The evening air was cool and peaceful, the garden lit by soft lanterns that cast a warm glow over the neatly trimmed bushes and colorful flowers. Luna followed Raphael as he walked ahead, his hands in his pockets. She felt nervous, unsure of why he had asked her to come with him.
“Is something wrong, sir?” Luna asked softly, her voice breaking the quiet.
Raphael glanced back at her and smiled, shaking his head. “No, nothing is wrong,” he said. “I just thought we could talk. It’s nice out here, don’t you think?”
Luna nodded, though she still felt a little uneasy. “Yes, it’s very beautiful,” she said, looking around at the garden.
They walked in silence for a while, the sound of their footsteps on the stone path the only noise. Luna couldn’t help but feel nervous. Raphael had been acting differently lately, and it confused her.
Finally, Raphael stopped near a bench under a large tree. He gestured for her to sit down. “Let’s rest here for a bit,” he said.
Luna hesitated but nodded, sitting down carefully. She kept her hands folded in her lap, her eyes glancing at him nervously.
Raphael leaned back, looking up at the sky. “Luna,” he said after a moment, his voice soft.
“Yes, sir?” she replied.
He turned to look at her, his expression serious. “If I gave you your freedom,” he said, “what would you do?”
Luna froze, her eyes widening in shock. “My freedom?” she repeated, her voice trembling.
Raphael nodded. “Yes,” he said. “If I told you that you could leave here, no strings attached, what would you do with your life?”
Luna stared at him, her heart pounding. For a moment, she couldn’t speak. Then, excitement lit up her face. “I would work hard,” she said quickly, her voice filled with emotion. “I would save money and go back to school. I’ve always dreamed of starting over, of becoming something more.”
Raphael smiled slightly. “What would you study?” he asked, genuinely curious.
Luna’s eyes lit up, her excitement growing. “Medicine,” she said eagerly. “I’ve always wanted to be a doctor. I used to dream about it when I was younger, but… well, that dream was taken away from me.”
She looked down at her hands, her voice softening. “When I was sold, I thought my life was over. But Aurora… she gave me hope. She always told me that one day, I could still chase my dreams.”
Raphael watched her closely, impressed by the passion in her voice. “Medicine is a big dream,” he said. “It’s not easy.”
“I know,” Luna said quickly. “But I don’t care. I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll study day and night. I’ll work as hard as I can. I just… I want to make something of my life. I don’t want to be a slave forever.”
Her words hung in the air, filled with determination and hope. Raphael couldn’t help but admire her strength.
“You’re a strong woman, Luna,” he said quietly. “Stronger than most people I know.”
Luna blushed, lowering her gaze. “Thank you, sir,” she said softly.
They sat in silence for a moment, the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves filling the quiet. Then, Raphael broke the silence with a question that took Luna completely off guard.
“Are you a virgin?” he asked suddenly, his voice calm but direct.
Luna’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with shock. “W-what?” she stammered, her cheeks turning red.
“You heard me,” Raphael said, his expression unreadable. “Are you a virgin?”
Luna opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Her heart was racing, her mind struggling to process the question.
“I… I don’t understand why you’re asking,” she said finally, her voice shaky.
Raphael leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on hers. “I’m just curious,” he said simply.
Luna swallowed hard, her hands gripping the fabric of her dress. “I… yes,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I am.”
Raphael nodded, leaning back again. “I see,” he said, his tone thoughtful.
Luna looked down at her hands, her cheeks still burning. She didn’t understand why he had asked such a personal question, and it made her feel even more nervous around him.
“Why did you want to know?” she asked hesitantly.
Raphael shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “No reason,” he said. “I was just curious.”
Luna frowned, her confusion growing. She didn’t know what to make of his behavior, but she decided not to push the matter further.
“Is that all you wanted to ask me, sir?” she said softly, trying to keep her voice steady.
Raphael glanced at her, his smile fading slightly. “For now,” he said. “Let’s go back inside.”
Luna nodded, standing up quickly. As they walked back toward the house, she couldn’t help but wonder about Raphael’s intentions. His interest in her was becoming harder to ignore, and it left her feeling both nervous and confused.
“Why does he care so much about me?” she thought to herself. “What does he really want?”
But she kept her thoughts to herself, following Raphael in silence as they made their way back to the mansion.