The sprawling, freezing penthouse office of Stahlberg Industries felt incredibly empty tonight. It was a massive, terrifying monument to absolute corporate power, constructed entirely of dark glass and polished black obsidian, hovering high above the glittering capital city of Hohenwald.

  Sitting alone in the suffocating silence of the room, Klaus von Stahlberg stared out at the sprawling metropolis he practically owned. His sharp, aristocratic face was completely devoid of any human warmth, but his cold eyes burned with a dark, deeply obsessive frustration.

  His previous, highly calculated plans to violently drag his rebellious son back into the corporate fold had completely failed. Erwin had not only survived the brutal legal traps Klaus had subtly orchestrated, but he had thrived, completely humiliating a massive energy conglomerate in a federal courtroom.

  The stinging, bitter reality of his current existence gnawed at the edges of Klaus's ruthless mind. His beautiful wife had completely abandoned him years ago, entirely unable to stomach the sheer, unadulterated cruelty and the rivers of dark money that built his empire.

  Now, Klaus sat entirely alone on his corporate throne, reigning over a multi-billion derhom conglomerate with absolutely no one to share the terrifying altitude. He had built this massive, world-spanning company for his bloodline, and the thought of his only son turning into his greatest, most lethal enemy was completely unacceptable.

  Klaus slowly clenched his hand into a tight, trembling fist, resting it heavily against the freezing glass of the window. He possessed more wealth, more political influence, and more raw, destructive power than anyone else in the entire country.

  He made a cold, terrifying, and absolute vow to the empty room. He was going to utilize every single dirty resource, every corrupt politician, and every ruthless mercenary on his payroll to completely shatter the pathetic, idealistic little world Erwin was trying to build.

  If Erwin refused to willingly take his rightful place as the heir to the Stahlberg empire, Klaus would systematically destroy the people his son loved the most until the boy was forced to crawl back on his knees. Erwin was going to inherit this throne, whether he wanted it or not.

  Meanwhile, far below the dark, freezing towers of the corporate elite, the Hohenwald central train station was exploding with a vibrant, chaotic, and incredibly joyful energy.

  The highly anticipated semester break had finally arrived, releasing thousands of exhausted university students from their academic prisons. The massive, beautifully vaulted transit hub was completely packed with young people dragging heavy suitcases, laughing loudly with their friends, and desperately rushing to catch their trains back to their respective hometowns.

  Standing rigidly outside the busy women's restroom, looking entirely out of place amidst the chaotic, joyful holiday crowds, was Erwin.

  He was wearing a dark, comfortable wool coat over a simple sweater, looking incredibly handsome but terrifyingly alert. Two large, heavy canvas travel bags rested near his expensive leather boots. He had his arms crossed tightly over his broad chest, acting more like a highly trained, lethal bodyguard than a university student going on a romantic mountain vacation.

  Erwin slowly lifted his left wrist, his sharp, calculating eyes glancing at his expensive silver watch. The glowing dial clearly read nine fifty in the evening. Their luxury express train to the snowy mountains of Altkanz was scheduled to arrive at the platform in just a few short minutes.

  He immediately dropped his arm and resumed his intense, unbroken surveillance of the bustling station concourse. His dark eyes darted smoothly from face to face, meticulously analyzing the body language of every single person who walked within a fifty-foot radius of the restroom doors.

  He was actively hunting for hidden threats. He knew his father's terrifying corporate intelligence network was vast and deeply embedded in the city. Erwin was desperately trying to ensure that absolutely no corporate spies, private investigators, or hired thugs were monitoring his movements with Aoi.

  Suddenly, the wooden door of the restroom swung open. Aoi stepped out into the bright station lights, looking absolutely breathtaking.

  She had just finished washing her face and freshening up her light makeup for the long, overnight train journey. She was wearing a thick, incredibly soft cream-colored sweater and a warm scarf, her dark, silky hair falling perfectly over her delicate shoulders.

  Seeing her suddenly appear in his peripheral vision, Erwin physically jumped, his tense muscles immediately coiling for a fight before his brain registered that it was just his girlfriend.

