Under a Dimmed Sun [UNCENSORED]

SI: Chapter XXI: Fight or Flight

Inside Beatrix's office, the air was heavy with tension as Peter confronted his aunt.

Peter (angry): "Explain yourself, Beatrix. You had no right to announce my betrothal without my consent!"

Beatrix (calmly): "Peter, I did what needed to be done. The estate requires stability, and Teresa is a suitable choice."

Peter (frustrated): "This isn't about the estate; it's about control! You're manipulating my life for your ambitions."

Beatrix (assertive): "I'm safeguarding the legacy of Wode as my brother ordered me before he died. You must fulfill your duty as the heir."

Peter (defiant): "I won't let you dictate my happiness. I won't marry Teresa."

Beatrix (coldly): "You're being selfish, Peter. Your actions have consequences for all of Wode."

Peter (determined): "I won't sacrifice my happiness for the sake of tradition. I'll find a way out of this."

Beatrix (calculated): "Peter, you can have your dalliance with John's daughter if you must, but when it comes to marriage, it must be a noble. You can keep your lover as a mistress, discreet and hidden, but not as your wife."

Peter (incensed): "You reduce our love to a mere affair? I won't accept such a compromise."

Beatrix (firm): "Consider it a concession, Peter. The responsibilities of Wode weigh heavier than personal desires."

Peter (resolute): "I won't play a part in this charade. Alice is not a mistress to be hidden away. We'll face the consequences together."

Their words hung heavy in the air, a testament to the irreconcilable clash between tradition and the rebellious spirit of love.

Peter (defiant): "Alice is the only thing that makes me strong, that gives me purpose in the chaos of war. I won't let you reduce her to a hidden secret. Our love is my strength, not a weakness to be concealed."

Beatrix (stoic): "You're jeopardizing the future of Wode with your sentiments."

Peter (resolute): "If the future of Wode means sacrificing the one I love, then it's a future I won't embrace."

Beatrix (coldly): "No noble has their own life, Peter. Love is a luxury, a sacrifice we make for the greater good. You, of all people, should understand that."

Peter (passionate): "Love is not a luxury, Aunt. It's the essence of life, the reason we fight for a future. I won't let you dictate who I love or how I live."

The tension in Beatrix's office hung thick as the conflicting ideologies clashed, neither willing to yield.

Beatrix: "You will do as I say, or you can leave this town right now without even your clothes. What you possess, from head to toe, belongs to Wode."

Peter, defiant, responded with firmness.

Peter: "I won't be shackled by your demands. If leaving means reclaiming my freedom, so be it."

As Peter stormed out of Beatrix's office, leaving his aunt seething, the moonlit night held the promise of a future fraught with uncertainty.