As the war dragged on, Elisabeth found herself fighting a different kind of battle. Her feelings for Fredrick, once purely platonic, began to change. It was gradual, almost imperceptible at first, but soon it became a constant ache in her chest. She knew it was impossible—Fredrick could never love her in the way she wanted—but the heart is a stubborn thing, often blind to reason.
Fredrick, for his part, remained oblivious to Elisabeth's growing affection. He was too wrapped up in his own life, in the long letters from Constantine, filled with promises of a future together once the war was over. Fredrick's love for Constantine was deep, though tinged with the fear that their secret might be discovered.
Elisabeth tried to push her feelings aside, to focus on other things, but it was no use. She began to distance herself from Fredrick, finding excuses not to visit the café as often. She even started seeing other men, hoping that she might forget about Fredrick if she could just find someone else to fill the void. But none of them could ever compare.