  Aoi completely froze, her dark eyes widening in genuine surprise at his highly aggressive, defensive flinch. A second later, a beautiful, musical laugh burst from her lips, entirely melting the heavy, paranoid tension radiating from his body.

  "I was just using the restroom to wash my face, Erwin," Aoi giggled, stepping closer and playfully tapping her small hand against his solid chest. "I promise I was not back there quietly preparing a tactical assault against you."

  Erwin let out a long, heavy breath, his rigid posture finally relaxing as the intoxicating, comforting scent of her vanilla perfume reached his senses. He offered her a slightly embarrassed, highly apologetic smile.

  "I am sorry," Erwin murmured softly, his large hands gently coming up to rest on her waist. "I was just meticulously scanning the crowds and paying close attention to our surroundings. I wanted to make absolutely sure that no one from my father's corporate security division was quietly following us to the train."

  Aoi's smile softened into a look of profound, deeply empathetic understanding. She slowly turned her head, her dark eyes casually scanning the chaotic, noisy sea of travelers rushing through the massive station hall.

  "I think we are perfectly safe tonight, my love," Aoi reassured him gently, completely assessing the innocent nature of the crowd. "There are absolutely no corporate spies out here. It is just thousands of exhausted, highly stressed university students desperately trying to go home for the holidays, exactly like us."

  Erwin looked down at her beautiful, relaxed face, entirely captivated by the warmth and gentle light shining in her dark eyes. The lingering, toxic paranoia of his father's dark world simply washed away, replaced by an overwhelming, completely consuming surge of pure affection.

  Without a single word of warning, Erwin slowly raised his right hand. He gently reached out and softly stroked the side of her head, his long fingers carefully tucking a loose, silky strand of her dark hair behind her left ear.

  The sudden, incredibly intimate, and highly romantic gesture in the middle of a crowded train station made Aoi's breath catch in her throat. A deep, beautiful blush instantly rushed to her cheeks, completely warming her face as she looked up at him in pure, bashful surprise.

  "What are you doing?" Aoi asked softly, a shy, nervous little laugh escaping her lips as she leaned into his gentle touch.

  Erwin kept his hand resting softly against her cheek, his handsome face completely serious, absolutely devoid of any humor or deception.

  "There was a massive, incredibly disgusting cockroach crawling right there in your hair," Erwin stated, his deep voice perfectly flat and deadpan.

  Aoi let out a loud, highly undignified shriek of pure, unadulterated panic. She violently swatted at her own head, taking several rapid steps backward, her dark eyes wide with absolute horror as she desperately searched the floor for the imaginary insect.

  Erwin completely broke character. A loud, deep, and incredibly genuine laugh burst entirely out of his chest, echoing warmly across the tiled floor of the station. He threw his head back, thoroughly enjoying the absolute success of his terrible, spontaneous prank.

  Realizing that she had been completely and utterly fooled by his deadpan legal acting skills, Aoi's panic instantly transformed into a deep, highly embarrassed pout.

  "You are absolutely terrible!" Aoi grumbled loudly, stepping right back into his personal space and playfully slapping his arm.

  She immediately threw her arms around his waist, burying her flushed face deep into the warm fabric of his dark coat, seeking comfort from her own embarrassment. "I absolutely hate it when you bring up the cockroach issue. You know how much those things terrify me."

  Erwin wrapped his arms tightly around her shoulders, holding her close as his deep laughter slowly subsided into a warm, highly amused chuckle.

  "I am incredibly sorry, darling," Erwin apologized smoothly, though he didn't sound sorry in the slightest. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her dark hair. "But you have to admit, from a purely objective standpoint, your reaction was absolutely hilarious."

  "It was not funny at all," Aoi mumbled against his chest, lightly punching his ribs again, though she made absolutely no effort to pull away from his warm, comforting embrace.

  They stood there for a moment, completely lost in their own little romantic bubble, entirely ignoring the chaotic world rushing by them. However, they slowly began to realize that their loud shriek, the laughter, and their highly affectionate embrace were drawing quite a bit of public attention.

