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Estella gazed down at the food, her thoughts spiraling as the familiar weight of anxiety began pressing on her chest. Her breathing grew shallow—she was on the brink of a panic attack, something she hadn't experienced in a long while. Normally, Mr. William or Susan would have been by her side, calming her down, grounding her. But they weren't here.
Neither were Aries, Iphigenia, or Dennis.
The emptiness of their absence amplified the panic, and so, with no one else to turn to, she quietly confessed to Poppy, "I'm scared." The words slipped out reflexively, soft and fragile, yet heavy with emotion.
It surprised Poppy—after all, Estella and Aries always came across as unbreakable tributes, hardened and aloof. Yet here was Estella, raw and vulnerable. Poppy was touched by the honesty and offered a small, warm smile—one that carried both intention and genuine affection. In that brief moment, something shifted between them. Trust began to form, delicate but real.
"I know," Poppy replied gently, her tone rich with understanding. Then, with a light laugh, she teased, "How did you end up with District 5 anyway? I saw your face—you seem more like someone who belongs in the upper districts." Estella gave a weak smile, something close to a scoff.
"They lack imagination," she murmured. "Estella, I asked for your district. I wanted the challenge." For a fleeting moment, Estella considered the sincerity in her voice. There was no guile, no trace of hidden malice or agenda.
In Poppy, she saw perhaps the most human soul she'd met here aside from Dennis and Iphigenia, both of whom were only just beginning to show those vulnerable pieces of themselves. She found herself nodding, not quite ready to voice it, but knowing deep down—she could trust Poppy.
"I have an idea, but it's going to require you to trust me a little." Now seated across from one another, Poppy leaned in slightly and said, "are you afraid of exposure, Estella?"
The scene changed.
Night had fallen, and the sky above them glittered with stars, the moon casting a pale glow over the Capitol.
Aries stood nearby, dressed in dark crimson—a tunic, boots, and a thick cloak hanging from one shoulder, with the pelt of what might have been a tiger—or maybe a lion—resting across his broad back. Half his chest was bare, toned and defined, while his sea-blue eyes, lined with black makeup, made his already sharp features appear even more intimidating.
Wet strands of hair clung to his forehead, giving him the look of a Spartan war god preparing for battle. And truthfully, he wore it well.
"Will you come out already? It's not that bad. Sure, it exposes more skin than necessary," Aries coaxed from behind the chariot, a smirk tugging at his lips. He was curious—dying to see what design Estella had ended up in. A soft sigh met his ears, and he grinned victoriously as she slowly emerged.
