Chapter 73 Aria

• As Alexander guides me through the expansive corridor toward the castle’s exit, I feel the nervousness and anxiety swelling within me once again, like threatening waves. With each step I take, the shoes—though stunning—remind me of how uncomfortable they can be. The slender heels feel taller with every hesitant step, as if the ground itself is conspiring against me. I’m not accustomed to such elevated and delicate heels, and more than once I feel my ankle falter, nearly twisting. But Alexander, ever attentive, gently tightens his grip on my arm, keeping me steady—a true anchor by my side.
• “Sorry… I wasn’t made for this,” I say, laughing nervously. “I’m way too clumsy for heels,” I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. Alexander, with that faint smile of his that completely disarms me, lets out a soft chuckle, almost like a conspiratorial whisper.
• “You’re perfect, Aria. Don’t worry about that,” he murmurs, his voice melting the space around us, making everything feel a little more bearable. “I’m here with you, and if you want, you can take those shoes off and walk barefoot,” he whispers at my ear, his voice laden with a tenderness that sends shivers down my spine. “I wouldn’t mind.”