  Aoi pulled back slightly, her cheeks burning with renewed embarrassment as she noticed several people looking in their direction.

  Walking slowly past them was an elderly couple. The older man was wearing a thick tweed coat, and the older woman had a warm, deeply wrinkled face. They were both looking directly at Erwin and Aoi, chuckling softly with a look of profound, nostalgic fondness in their eyes.

  "Oh, please do not mind us, dear," the older woman said warmly, noticing Aoi's flushed, embarrassed face. "Young couples are always the most entertaining and wonderful things to watch in these busy stations. Seeing you two playfully fighting like that simply reminds us of our own youth."

  Erwin and Aoi both turned slightly red. They immediately offered the kind older couple a deep, highly polite, and incredibly respectful nod of apology for causing a public scene.

  "We are very sorry for the noise, ma'am," Erwin said smoothly, his natural, highly refined aristocratic manners flawlessly taking over.

  "There is absolutely nothing to apologize for," the older man added with a kind, hearty chuckle, patting his wife's hand. "Enjoy your youth, you two. It goes by in the absolute blink of an eye."

  Before Erwin or Aoi could respond to the sweet, nostalgic advice, the loud, slightly metallic voice of the station operator suddenly boomed over the massive public address system.

  "Attention all passengers," the automated voice echoed across the vaulted ceilings. "The luxury express locomotive bound for the city of Altkanz will be arriving at platform number four in exactly five minutes. Please gather your belongings and prepare for boarding."

  Erwin immediately turned his attention to the heavy canvas bags resting near his boots. He reached down and effortlessly grabbed the thick leather straps of his massive travel bag, throwing it securely over his broad shoulder. He grabbed the handle of Aoi's smaller, much lighter bag with his free hand.

  Aoi stepped close to his side, gently wrapping her small, warm hand around his bicep, holding onto him tightly as they began to navigate through the dense, rushing crowds toward platform four.

  As they walked, surrounded by the beautiful, warm glow of the station lights, Aoi felt an overwhelming surge of pure, undeniable affection for the man walking beside her. He looked so incredibly handsome, so strong, and so deeply protective of her.

  Without giving him any warning, Aoi quickly pulled her smartphone out of her coat pocket. She raised the camera, pointing the lens directly at Erwin's striking profile, and pressed the digital shutter button.

  A bright, sudden flash of white light briefly illuminated the dim corridor.

  Erwin physically flinched, completely startled by the sudden flash of light hitting his sensitive eyes. He immediately raised his free hand to cover his face, looking at her with a highly confused, slightly defensive expression.

  "What on earth was that for?" Erwin asked, blinking rapidly to clear the purple spots from his vision.

  Aoi laughed beautifully, completely ignoring his confusion as she looked down at the bright screen of her phone. The candid picture was absolutely perfect. It captured his sharp jawline, his dark, calculating eyes, and the incredibly protective way he was carrying all of their heavy luggage. She immediately pressed the button to permanently save the beautiful image to her digital gallery.

  "I just wanted a picture to remember the start of our very first real vacation together," Aoi explained cheerfully, tucking the smartphone safely back into her coat pocket.

  Erwin let out a long, highly exaggerated sigh, shaking his head slowly as they continued walking toward the platform.

  "I am fairly certain that taking a photograph of a person without their explicit, prior verbal consent is a direct, undeniable violation of the federal personal data protection laws," Erwin stated, his tone slipping effortlessly into his terrifyingly formal, highly analytical lawyer persona, though his dark eyes were shining with pure amusement.

  Aoi didn't even flinch at his heavy, intimidating legal jargon. She simply leaned closer to him, resting her head gently against his solid shoulder as they walked.

  "Well," Aoi countered smoothly, a highly mischievous, confident smile playing on her lips. "I am absolutely positive that my incredibly handsome, deeply wonderful boyfriend is not going to press federal criminal charges against me over a simple photograph."

