The man’s innocent face reminded Gilbert of the night, 6 years ago, that had failed to impress his young mind. It was the night he had fallen in love with a woman.

The stars had shone brightly as the moon illuminated the love within Gilbert’s young mind. She was as beautiful as the sunset of the eastern Umea beach.

It was at a party held by Countess Saunder after her daughter had been appointed as the new heir of the house. Gilbert had been invited in place of his father, Marquis Arscott.

It had been the first time he had been invited officially to a party held by another noble after his debutant. He had been desperate to leave the dance floor that was stained with nothing but greed and filth, it was too much for a 14-year-old boy to handle. Through the curtains he ran, through the harsh wind he flew, till he could no longer feel the overwhelming tensions between the shades of grey. He crawled his way out to the balcony.

The night was young and so was his heart. As the wind swiftly blew away the scent of horror, there, along the balcony was a woman; she was as beautiful as the lake swans; eyes glowing in the dark with long black hair flowing in the dark, midnight sky.

She was a Helleborus, her black flowery hair surrounding the fair skin that shone brightly within the darkness, so beautiful but forbidden to touch.

He wandered his way towards her. As he became closer and closer, her expression became clearer, her cherry lips and coin like golden eyes, looking up at the starry night sky. It was then when he had realised, it was Lilian, the main character of the party.

He had heard rumours of her beauty within the youth. They said that she was as sharp as a shark, but her beauty was as wonderful as Aphrodite. He’d thought that they were all lies but now having seen her beauty in real life the descriptions underrated her.

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As his legs crept closer to her, Lilian felt Gilbert’s heavy breath that blew towards her. Her black hair shone by the moonlight as she turned round. “Who are you?” she asked with a beautiful angelic voice. Gilbert’s heart skipped a beat, he could not take his eyes off of the ring of gold within her eyes. She looked as if she had descended from heaven.

“Gilbert…” he mumbled. Lilian looked up and down at this man who seemed to have become a chicken. She smirked.

“Sir Gilbert, is that you?” she reached out her hand towards him, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, I am Lilian Saunder’s from the Saunder house.”

Gilbert’s ears tingled as a very innocent face beamed across his face. He embarrassingly grabbed her hand.

“Could you take me on a walk nice sir”.

Gilbert’s eyes sparkled as his wish had come true. They slowly made their way out to the front of the Saunder mansion.

The daisies shone the pathway brightly through the garden as they roamed passed the rose garden. They were as cold as ice from the harsh winter wind but looked as warm as the sun.

Lilian bent down to smell the scents of the bundle of roses with barely any scent left. The way her hair blew in the wind, how her lips matched the crimson red petals of the rose made Gilbert wonder more and more about her; what she wanted, who she liked and why she wanted to talk to him.

Silence ate the night as nothing, but the sound of their heartbeats could be heard.

“…Young Lord Arscott?”

“Please, just Gilbert.”

“Then… Gilbert…How has Marquis Arscott been since the last party?”

Gilbert felt a little awkward about the subject matter but answer her politely, “He had never been better thanks to Count Saunders, and congratulations on becoming the heir, Lady Saunders.”

“Call me Lilian. Since it’s come to this, why don’t we become friends.” She once again held out her hand. Gilbert stood still, wondering if it’d be the right decision to accept her request. He looked up at her. Her pale white skin glowed as her teeth dazzled in the starlight.

Lilian could see the hesitation in his shaking eyes but found it funny and decided to go along with it.

“Are you scared to be friends with a woman, Gilbert?”

Gilbert flushed as he aggressively grabbed her hand, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Lilian.”

Lilian laughed as she found it hilarious. Gilbert also started cracking up and the long silence within the garden broke.

That was the first time Gilbert had found someone so delicate and brave but also lovely and wanted to be loved by them.