Lady Dimitrescu x female reader

51 - Love is in the air

I had been sleeping peacefully, the kind of deep, dreamless sleep that only comes after a day spent in good company and shared laughter. But that peace was gently interrupted by the softest nudge against my shoulder. At first, I dismissed it as part of my dream, but then I felt it again, more insistent. When I opened my eyes, I was met with the sight of Bela standing by my bedside, her expression uncharacteristically uncertain.

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, biting her lip, a rare look of sheepishness crossing her face as she met my gaze. Bela was usually composed, confident, and in control. Seeing her like this, unsure and hesitant, immediately shook the last remnants of sleep from my mind. I sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes, trying to clear the fog of slumber.

"Bela?"

I murmured, my voice still thick with sleep. Without asking why she was there, I patted the spot beside me on the bed, inviting her to sit. She hesitated, her gaze flickering to the empty space and back to me, as if weighing her decision. Finally, with a small nod, she sat down beside me, though her posture was stiff and awkward, her hands resting tensely in her lap.

It was strange to see her like this. Bela, the most self-assured of the three sisters, now seemed so vulnerable. The silence between us stretched, punctuated only by the faint rustling of the bedcovers as she adjusted her position. I didn't press her for answers, knowing instinctively that whatever had brought her to my bedside in the middle of the night wasn't easy for her to say. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Bela let out a small sigh. Her shoulders slumped slightly, and when she turned to face me, the uncertainty in her eyes was clear.

"I don't know what to do,"

she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. I furrowed my brow, leaning in slightly.

"What do you mean?"

Bela's gaze dropped to her hands, her fingers twisting together as she spoke.

"To earn your forgiveness,"

she said, her voice heavy with guilt.

"I don't know what to do. I've tried to apologize, I've tried to make things right, but... I don't think I deserve it."

I could feel the weight of it, the burden she had been carrying. Bela had always been the one to maintain control, the one who kept her emotions hidden behind a calm exterior, but here she was, exposing her vulnerability, admitting that she didn't know how to navigate the pain she had caused. It was a side of her I had rarely, if ever, seen. I sat quietly for a moment, allowing her words to settle.

"Bela,"

I began softly, my voice gentle,

"You don't have to earn forgiveness."

Her head snapped up, her eyes meeting mine in surprise.

"But I hurt you,"

she said, her voice trembling.

"I—I was awful to you. All of us were. I can't just expect you to forgive me without... without making up for it."

I sighed, shifting so I was fully facing her.

"I'm not saying it didn't hurt,"

I admitted,

"But you've been trying, Bela. Forgiveness isn't something you have to prove yourself worthy of."

Bela's expression softened, though the doubt still lingered in her eyes.

"But how can you say that... after everything?"

she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't even know how to forgive myself."

I reached out, placing my hand gently over hers.