Flight of Frost and Aurora

Chapter 51

Alastor knew precisely where Charlotte had gone—she had fled to her mother's grave, tears streaming down her face. It felt so unjust. Lute couldn't marry Alastor; she didn't love him. She would often shoot him disdainful glares and hurl cruel words his way. Yet, despite Lute's mistreatment of Alastor, her father and stepmother were determined to see them wed.

"Charlotte," Alastor said as he approached her at the grave.

Before turning to face him, she quickly wiped away her tears and forced a smile that felt more like a mask.

"Co... Congratulations," she stammered, unable to meet his gaze. "I'm sure you and Lute will be very happy together."

"Charlotte," he said gently, tilting her chin up so their eyes met. "You must know that I could never marry Lute."

"But my father has given you such a great honor—"

"Oh, forget that nonsense, my dear, and marry me," he said, his voice filled with earnestness.

"What?" Charlotte replied, her eyes wide with surprise.

"I love you, and you know it. Do you love me in return?"

"Of course I do," she confessed, her heart racing. "More than anything in the world."

"Then let's get married."

"But Papa would never allow it," she said, a hint of sadness creeping into her voice.

Alastor's expression softened, his gaze searching hers with an intensity that made her heart race. "Then let's run away together. I have security—I'm working on a house for us, and I promise I can take care of you."

Charlotte hesitated, torn between her yearning for freedom and her loyalty to her father. "But what about Papa? I can't just leave him behind."

"Charlotte," he urged, his voice low and filled with urgency. "Every day, your stepmother and stepsister treat you like a slave, while your father remains blind to the truth. You've endured this misery for far too long, and I can't bear to see you suffer any longer. You deserve happiness, and I want to give that to you."

"What if he needs me? What if something happens to him?"

Alastor leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin. "I promise we can find a way to make it work. You won't be abandoning him; you'll be choosing a life where you can finally be happy."

As she looked into his eyes, filled with passion and determination, Charlotte's resolve began to waver. "I... I want to believe you."

"Then trust me," he whispered, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Please, come with me."

"But—"

"Please, I love you so much. You're everything I've ever wanted."

Alastor leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that ignited a fire within her. She melted against him, realizing that her love for him surpassed everything else in the world.

"Yes. I will," she replied, her voice steady and sure.

He lifted her into his arms and carried her back to the barn, ascending to the loft. Charlie smiled, enveloped in the warmth of his embrace as he kissed her neck, whispering sweet promises of the life they could build together.

"We just need to wait until the house is finished. Then we can leave all of this behind," he said, his voice filled with hope.

"Let's sleep here tonight," she said softly. "I want to be beside you every night."

"I would love nothing more, but your father would shoot me dead if he ever caught us."

"I'll sneak out to the barn after he and my stepmother go to sleep, and I'll slip back in just before they wake. I always get up early anyway."