Lucian shifted uncomfortably in his chair, unsure of what to say after his apology. The awkward silence between them lingered like a thick fog, and he could feel Celestia's gaze fixed on him.
She sat there, her chin resting on her hands, elbows propped on the table, looking at him with an intensity that was both unsettling and strangely endearing. Her bright eyes didn't blink, and it seemed as though she could sit there staring at him for hours without tiring.
Lucian cleared his throat nervously, his hands fidgeting on the table. "So… um… I've been meaning to ask," he began hesitantly, avoiding her gaze as he rubbed the back of his neck. "How did you know about me and Avey? That… childhood gratitude thing? I mean, not many people know about it. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if even Avey herself has forgotten it."
