Lucian exhaled slowly, his mind drifting back to a time before everything had become so complicated—before the arguments, before the heartbreak. He could still remember the warmth of the sun against his skin as he strolled through the bustling market streets, the scent of fresh bread and roasted spices lingering in the air. Merchants called out their wares, children weaved between the stalls, and laughter filled the space between hurried footsteps. It had been a peaceful day, one of the rare ones where he allowed himself a moment of respite from his duties.
He hadn't expected to see her there.
