To be honest, Sera's fixation on Julian ran deeper than most people realized. It wasn't just affection. It was hunger. The kind that makes someone throw dignity aside and step straight into danger if it means claiming a future they want. In a strange way, I almost admired her nerve. She was willing to gamble everything for a bond she believed would secure her place.
Once feelings like that take root, they don't listen to reason. They drown out warnings. Shame disappears. All that's left is the need to possess.
Most people saw Julian as refined and gentle, a man raised with rules and polish. A perfect heir. What they missed was the sharp edge beneath the surface. The selfish pull of instinct. The way he always chose himself first. They loved the image. They never looked close enough to see the cracks.
