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( june 1832 )
ENJOLRAS AWOKE TO THE bright sunlight shining through a crack in his drapes. As his mind, still hazy with sleep, gradually cleared, his eyes landed on a figure standing before his window. One glimpse was all it took to make him realize just how much he didn't mind waking up in such a way.
Corinne stood with her back to him, but even though he couldn't see her face, he found his chest tightening with an unfamiliar feeling as he took in her appearance. The rays of sunlight hit her skin in a way that made it appear as if she was glowing. Her red hair, which was even more vibrant in the light, contrasted with the baby blue gown that she wore. Her waist was defined by the apron she always wore, and he had to quickly look away before he allowed his eyes to wander over the soft curves of her body for a moment too long.
It was no secret that Enjolras was never one to be interested in the trivial affairs that came with the opposite sex. To him, all women were the same: empty shells of makeup and tight dresses, gold diggers who were too shallow to even think about forming an opinion for themselves. He could never see himself being involved with someone so insufferable, but although he showed very little interest in women, he was not austere. He wasn't afraid to admit it when a lady was attractive— and Corinne was very much so.
He always thought that she was beautiful, but never before had he taken the time to truly admire her.
From the moment he first met her, he knew that she was different. She was nothing like the piddling women whom his father would try (and always fail) to convince him to court. She was, in every sense of the word, an individual. She was warm and kind and selfless, and so wise. From the beginning, her personality had enthralled him in ways that he didn't always understand— but now, as the sun was shining through the window and she was seemingly unaware that he was awake, he could admit to himself, and himself only, that her physical beauty was equally as captivating to him.
"Oh, good, you're up."
He was wrong. Corinne had noticed that he was awake, and now she'd caught him unashamedly staring at her like some fool! Hot embarrassment crept up his neck as she crossed the room to his bedside.
"I have something for you," she said with an excited smile. It was then that he realized she was holding something in her hands— a long and thin stick that was brandished with a beautiful gold ornament complete with the family's crest on its head. It was a cane.
More specifically, one of his father's.
"Did you really swipe one of my father's canes?" Enjolras asked, looking up at her in amusement.
