Eilika gently broke the embrace, and Damian reluctantly let her go. "Why were you so intent on kissing me just now?" she asked softly, searching his gaze.
"Because I felt low today," Damian replied, his usual stoic facade slipping slightly.
Eilika kept her eyes fixed on him, her expression softening with understanding. "Is it because of the anniversary of your father's passing?"
"Yes," he murmured, looking out toward the courtyard. "My mother must be mourning alone today. I am usually by her side during these difficult days, and it pains me that she was forced into widowhood so young. Though she has grown remarkably resilient over the years, as her son, I still harbor a deep resentment, perhaps toward fate, or the gods who decreed it."