  Erwin opened his mouth to deliver a sharp, highly technical legal rebuttal, but the words completely died in his throat. A faint, highly uncharacteristic flush of red slowly crept up the tips of his ears. He was completely, utterly defeated by her sweet, undeniable logic.

  He closed his mouth, looking straight ahead, offering her a very small, deeply affectionate nod of absolute concession. He simply could never win an argument against her when she looked at him like that.

  The heavy, metallic screeching of massive hydraulic brakes finally filled the chilly night air. The sleek, incredibly luxurious express train had finally arrived at platform number four, hissing thick clouds of white steam into the cold atmosphere.

  The heavy metal doors slid open, and the massive, chaotic rush of excited passengers immediately began to board the train carriages.

  Erwin used his tall, broad frame to act as a physical shield for Aoi, gently but firmly pushing through the dense crowds to ensure she wasn't jostled or crushed by the rushing students. He led her smoothly down the narrow, carpeted hallway of the first-class carriage, his sharp eyes scanning the small brass numbers above the luxury seats.

  "Here we are," Erwin announced, stopping in the middle of the quiet carriage. "Seats D.024 and D.025."

  Aoi immediately reached out, grabbing the leather handle of her own travel bag from Erwin's grip. She gripped the heavy bag tightly, completely preparing to lift it high above her head to place it securely inside the overhead luggage compartment.

  Before she could even lift the bag two inches off the carpeted floor, Erwin's large, strong hand clamped firmly over hers. He effortlessly took the heavy bag entirely out of her grip, lifting it with one arm and sliding it perfectly into the overhead bin with casual, terrifying ease.

  "I can do it myself, Erwin," Aoi protested softly, placing her hands on her hips with a slight, stubborn pout. "I am not completely helpless, you know."

  Erwin turned to look at her, a deeply affectionate, highly protective smile completely warming his handsome features.

  "I know perfectly well that you are not helpless, Aoi," Erwin replied, his deep voice incredibly gentle. "But I absolutely do not care. Your bag is my bag. Your burdens are my burdens. I will gladly carry them for you."

  Aoi felt her heart completely melt at his deeply romantic, highly devoted words. She watched as Erwin turned his attention to his own massive, heavily packed canvas travel bag resting on the floor.

  Erwin gripped the thick leather straps of his bag, planting his feet firmly on the carpet. He pulled upward with all his strength, fully expecting the bag to lift smoothly.

  Instead, the massive canvas bag barely moved an inch off the ground. Erwin's jaw clenched tightly, his broad shoulders straining violently as he let out a low, highly uncharacteristic grunt of physical exertion. The bag was shockingly, impossibly heavy.

  Seeing her strong, highly capable boyfriend actually struggling with the luggage, Aoi's stubborn, fiercely loyal instincts instantly kicked in. She immediately stepped forward, placing her small hands firmly against the bottom of the heavy canvas bag, completely ready to help him push it upward.

  Erwin immediately stopped lifting, looking down at her with a highly concerned, deeply sincere expression.

  "Aoi, please step back," Erwin requested sincerely, his voice full of genuine worry for her safety. "I sincerely appreciate the gesture, but this bag is far too heavy. I do not want you to accidentally hurt your back or pull a muscle trying to help me."

  Aoi completely ignored his highly logical, deeply caring warning. She looked up at him, her dark eyes flashing with a fierce, unbreakable, and absolute determination that completely mirrored his own.

  "I absolutely refuse to step back, Erwin," Aoi stated, her voice carrying an incredible, profound emotional weight that completely silenced him. "I already accepted all of the massive, terrifying burdens you carry the absolute second we confessed our feelings on that dance floor last year. I accepted the corporate wars, the academic stress, and the heavy weight of your family name. So, I am going to lift whatever you lift. We do this together."

  Erwin stared down at her, completely struck entirely speechless by the sheer, devastating beauty and the profound, unbreakable loyalty of her words. He felt an overwhelming, massive wave of pure, unconditional love completely wash over his soul. He had never known someone could be so incredibly devoted to him.

  He offered her a deeply moved, highly emotional nod of absolute surrender. "Together, then," he agreed softly.

