The gardens of Ravenwood were a tapestry of autumnal splendor, the leaves ablaze with hues of gold, crimson, and russet. As Eliana and Sebastian strolled along the winding paths, their footsteps crunching on fallen leaves, a sense of anticipation hung in the air. The silence that had once separated them now felt charged with unspoken words, waiting to be released.
They reached a secluded clearing, where a marble fountain trickled softly amidst a bed of late-blooming roses. Sebastian paused, his silver eyes meeting Eliana's with a newfound intensity.
"Eliana," he began, his voice low and measured, "there is something I must tell you. Something I have kept hidden for far too long."
She nodded, her heart quickening with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. "I'm listening, Sebastian."
He took a deep breath, as if steeling himself for a difficult confession. "I am not merely the Duke of Ravenwood. I am... something more. Something ancient and powerful."
