[b][color=red][center]FLASHBACK[/center][/color][/b]

[color=lightgray][center][h1][color=D0B4EC]Lottie[/color] & [color=lightsteelblue]Cas[/color]

Part 5[/h1]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/3xLx2dH.png[/img]
[b][color=D0B4EC]Time:[/color][/b] Sola 26th

[b][color=lightsteelblue]Location:[/color][/b] Rosegate

[/center]

Upon arrival, the train gently slowed to a halt, and the conductor announced their destination. Cassius stood, offering his hand to Charlotte with a playful grin. [b][color=lightsteelblue]"Shall we, princess?"[/color][/b]


Charlotte smiled and took his hand, and then together, they stepped onto the platform and were greeted by the picturesque charm of Rosegate. The town's cobblestone streets wound through lush gardens, and elegant vacation homes of nobles dotted the landscape, all overlooking the serene coastline. The air was filled with the scent of sea salt and blooming flowers, creating an atmosphere both tranquil and inviting.


Cassius led Charlotte through the quaint streets, his demeanor casual yet buzzing with confidence and subtle anticipation. As they walked, the distant sound of waves grew closer, and the town's vibrant markets and cozy cafes gradually gave way to a more secluded path.


Rounding a bend, they emerged onto a secluded seaside clearing. Before them was an exquisite setup: a round table draped in crimson velvet awaited, its surface adorned with fine dishes, gleaming silverware, and the rich aroma of a gourmet feast. A grand bouquet of scarlet roses crowned the center, surrounded by a warm constellation of candles and gilded lanterns that cast soft, flickering light. Live musicians played gentle melodies, their notes dancing on the ocean breeze. A waiter stood attentively beside a makeshift bar, while a chef busied himself at a nearby station, preparing what promised to be a sumptuous meal.


It was evident that this was no ordinary restaurant but a meticulously orchestrated event, crafted by Cassius specifically for this occasion. The setting was intimate, the ambiance perfect, and the effort unmistakable.


Charlotte’s feet moved on her own accord, guided by her awe and disbelief. She stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the table laden with food, the flickering candles, and the musicians softly playing in the background.


Even the waiter seemed to glide about the dock, unnoticed through the scene.


All of it was bathed in the magical glow of moonlight, as if it were a scene from a painting, and each detail felt more surreal than the last. Her eyes widened, and her lips parted in stunned silence as though the display before her was too grand for words. 


Time seemed to stretch as she stood there, completely lost in the moment, until the warmth of Cassius’s breath stirred against her ear.  [b][color=lightsteelblue]“I know what you're thinking, Lottie...good looks, love sonnets, the best damn dance partner in Sorian, [b]and[/b] I plan a date like no one else could. You’re right…truly, gods above, I [i]am[/i] impressive."[/color][/b]

[b][color=D0B4EC]“So close.”[/color][/b] She paused and slowly turned around to face him, raising a brow with playful amusement, [b][color=D0B4EC]“I must admit, I was thinking, that perhaps with the way you’ve held yourself in such high regard tonight, this date—fit for a honeymoon, mind you—was set up more to seduce yourself than to impress me.”[/color][/b] She met his gaze, her teasing smile barely concealing the laughter that threatened to bubble up. [b][color=D0B4EC]“Though, I suppose, you have been calling me ‘princess’ all night…”[/color][/b]

With a soft sigh, she relented, her expression softening into something sweeter as she gazed at him with warm appreciation. [b][color=D0B4EC]“But truly, Cassius... I cannot thank you enough. I don’t know if anyone has ever done anything like this for me before.”[/color][/b]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]“Damn. Caught me.”[/color][/b] He exhaled dramatically, shaking his head as though utterly betrayed by his own vanity. [b][color=lightsteelblue]“Here I was, thinking I could dazzle you with moonlight and candlelit perfection, but alas—my true intentions laid bare. This was never about impressing you, was it?”[/color][/b] He brought a hand to his chest in feigned woe, then grinned. [b][color=lightsteelblue]“No, no. This was about seducing [b]me.[/b]”[/color][/b]


Charlotte giggled again as Cassius took a step back, as if truly taking in the scene with fresh eyes. His lips quirked upward, barely suppressing a chuckle. [b][color=lightsteelblue]“And you know what? By the gods, it’s working.”[/color][/b]


He let the teasing hang in the air for a moment before his expression softened. His gaze lingered on her, tracing the way the candlelight played against her features—the quiet awe still lingering in her eyes, the warmth in her voice when she spoke.


[b][color=lightsteelblue]“But really, Lottie…”[/color][/b] His voice dropped just a fraction, sincerity slipping through the cracks of his usual bravado. [b][color=lightsteelblue]“If no one’s ever done anything like this for you before…”[/color][/b] He lifted her hand to his lips, brushing a slow, deliberate kiss against her knuckles. [b][color=lightsteelblue]“Then they’ve all been fools.”[/color][/b]


With that, he pulled out her chair with an elegant flourish, the roguish glint in his eye never fading. [b][color=lightsteelblue]“Now, before we get too lost in how incredibly charming I am, let’s sit before the food gets cold, shall we?”[/color][/b]

Charlotte’s cheeks bloomed with a soft pink hue as she felt the warmth of his lips against her hand. The softness of his kiss, paired with the gentle sincerity in his eyes, made her feel like she was standing on the edge of something both thrilling and terrifying.

