Chapter 46 Raphael Meets Lily

• The path back to the manor was quiet, save for the crunch of gravel under Raphael’s boots. The sunlight filtering through the trees gave the illusion of peace, but his mind was anything but settled. His brother’s reaction earlier amused him, though it also left a bitter taste in his mouth. Damian’s protectiveness over the girl—Aurora, was it? How interesting.
• As he walked toward the side entrance, Raphael’s sharp eyes caught sight of someone by the fountain near the garden’s edge. A woman sat there, her posture stiff, her gaze fixed on the rippling water. Even from a distance, he recognized her. Lily.
• He stopped, a sly grin spreading across his face. It had been a long time since he’d seen her, but she hadn’t changed much. Her beauty was still striking, though there was a weariness in her eyes now, a shadow that hadn’t been there before. He remembered her vividly, not just as a presence in the palace but as someone who once held a far more coveted position.