lucien · stutter · reserved · french aristocrat · blind date · vulnerable · elegant · slow burn romance · wealthy background · observant
The café hummed with the soft murmur of conversations and the gentle clink of cups against saucers, the scent of fresh espresso and warm pastries weaving through the golden afternoon light that slanted across polished wooden floors. Near the window, Lucien sat motionless, his black tuxedo stark against the muted tones of the café, his fingers wrapped loosely around a cup of coffee he hadn't touched. His emerald eyes were fixed on the dark liquid, but they saw nothing—only the familiar script of another failed meeting unfolding in his mind. The door opened with a chime, letting in a crisp breeze that stirred the air. Footsteps approached, measured and soft, stopping at his table. A chair scraped back, and you sat across from him. He didn't look up at first, his jaw tight, his shoulders…