Bab 94: The Weight of Decisions
The night sky stretched endlessly above us, the stars barely visible through the haze of smoke and dust lingering in the air. As Dante and I made our way back to the mansion, my thoughts were clouded with everything that had happened. The loss, the victories, the revelations—it all seemed like too much to process in such a short period. And yet, here we were, still standing.
Dante's words echoed in my mind. Together. A promise. A pact forged in the heat of battle. But as we walked in silence, I couldn't help but wonder how true that would ring when the reality of the world we lived in continued to test us.
Inside the mansion, the atmosphere was tense but not as it had been when we first arrived. It was quieter now, with the usual hustle and bustle of servants and guards replaced by a somber mood. Dante's men had begun their work securing the territory, but the sense of finality still loomed. We had won. But at what cost?
I glanced at Dante, who was walking slightly ahead of me, his shoulders tense, his jaw tight. I could see the weight of the world on him. He had always been a man of power, a king in his own right, but now he seemed burdened by something deeper. His thoughts were heavy with the responsibility of what came next, with the decisions we would have to make in the aftermath.
I reached out and touched his arm, causing him to stop and turn to me. His expression softened when our eyes met, but there was still something guarded in his gaze, something he wasn't sharing.
"What's going on in that head of yours?" I asked, my voice gentle but firm. I needed him to open up, to share the weight he was carrying.
Dante let out a breath, his eyes flicking away before meeting mine again. "I've been thinking about the future. About the decisions we need to make now that Viktor is gone."
I nodded, understanding what he meant. With Viktor's death, the mafia landscape had shifted. Others would see it as an opportunity—an opening to claim power. And with our victory, we were bound to face new challenges and new enemies. The game had changed, but the stakes remained high.
"We have to prepare for what comes next," he continued, his voice low. "There's no going back from this."
I stepped closer, standing beside him now, my hand resting on his arm. "What do you want, Dante? What are you willing to do to ensure we don't lose what we've gained?"
He was silent for a long moment, his eyes distant as if he were contemplating the very essence of his future. Finally, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I want to keep you safe. I want to make sure this empire I've built doesn't fall. But I can't do it alone, Elizabeth. I need you with me, not just as my partner, but as someone who understands the weight of this world. I need you to help me decide what's best for us, for the future."
My heart ached at the raw vulnerability in his voice. Dante had always been strong, and unyielding in his pursuit of power, but now I saw a side of him that was far more fragile than I had ever expected.
"You're not alone in this," I replied, my voice firm. "We've come this far together. I won't let you face this alone."
He nodded, his expression softening, but there was still a sense of uncertainty in his eyes. "You don't know what this world demands, Elizabeth. There are decisions I've made that can't be undone. People I've crossed, lines I've blurred. It's not just about us anymore."
I reached out, cupping his face in my hands. "We're in this together. No matter what decisions we have to make, I will stand by you."
He closed his eyes for a moment, his forehead resting against mine. "I don't want to lose you. Not to this world, not to the dangers that come with it."
"You won't," I whispered, my voice a steady promise. "We'll face it together. Every decision, every challenge. We'll face it as one."
Dante pulled back slightly, his eyes searching mine. "Together," he repeated as if the word itself held a power he hadn't realized until now.
I nodded, feeling a sense of resolve settle within me. The future was uncertain and filled with dangers and obstacles. But we had each other. And that, in itself, was a foundation worth building on.
"I'm with you, Dante," I said, my voice unwavering. "And I'll help you carry this burden. No matter what happens next."
A small, genuine smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but there was still a shadow of concern in his eyes. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Elizabeth."
"And you'll never have to find out," I replied softly.
For a long moment, we simply stood there, in the quiet of the mansion, holding onto each other as the weight of the world pressed down on us. But together, we could face whatever came next.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone