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The cool evening breeze drifted through the cracks of the wooden shutters, brushing against my skin as I made my way to Augustus's room. Tomorrow, the group Nova would finally fulfill their contract and rid the land of those bandits. The anticipation should have filled me with excitement, but my heart was weighed down with fear. A fear I’d been hiding from Augustus ever since I handed him the contract.

I knocked softly, hoping he wasn’t asleep yet. His voice answered from the other side. "Come in."

The door creaked open, and there he was, sitting at a wooden desk, eyes scanning over some old maps and notes. He looked tired but focused, clearly preparing for tomorrow’s mission. His dark hair fell messily over his forehead, casting shadows across his sharp features in the dim light of the single candle flickering in the corner.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked without looking up.

I shook my head, even though he couldn’t see it. "No... I thought we should talk about tomorrow." I stepped inside and closed the door behind me, the faint scent of parchment and candle wax filling the room.

He gestured to the chair opposite him, and I sat down, my heart heavy with the secret I was about to reveal.

"We've been going over the strategy with the group, but I wanted to hear your thoughts," Augustus said, eyes finally meeting mine. "We're planning to ambush the bandits at night, catching them off-guard while they’re asleep. It'll minimize casualties and give us the upper hand. What do you think?"

His words were steady and practical, but I could feel the weight of my emotions pressing harder against my chest, threatening to spill over. I nodded slowly, trying to keep my voice level.

"Yes... an ambush seems like the best option," I replied, though my thoughts were far from military tactics.

I watched him lean back in his chair, the tension in his shoulders seeming to ease as we talked. His confidence in handling the mission made me feel more at ease, but I knew I couldn’t keep this secret any longer. I swallowed hard, my hands trembling slightly in my lap.

"Augustus," I started, my voice barely above a whisper, "there's something you should know."

His brow furrowed as he leaned forward, sensing the shift in my tone. "What is it?"

The tears I'd been holding back for so long began to sting at the corners of my eyes. I had never allowed myself to be vulnerable like this before, but now, sitting across from him, I could no longer keep the truth hidden.

"Those bandits... they’re not just any random group of criminals." My voice cracked, and I struggled to hold back the tears. "They were sent to kidnap me. By my family."

He looked at me, confused for a moment before the gravity of my words sank in. The silence between us grew thick and heavy.

"My family... they want me back. And if you kill them, if we kill them... you'll be making powerful enemies." The words tumbled out of my mouth, and the weight of the truth finally released, though it didn’t make me feel any lighter.

Augustus stared at me, processing everything I had just said. He wasn’t one to react impulsively; he always took his time, thinking things through before making a decision. I could see his mind working, considering the implications of what I had revealed. But the silence was suffocating.

"Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?" he finally asked, his voice calm but laced with concern.

"I... I was scared," I admitted, tears slipping down my cheeks despite my best efforts to hold them back. "I didn’t want to put you in a position where you'd have to choose between protecting me or protecting your group."

He stood up from the desk and walked over to me, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. "Sora," he said softly, "you're part of this group too. You have already helped us I don’t think there’s a way I could repay you for what you have done. But you should have told me."

I wiped my eyes, ashamed of my tears. "I was afraid you’d abandon the mission. That you’d see me as a liability."

Augustus chuckled softly, surprising me. He knelt beside me, his face close to mine, and there was a warmth in his gaze that made my chest tighten. "Sora, I don’t see any problems with it. I don’t think making them my enemies is an issue." He paused for a moment, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "In fact, in return for your help, I’ll even capture Epicrotea and make you the governor there."

I stared at him, wide-eyed, unsure if he was serious. He laughed, a deep, rich sound that filled the small room and, for the first time that evening, made me feel a little lighter. Even though it was a joke, his words lifted a weight off my shoulders.

"You’d go to war with my family?" I asked, still in disbelief.

Augustus stood up and sat on the bed beside me. "Why not? After everything you've done for me and Nova, I owe you that much. Besides, I'm not exactly the type to shy away from a challenge."

I smiled weakly, the tears finally stopping. "Thank you. But... there’s more." My voice faltered again, but this time I felt a little braver, knowing Augustus was on my side. "I have one more contract for you after your mission is over there is a chance my family will send a bigger force to get me. I am thinking about escaping to Asera and f i If we go through with this, you won’t be able to collect the bounty. Our priority will be to delay the knowledge about their failure and If my mother finds out, that you killed them it will cause too many problems. I’m sorry..."

He shrugged as if it were no big deal. "We’re mercenaries, Sora. We don’t say no to a deal, but we also don’t need the bounty. The important thing is... it gives me more time to spend with you."

I felt my heart flutter at his words. Our bodies were close now, and the air between us was charged with something unspoken. His eyes held mine, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the world had faded away. We were just two individuals, sharing a quiet moment amid the chaos of our lives.

Before I could respond, Augustus reached out and gently wiped a tear from my cheek. His touch was warm, and I found myself leaning into it, craving the comfort he offered. Our faces were inches apart now, and I could feel the heat radiating off his body.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He smiled, his hand still resting on my cheek. "You don’t have to thank me."

But I did. Augustus had been a constant source of strength for me since we met, and tonight was no different. His calm, steady presence made me feel safe, even in the face of the looming danger.

The moment hung between us, heavy and charged with emotions I hadn’t let myself fully process until now. My heart raced, and before I could think twice, I leaned in, closing the distance between us. His lips met mine, soft and warm, and for the first time in a long while, I felt truly at peace.

The kiss deepened, our bodies pressing against each other as the tension that had been building between us finally broke. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer, and I melted into him, letting the stress of the past few days slip away.

Our breaths mingled as we broke the kiss, resting our foreheads against each other. The room was silent, save for the sound of our breathing, and at that moment, I knew I wasn’t alone anymore. Augustus was here, and he wasn’t going to abandon me, no matter what challenges lay ahead.

"Stay with me tonight," he whispered, his voice husky with emotion.

I nodded, unable to speak, my heart too full.