  With Erwin pulling fiercely from the top straps and Aoi pushing with all her might from the bottom, they finally managed to heave the massive, incredibly heavy canvas bag high into the air. With a loud, heavy thud, they successfully shoved the luggage deep into the overhead compartment, completely exhausted by the brief, intense physical struggle.

  Aoi leaned back against the plush fabric of her train seat, panting slightly as she rubbed her sore hands together. She looked up at the overhead bin, entirely baffled by the sheer, ungodly weight of the luggage.

  "What on earth did you pack in there, Erwin?" Aoi asked, completely bewildered. "Did you actually pack solid bricks of gold, or perhaps an entire library of heavy criminal law textbooks?"

  Erwin sat down in the aisle seat next to her, a highly satisfied, deeply secretive smile completely taking over his handsome face as he adjusted the cuffs of his sweater.

  "I simply packed absolutely everything we might possibly need to survive in the snowy mountains," Erwin explained smoothly, deliberately keeping the exact contents of his heavy bag a complete, highly intriguing mystery.

  Aoi just shook her head, letting out a soft, highly amused laugh as she finally settled comfortably into her plush window seat. She looked out the large glass window, watching the chaotic, busy station platform outside, incredibly excited for the journey to finally begin.

  As she turned her head back toward the aisle, her dark eyes suddenly met a very familiar sight sitting directly across the narrow walkway.

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  Sitting comfortably in the seats directly opposite them were the exact same elderly couple who had witnessed their embarrassing cockroach prank in the station concourse just ten minutes prior.

  The older woman offered Aoi a very warm, highly recognizing smile. "Well, it seems the universe has decided that we are going to be travel companions tonight," she said cheerfully.

  Erwin and Aoi both smiled brightly, highly pleased by the incredibly wonderful coincidence. They immediately engaged in polite, highly formal introductions. Erwin introduced himself and Aoi as a young couple taking a much-needed holiday break from their exhausting university studies.

  The older couple happily introduced themselves as Tobias and Martha Linden.

  "It is an absolute pleasure to share a carriage with you both," Aoi said, her voice full of genuine, warm happiness. She leaned forward slightly, highly curious about their kind, elderly travel companions. "Are you both traveling home to the city of Altkanz tonight?"

  Tobias offered a slow, highly dignified nod of his grey head, smiling warmly at the young, beautiful couple.

  "Yes, indeed we are," Tobias answered thoroughly, his voice carrying a gentle, gravelly wisdom. "We have lived in the quiet mountains of Altkanz for our entire lives. We only traveled down to the noisy capital of Hohenwald for a few days to visit our youngest grandchild, who is currently studying engineering at the university here."

  Erwin and Aoi both nodded in deep, polite understanding, finding the older couple's story incredibly sweet and deeply comforting.

  Just as the warm, friendly conversation settled into a comfortable silence, the massive, highly powerful engine of the luxury express train roared to life. The entire carriage shuddered slightly as the heavy steel wheels finally began to slowly turn against the iron tracks.

  The train blew its loud, echoing horn one final time before it slowly pulled away from the brightly lit platform. It smoothly accelerated out of the Hohenwald central station, completely leaving the suffocating stress of the university, the noisy, chaotic capital city, and the dark, terrifying reach of Klaus von Stahlberg far behind them in the cold night.

  Erwin reached across the armrest, gently taking Aoi's small hand in his own, perfectly intertwining their fingers together as the train sped toward the peaceful, snowy mountains of Altkanz.

  The beautiful, highly anticipated journey toward the snowy mountains of Altkanz had officially begun. The massive luxury express locomotive roared powerfully through the dark, chilly night, its heavy steel wheels gliding smoothly over the long, endless stretches of iron tracks.

  Slowly but surely, the train accelerated, leaving the bright, suffocating, and chaotic neon lights of the university city of Hohenwald far behind them in the distance. They were rapidly heading toward an ancient, deeply historic mountain town completely filled with a long, peaceful history and incredibly beautiful, untouched natural landscapes.

