Beguiling: A Frozen Heart

I don't think she's normal.

In the quiet of the gardens, Anaya sat under a tall willow, gently humming as as she groomed her tail. She hummed a gentle tune as her fingers worked through the silken strands, straightening each tuft with a practiced touch. She didn't groom herself often, much preferring when a specialist did but there was so much going on through the castle, she didn't feel like calling for one. And perhaps there was something satisfying about doing it herself—reassuring, even. A lady who could tend to her own tail could certainly tend to others. The thought left her with a small, secret smile as she smoothed her soft fur until it gleamed.

A flash of movement caught her eye. She looked up, narrowing her gaze as she caught sight of a figure a short distance away, cloaked in dark cloth and standing motionless. Sephtis. She had heard. Unfortunately, this brother was vying for her attention. He gazed up at one of the castle windows, his stance that of a statue–unmoving, unreadable, barely even breathing.

Curiosity stirred within her, and she rose to her feet, her tail trailing softly behind as she approached. She circled him, silent as a shadow, watching him from different angles, but he didn't seem to notice her at all. His gaze was fixed on the window, a deep intensity in the way he held himself, as if drawn there by something only he could see.

"What are you looking at?" she asked softly, breaking the silence. But Sephtis remained as he was, distant and silent, caught somewhere far beyond the garden.

"The quiet type, huh? I saw you dancing with my brother. He looked happy." Anaya had no way of telling, the man's mask completely covered his face but it almost felt like he was looking at her. Like her words caught his attention, like a predator stalking a deer. He said nothing, just...so...still.

"My brother doesn't believe in marriage, he says it's distracting. When you have someone you love, makes you weak. It's kind of ironic though, he'd give his life for me. I saw you two dancing, he looked quite happy. Do you enjoy dancing?"

Anaya's eyes sparkled with interest as she continued to study him, her curiosity getting the better of her, undeterred by his silence. She took a step closer, tilting her head as she spoke, her voice was soft but probing.

"He's always so serious, doesn't let anyone get too close. But it was strange–seeing him letting his guard down with you, dancing with you," she giggled lightly, her tail swaying behind her in soft, mesmerizing waves, "I wonder, do you ever let your guard down?"

No response. He stood as still as before, not even a shift in posture to acknowledge her words. Yet his presence felt so heavy, so intense, she felt like she was drowning in it. Swimming through thick, cloudy, and dense water. She lifted her hand, letting her fingers drift close to the heavy, dark fabric of his coat. Gently, she brushed her fingertips over its rough texture, her gaze never leaving his face. The fabric was cold to the touch, feeling different than it's appearance. Her hand lingered, searching for some sign of warmth but there was none.

Anaya leaned closer, her tail fanning around her feet as hers ears laid flat against her heard, her eyes lifting prettily to look up at him. "No words, not even one?" she asked, her voice just above a whisper.

For a moment, she thought she saw a flicker—just the faintest shift, like a ripple in still water—but it was gone as quickly as it came. Sephtis's gaze returned to the window above, his silence impenetrable.

Anaya sighed, pulling her hand away as she straightened, still watching him closely. "Well, I won't give up so easily. You're far too interesting to ignore." She took a step back, her gaze lingering on him, as though hoping he'd give something away, even the tiniest response.

"Since you won't respond, I'll just talk. You won't walk away, will you?"

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