She had never been the recipient of many romantic gestures, or perhaps any at all… And this—this made her nerves dance. because it was unfamiliar, because he was so undeniably beautiful, and because, deep down, he was the son of her enemy.

No matter how effortlessly charming he was, how easy it felt to get lost in his gaze, she couldn’t let herself forget that part—not yet.

She took a deep breath and offered him a grateful smile. As she sat down gracefully, she adjusted her skirt, the fabric swirling around her. She turned her attention as the rich flavors wafted toward her on the sea breeze, stirring a quiet hum of appreciation from her lips.

As Charlotte settled into her seat, a moment of quiet stretched between them. The air was thick with something unspoken, charged yet oddly comfortable. Cassius lingered for a beat before following suit, lowering himself into his chair with his own effortless grace.

His fingers drummed idly against the table before he gestured toward the two wine glasses set before them.  Without hesitation, she reached for the white wine. Her gaze lowered as she watched the pale liquid just enough to watch the way it clung to the sides as she swirled it around.

[b][color=lightsteelblue]“I wasn’t sure if you preferred red or white, so I figured—why not both?”[/color][/b] His lips curled into a roguish grin. [b][color=lightsteelblue]“What’s the point of all this bloody Damien money if not to spend it on occasions like this?”[/color][/b]

Before Charlotte could even respond, the waiter arrived, his movements precise and practiced as he lifted the gleaming silver cloche. A wave of warmth carried the rich, savory scent of seared meat and slow-roasted vegetables, wrapping around them like an embrace.

Centered on the plate was a perfectly seared filet mignon, its glistening surface etched with crisp grill marks, crowned with a sprig of fresh rosemary. Beside it, a swirl of creamy mashed potatoes pooled with rich brown gravy, dotted with herbs. Charred pearl onions and caramelized baby carrots flanked the dish, their golden hues catching the flicker of nearby candlelight.

The waiter stepped back, his subtle smile reflecting quiet confidence as he introduced the chef and detailed the careful artistry behind each element of the meal.

Cassius, for once, didn’t interrupt with a joke. Instead, he let the moment settle, watching Charlotte as she took in the sight before them. The candlelight softened the sharp angles of his face as he leaned in slightly, his voice smooth but sincere.

[b][color=lightsteelblue]“So, princess…”[/color][/b] His gaze lingered on hers, the usual teasing edge tempered by something more genuine. [b][color=lightsteelblue]“I know we didn’t have the best start, but after everything… how am I holding up in your estimations?”[/color][/b]

Charlotte’s eyes lit up, her smile blooming with warmth as she took in the beautifully arranged meal before her, the golden light casting an almost dreamlike glow across the table. She reached for her fork with eager anticipation but hesitated, her gaze flickering upward as Cassius’s voice caught her attention.

[b][color=D0B4EC]“Hmm… Hmm… well, I must admit, my opinion of you has improved considerably since the night we first met. That’s for certain.”[/color][/b] A breathy, lilting giggle escaped her as she spoke, her posture softening. Her fingers curled beneath her chin as she leaned in slightly, regarding him with teasing amusement.

Cassius smirked, lifting his glass of sherry red to his lips but not drinking just yet. He had expected a playful remark, maybe even a sharp one, but the warmth in her eyes made him pause. [b][color=lightsteelblue]Fair enough.[/color][/b] He mused within his mind’s eye.

[b][color=D0B4EC]“A nobleman who has not lived as one, yet carries all the arrogance of one who has…”[/color][/b] she mused playfully, [b][color=D0B4EC]“That is what you seem like at first glance.”[/color][/b] With that, she leaned her chin in her hands with a warm smile.

[b][color=lightsteelblue] Again, fair…very [i]very[/i] fair.[/color][/b] The thoughts crossed just as he went ahead and took that first, delectable sip of wine.  

She let the thought hang between them, her gaze trailing over him as though she were committing some grand discovery to memory. [b][color=D0B4EC]“But upon closer inspection…”[/color][/b] Charlotte exhaled softly as if revealing some great revelation. [b][color=D0B4EC]“I daresay that is not who you are at all. No, if I have learned anything in the time I have spent with you, Cassius, it is that beneath all that bravado…[/color][/b] She deliberately paused before her voice dipped into something softer and sincere. 

He half expected her to say something scathing, something biting yet playful. She would probably call him reckless. Foolish, perhaps. Maybe even dangerous. A scoundrel, the rake of all rakes, even. All things he had been called before, and all things that carried at least a sliver of truth.

[b][color=D0B4EC]“I believe you are kind.”[/color][/b]

With that, she lifted her fork at last with brows raised in warning, as if to say: [b]Do not let it go to your head.[/b][/color]