"Nothing," Aria replied, her voice trembling as she tried to hold back her sobs. Her teary eyes glistened in the faint moonlight streaming through the window.
Lucien sighed heavily, his frustration evident. "Fool..." he muttered, shaking his head as he rose to his feet and moved closer to her. "You're crying, and yet you say nothing is wrong? Do you take me for a fool? Tell me, Aria, what's bothering you?"
Seeing his concern, Aria knew she had his attention. She hesitated, her hands trembling as she clutched the fabric of her dress. Finally, she looked up, her tear-streaked face meeting his gaze. "It's... it's your brothers," she whispered.
Lucien's brows knitted into a deep frown. "My brothers?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion. "What about them? What did they do?"
