Klaus adjusted the collar of his suit with a quiet sigh, running his fingers through his hair. It had grown again, longer than he remembered. Not that it mattered—his appearance, like most things in his life now, bent easily to his will. Long or short, his hair was just one more detail in the shifting canvas of his identity.
Still, he chuckled softly to himself. The little things helped him feel grounded.
The garden's quiet hum welcomed him as he stepped beneath the arch of flowering vines. Diego had already gone back to the mansion—probably raiding the liquor stash and getting halfway through his third beer by now. He'd definitely get an earful from Noah later.
Klaus could already hear it:
"Stop ruining our family's reputation and act with some dignity, you barbaric moron."
He smirked. Yeah… definitely something like that.
But his attention soon shifted. Cassie. She was late, and the waiting was beginning to stir an unfamiliar impatience in him. Not annoyance—no, something softer, something oddly warm.
With a thought, his pupils narrowed slightly, and his divine eyes activated. Vision sharpened, awareness expanded, and within seconds, he found her—by the pond, where the yellow roses bloomed brightest under the summer moonlight. It was a quiet, radiant corner of the garden, untouched by the buzz of the ballroom.
And for a moment, Klaus forgot to breathe.
She was there. Still. Serene. Like a vision stitched from moonlight and dreams.
The gown he had chosen for her—well, technically Tatiana chose it; he merely grumbled through the selection process—hugged her perfectly. It was a masterpiece of elegance and whimsy: flowing layers of soft purples, pale greens, and cream. The bodice held a sweetheart neckline adorned with floral appliqués that shimmered subtly in the light. The high-low hemline revealed graceful steps with every motion, while the long train whispered across the grass.
Her sleeves—long, sheer, and ruffled—danced in the breeze like wings.
But it was the details that arrested him.
Gold and sapphire jewelry encircled her wrists and fingers, each piece as intricate as a spell. One ring—shaped like a delicate pale-blue butterfly—rested on her finger like it had always belonged there. Her hair, tied in a high ponytail, framed her face with an effortless grace that made her look almost otherworldly. Like a storybook character who had stepped out of the page and into the world to grace mortals with her presence.
She looked like the first bloom of spring after a long, brutal winter.
Klaus, despite himself, stood frozen for a moment. Not from shock—he was far too composed for that—but from awe. His eyes, usually sharp with irony and laced with mockery, now softened. And the cruel curl of his lips was gone, replaced by something rare, something warm.
Admiration. And perhaps... just a little wonder.
He didn't blush. He didn't falter or trip over his own thoughts. He was still Klaus, after all. But his gaze never left her, absorbing every detail, memorizing the way the moonlight kissed her cheekbones, how her eyes reflected the rippling surface of the pond.
There was no sarcasm in his smile tonight. Only quiet awe.
And for once, in the middle of all the chaos and power plays and shadows they both lived with, Klaus felt something pure.
Like this—just watching her under starlight—was something sacred.
He lingered in the shadows of the garden for a few more moments, uncertain of how to approach. The sight of Cassie bathed in moonlight had stolen away much of his usual confidence—not that he'd ever admit that out loud.
With a quiet sigh, he vanished, reappearing silently just behind her.
Cassie's lips curved into a smirk.
Even without eyes, she saw him.
Her fingers moved swiftly, and just as Klaus leaned in, intending to kiss her cheek—or perhaps sneak a peck on her lips—her hand slid up, catching him mid-motion.
His lips met her palm instead.
She turned her head slightly, a victorious smirk playing on her lips.
"Hmmm?" she purred with an exaggerated pout. "Is something wrong, my dear stalker?"
Klaus blinked at her hand in front of his face, then exhaled a long, theatrical sigh. His hands lifted in surrender.
"Don't mind me. Just a poor man trying to show affection."
Cassie raised a curious brow, her expression teasing, cheeky. "You did make me wait," she said with mock sadness. "Poor, blind girl... standing all alone in a dark garden. Anything could've happened."
She clasped the folds of her dress nervously, her voice soft and trembling like a frightened puppy. Her eyes fluttered aimlessly, selling the drama beautifully.
Klaus stared at her, unimpressed.
Cas..., he thought, you made me wait. And what do you mean 'poor and blind'? You've got clairvoyance, precognition, ocular hijacking—you just lack your own damn eyeballs! Don't 'helpless maiden' me, woman.
Still, he didn't rise to the bait.
"Distance," he said coolly, "only deepens longing. And longing—" he gave a slow smile "—makes beauty even more divine."
Cassie snorted, unable to keep a straight face. "Then maybe I should vanish for a few months. You'll be delirious by the time I get back."
Klaus shot back smoothly, not missing a beat. "No need. You're already beautiful enough."
That caught her off guard. Her smirk faltered. Her cheeks warmed, and she didn't have a clever retort this time.
But before she could recover, she yelped—suddenly pulled forward into his arms.
"Hey—!" she huffed, cheeks pink with flustered indignation.
He just smiled, thoroughly enjoying the moment. Her hair smelled like honey and wildflowers. The warmth of her body in his arms, the subtle flutter of her breath—it was almost too easy to get drunk on it.
Cassie fumbled to fix her gown, her cheeks flaring red, and tried wriggling away with gritted teeth. But the bastard had no intention of letting go.
"Uhmm… Nik?" she asked, adjusting her dress and trying—unsuccessfully—to free herself. "Why do I feel like there's some kind of force pulling me toward you?"
Klaus tilted his head, the picture of faux innocence. "That, my dear, is called love."
Cassie's lips parted, but her response was laced with playful irritation. "Hmm. I'm pretty sure it was gravitational pull. You've got the mass of ten suns when it comes to ego."
He shrugged, playing absentmindedly with a lock of her hair. "You're imagining things. You might be tired. Maybe you should lie down. I know just the place."
She tilted her head suspiciously, fingers clutching the lapel of his coat. "And let me guess... your room?"
Klaus placed a hand to his chest in mock offense. "Well, the PTV or the kitchen work too. I'm a man of culture and flexibility."
Her eyes widened. "You have problems."
Cassie let out an exasperated groan, nearly facepalming. "Last time you parked your beloved Lightning McQueen in front of a kindergarten! Do you want us to end up on some government watchlist?! You have the worst timing, Nik!"
"Hmmm? Accusations?" Klaus replied. "I'm an enthusiast of unconventional vibes. Don't judge me."
"I am judging you!" she hissed, tugging him by the coat. "Let's go, Mr. IQ twenty-one."
Klaus blinked. "Hey, that's my insult! You can't just copyright my material."
"Oh, I can—and I have," she said smugly, tugging him along. "Welcome to the new world, Rizz1er."
He followed with a grin, watching the way the moonlight played on her dress. If this was what waiting felt like—he didn't mind waiting at all.
And as they strolled through the blooming garden, laughter and teasing trailing behind them, the night felt just a little softer, a little lighter. Like something worth remembering.
***
I know it's a short chapter, but I might not be able to write much in the next few days, so I wanted to share what I could! After some… questionable comedy, we're moving into a bit of romance now. Just a couple more chapters and this little arc will wrap up.
Thanks so much for all your support—hope you enjoy!
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