Raphael leaned back against the wall outside Damian’s room, his eyes fixed on Luna. For a moment, he didn’t say anything, just studied her face. She seemed tired, her eyes filled with worry, but there was something else-something calm and strong. He gave her a small smile.
“You’re… intriguing,” he said, his voice softer now. “There’s something about you. I don’t know what it is, but I can see why Aurora cared for you so much.”
Luna blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Sir?” she asked, unsure of how to respond.
Raphael shook his head, still smiling. “Tell me more,” he said. “About you. About Aurora. I want to know how she’s been there for you. How she’s made you the person you are today.”
Luna hesitated, her hands twisting nervously in front of her. “Aurora…” she began softly, her voice trailing off. She looked down, her thoughts swirling. “Aurora is the strongest person I’ve ever known,” she said finally. “Stronger than anyone I’ve ever met.”
Raphael’s smile grew slightly. “That’s a big thing to say,” he said, leaning forward a bit. “What makes you say that?”
Luna took a deep breath, her fingers gripping the hem of her apron. “Because… she never gave up,” she said. “Not once. Even when things were horrible, even when Master Damian treated her badly, she always stood up for herself. She always found a way to keep going.”
Raphael frowned slightly, his curiosity piqued. “Damian treated her badly?” he asked.
Luna nodded slowly. “Yes,” she said. “At first, when she came to the mansion… it was like he saw her as just another one of his possessions. He wasn’t kind to her. He was… cold, sometimes even cruel.”
She glanced up at Raphael, meeting his gaze. “But Aurora didn’t let that break her,” she continued. “She stood up to him. She challenged him, even when it wasn’t safe to do so. She made him see her not as an object, but as a person.”
Raphael tilted his head, intrigued. “Challenged him, huh?” he said. “That doesn’t sound easy, considering how stubborn my brother can be.”
“It wasn’t,” Luna said with a small smile. “But that’s just who Aurora is. She doesn’t back down. She doesn’t let anyone tell her who she’s supposed to be.”
Raphael crossed his arms, leaning against the wall again. “And what about you?” he asked. “How did Aurora help you? You said she was your backbone. What did she do for you that made her so important?”
Luna’s smile faded slightly, and she looked down at her hands. “She saved me,” she said quietly. “In more ways than one.”
Raphael’s expression softened. “Tell me,” he said gently.
Luna took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly as she began to speak. “When I was sold to Madam Elena’s brothel, I thought my life was over,” she said. “I was just a scared, lonely girl. I didn’t know how to survive in a place like that. Every day felt like a nightmare.”
She paused, her eyes distant as she remembered. “Then Aurora came,” she said. “She was so different from everyone else. She wasn’t scared like I was. She wasn’t broken. She had this… fire in her, this strength that made everyone notice her.”
Luna smiled faintly, her eyes shining with admiration. “She didn’t just survive,” she said. “She fought back, in her own way. She made it clear that she wouldn’t let anyone take her dignity away. And when she saw me struggling… she helped me too.”
Raphael nodded, encouraging her to continue.
“She taught me how to be strong,” Luna said. “How to keep my head up, even when things were hard. She stood up for me when others tried to hurt me. She protected me, like an older sister. Without her, I don’t think I would’ve made it.”
Raphael’s gaze softened. “That sounds like Aurora,” he said quietly. “She’s always been… different. Even Damian noticed it, didn’t he?”
“Yes,” Luna said firmly. “At first, I think Master Damian was angry because she wasn’t like the others. She didn’t bow to him or follow his orders without question. But over time…” She hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly.
“Over time, what?” Raphael pressed gently.
“I think he started to admire her,” Luna admitted. “Maybe even… care for her. He saw something in her that he didn’t see in anyone else.”
Raphael raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on his lips. “Care for her?” he repeated. “That’s putting it lightly. Damian doesn’t go this far for just anyone, you know.”
Luna nodded, her expression serious. “I think she changed him,” she said softly. “Even if he didn’t want to admit it, she made him a better person. He started to be… kinder. Not just to her, but to everyone in the mansion. Even me.”
Raphael chuckled lightly. “That’s impressive,” he said. “I didn’t think anyone could get through to Damian like that.”
“She did,” Luna said with a faint smile. “She made him see that people aren’t just things to be used and discarded. She made him realize that we’re all human, with feelings and dreams and… worth.”
Raphael nodded thoughtfully. “Aurora sounds like someone worth fighting for,” he said. “No wonder Damian’s been so out of sorts since she’s been gone.”
Luna’s smile faded, and she looked down at her hands. “I just want her to come back,” she said softly. “She’s been through so much, but she’s always been there for me. Now it’s my turn to be there for her.”
Raphael reached out, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “She’ll come back,” he said firmly. “And when she does, she’ll be proud of how strong you’ve become.”
Luna looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “That means a lot.”
Raphael smiled, his hand dropping back to his side. “No need to thank me,” he said. “You’ve already proven you’re strong, Luna. Aurora would be lucky to have someone like you by her side.”
Luna nodded, a small smile returning to her face. “I just hope I can make her proud,” she said softly.