บท 22: Fleeting Comfort.

Leone froze, every muscle in his body stiffening. The kiss was soft but insistent, her lips trembling against his. He didn't push her away, but neither did he respond. His arms hung awkwardly at his sides as if he didn't know where to place them.

It wasn't that the kiss was unpleasant. It wasn't. Her warmth, her earnestness—it wasn't repelling. But it felt wrong. Not because of her, but because of what it represented. A step toward something he hadn't been ready to confront, hadn't even dared to imagine.

When Evelina finally pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, her breathing uneven. She looked at him with wide, searching eyes, as if trying to decipher his reaction.

Leone's voice, when it came, was hoarse, almost hesitant. "Evelina… what are you doing?"