A Noble Affair ✭ KTH [𝖒] ✅️

𝔪𝔬𝔬𝔫𝔩𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱 𝔰𝔬𝔫𝔞𝔱𝔞

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You leaned back against the high-backed chair, swirling the rich red wine in your glass as the smooth liquid caught the dim light of the dining car. Your fingers, delicate and steady, brushed the edge of the crystal before you took a slow sip, feeling the warmth of the alcohol spread through you, coloring your cheeks with a soft flush. You shifted slightly, your bare shoulder exposed, the strapless bodice of your dress leaving your skin vulnerable to the cool air, though you found yourself oddly appreciative of the sensation.

The wine tasted like velvet, wrapping around your senses, loosening the edges of your usual restraint. Your fingers lingered on the side of your neck, tracing its curve, before you took another sip. Your eyes inadvertently met Taehyung's from across the table. His dark brows arched slightly, a silent question in his gaze as he dabbed at his lips with a napkin, his fingers lingering at the edges of his glass.

His idea was to share dinner, an invitation you'd initially rejected. You hadn't expected his persistence, but he assured you it would be a simple meal between two strangers, nothing more. And now, a few days into the journey, you found yourself sitting across from him, trying to dismiss the discomfort of the situation.

"Aside from your fiancé, have you ever been accompanied by another man?" Taehyung's voice was low, his words unhurried, almost as if he knew the question would catch you off guard.

Your eyes widened at the directness of his inquiry. Most people wouldn't dare ask such a thing, choosing to veil their curiosity in polite, indirect conversation, but Taehyung didn't hesitate. It was refreshingly blunt. You weren't sure whether to be unnerved or relieved.

You shook your head, unable to meet his gaze as you answered. "No, not really. I haven't spent much time with anyone like that... not even with my father. It's... all very new to me."

A small, sad smile played on his lips, and he leaned back in his chair, fingers lightly tapping against the tablecloth. He stared out the window momentarily, his lashes fluttering gently as if in contemplation.

You followed his gaze, eyes lifting to the sky. The stars were scattered across the night, brighter than you ever remembered them being. The moonlight spilled softly through the dining car window, casting an ethereal glow over him, making Taehyung appear almost otherworldly.

"I'm glad you can spend it with me, then," he said, his voice deep and smooth like silk brushing your ears. "Look at those stars."

You sighed deeply, placing your glass down with a soft clink, fighting the urge to reach out and trace the twinkling lights outside the window. 

You suppressed it, afraid it would make you seem childish, even in his company's privacy.

"My mother always said staring at the stars was a waste of time," you admitted before realizing the words had slipped from your mouth. "She said there are always more productive things to do."