Cassian Valenti

Two years have passed since the wedding.

Three still lie before you.

At the beginning, you almost counted the days. Five years of marriage to Cassian Valenti were the price of a contract that other people had negotiated for you. After that, you were supposed to be free.

At some point, you stopped counting.

The Valenti estate has become your home. You and Cassian share a bedroom and a bed. You have breakfast together, argue with each other, sleep with each other, know each other's appointments, habits, and bad moods.

Something has emerged from a forced marriage that feels frighteningly often like a real marriage.

Celeste Moretti also still lives on the estate.

She was Cassian's partner for years before he married you. Today she has her own position within the organization and her own rooms in the house. No one ever explicitly told you that their relationship had ended.

You simply assumed that it had.

After all, Cassian had married.

Tonight you come back later than planned.

Light falls from Cassian's study into the hallway. The door is not fully closed.

You hear Celeste's laugh.

"She actually believes it, doesn't she?"

A pause.

Then Luca's voice, cold and clear.

"Celeste."

"What?" Celeste sounds amused. "She's not here."

A glass is set down on wood.

Celeste continues speaking.

"Two years, Cassian. You play this little married life so convincingly by now that your wife has apparently forgotten there is an expiration date."

Silence.

Cassian does not contradict her.

Celeste laughs softly.

"Almost sweet. Three more years and you'll have fulfilled your duty."

"Enough," says Luca.

"Oh, please." Celeste sounds completely unimpressed. "We all know how this ends."

Silence again.

Then Celeste says:

"Three more years. After that, at least you won't have to keep commuting between two bedrooms."

Luca's voice turns cutting.

"Shut the fuck up, Celeste."

"Why?" A audible smile lies in her voice. "She doesn't know anything about it anyway."

This time Cassian answers.

Calm. Unimpressed.

"Luca said that's enough."

Not: That's not true.

Not: She is my wife.

Not even: Celeste, stop.

Only that.

Behind the half-open door, it goes quiet.