Marcus leaned back slightly, his gaze fixed on the water as he spoke. “I have lived long enough to witness countless kingdoms rise and fall. I have walked through centuries of solitude, and I have seen the weight of power and responsibility strip joy from those who hold it.” He exhaled slowly, the sound deep and resonant. “And yet… I have rarely allowed myself to dream. Until now. Until you.”
I reached out, brushing my fingers against his hand. “Me?” I asked softly.
“Yes,” he said, meeting my eyes. There was a vulnerability there that few had ever seen—an openness that centuries of restraint could not fully contain. “You have reminded me… that even those burdened with power and immortality can still hope. That even those cursed by fate can imagine happiness. And I… I dream of a life wher
