien arched a brow, leaning slightly forward. "Ah, so that’s it. You’re not the kind of man who lets things shake him easily, but tonight, in that theatre box... there was something different about you. Do you want to talk about it?"

Gabriel slowly swirled the glass in his hand, watching the amber liquid move. "You know, Damien, for most of my life, I’ve learned to protect myself. To hide my weaknesses, to ignore what hurt me." He paused, his jaw tightening slightly before he continued. "But with Lilian... it’s different."

Damien leaned back against the sofa, crossing his arms, though his gaze remained sharp. "And does that scare you?"

Gabriel let out a low chuckle, but the sound was bitter. "More than it should. She makes me feel things I thought were buried. She makes me want... more. And it’s not just the desire to protect her from the Duke or Whitaker. It’s… it’s wanting to see her free, happy. With me, perhaps, but above all, happy."

Damien let out a low sigh and picked up the glass resting on the table beside him. "You know, Gabriel, it's rare to hear you speak this way. You're always so distant, so controlled. But it seems she makes you... vulnerable."

Gabriel turned his gaze to Damien, his blue eyes gleaming with an intensity that seemed to hold a storm within. "Vulnerable, yes. But also alive. And that's the most terrifying part. Because if she doesn't choose me... I don't know if I can go back to being the man I was before."

Damien tilted his head slightly, studying him more intently. Gabriel took a deep breath, his fingers tightening around the glass.

"I'm in love with her."

The words hung in the air, impossible to ignore.

Damien remained silent for a moment, as if weighing his friend's confession. Finally, he lifted his glass in a toast. "You know, it's not weakness to feel all this. She will see that you're the right man for her."

Gabriel gave a small smile. "And if she doesn't? If everything she knows, the life her father built for her, prevents her from believing there's another way?"

Damien leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his face more serious. "Then show her, Gabriel. Show her that she's more than what her father or Whitaker want her to believe. Show her that you love her, and if, in the end, she doesn't choose you, at least you'll know you tried."

Gabriel remained silent, Damien’s words echoing deep within him. Finally, he raised his glass, meeting his friend’s gaze. "Thank you, Damien. Even when you don’t say what I want to hear, you say what I need."

Damien let out a brief laugh. "That’s what friends are for, isn't it?" He took a sip of his brandy and leaned back on the sofa, watching his friend with a fraternal gaze. "But let me tell you something, Gabriel. If you're going down this path, remember that loving a woman like Lilian isn’t for the weak. She will challenge you at every step. And maybe that’s exactly what you need."

Gabriel let out a genuine laugh, lighter than any emotion he had shown that night. "Always so wise, Damien. Maybe it’s time you followed your own advice and fell in love yourself."

Damien arched an eyebrow, raising his glass in a relaxed gesture. "Ah, my friend, love is for the brave and the fools. And I don’t want to be in either of those categories."

They both laughed, the sound briefly filling the room, but the silence that followed carried a deep understanding between them. As the night wore on and the flames in the fireplace turned into faint embers, Gabriel felt the uncertainty of the path ahead.

Yet, for the first time in years, a new conviction guided his steps.

Perhaps — just perhaps — this was the only risk truly worth taking.