  Inside the quiet, softly illuminated first-class carriage, the atmosphere was incredibly peaceful and deeply comforting. The gentle, rhythmic swaying of the heavy train cars created a highly soothing, almost hypnotic physical sensation.

  Sitting comfortably side by side in their plush velvet seats, Erwin and Aoi were still holding hands. Their fingers were perfectly intertwined, resting warmly against the armrest between them. Neither of them possessed a single, microscopic desire to let go of the other.

  Aoi had her face turned slightly toward the large, thick glass window, completely mesmerized by the dark, beautiful scenery rushing past them in the night. She was happily chewing on a small, delicious piece of a homemade sandwich she had meticulously packed in a small travel container earlier that afternoon, thoroughly enjoying the quiet, peaceful moment.

  Erwin sat quietly beside her, his head resting comfortably against the high back of the plush seat. He slowly turned his head, his dark, highly observant eyes completely locking onto her beautiful, relaxed profile.

  He watched the gentle, mesmerizing way the soft, golden overhead cabin lights danced across her dark, silky hair. He felt an overwhelming, profound wave of pure, unadulterated affection completely wash over his exhausted soul.

  Without making a single sound, Erwin slowly reached his free hand into the inner pocket of his dark wool coat. He smoothly pulled out his sleek, expensive smartphone, silently opening the camera application with a few quick, practiced swipes of his thumb.

  He raised the camera lens slightly, framing her perfectly against the dark, starlit window.

  "Aoi, look over here and smile for me," Erwin requested softly, his deep, soothing baritone voice breaking the quiet silence of their private corner.

  Aoi completely stopped chewing. She instinctively turned her head toward the sound of his voice, her cheeks still slightly puffed out from the bite of her sandwich, her dark eyes wide with genuine, adorable confusion.

  The absolute second she turned her face toward him, Erwin confidently pressed the digital shutter button on the screen.

  A sudden, bright flash of white light instantly illuminated their small section of the carriage, perfectly capturing her highly surprised, entirely unprepared expression in high-definition digital clarity.

  Aoi visibly jumped in her seat, completely shocked by the sudden, blinding flash of the camera. It took her a brief, highly confusing second to fully realize that her boyfriend had just taken a candid photograph of her while she was actively chewing her food.

  "Erwin von Stahlberg!" Aoi gasped loudly, her hands immediately flying up to cover her flushed, highly embarrassed face.

  She quickly swallowed her food, her cheeks burning with a massive, overwhelming wave of pure, rosy embarrassment. She desperately tried to hide her face by burying it completely against the thick, warm fabric of his dark wool coat, refusing to look at the terrible picture.

  "Delete that photograph right this absolute second!" Aoi demanded through the thick fabric of his sleeve, her voice muffled but carrying a highly playful, deeply embarrassed threat. "I am absolutely positive I look completely ridiculous."

  Erwin completely ignored her highly dramatic, muffled demands. A deep, incredibly genuine, and rich laugh entirely burst out of his broad chest. The joyful sound echoed beautifully across the quiet carriage, completely devoid of his usual cold, calculating courtroom persona.

  He looked down at the bright digital screen of his smartphone, thoroughly enjoying the hilarious, incredibly endearing image he had just captured.

  "I am absolutely not deleting this masterpiece," Erwin declared smoothly, his voice laced with a highly mischievous, deeply playful tone. He gently nudged her shoulder, trying to coax her out of hiding. "You actually look incredibly different in this photograph, Aoi. It is a completely new side of you."

  Aoi slowly lifted her head, peeking out from behind the safety of his coat sleeve. She narrowed her dark eyes at him, a highly suspicious, deeply annoyed pout forming on her beautiful lips.

  "What exactly do you mean by different?" Aoi asked, her tone carrying a highly defensive, completely irritated edge. "How bad is it?"

  Erwin turned the bright screen of the smartphone toward her, proudly displaying the candid image.

  "You look exactly like a highly rebellious, starving teenager who just got caught eating snacks in the back row while the professor was actively explaining a complex lecture," Erwin explained with a wide, breathtaking smile, thoroughly enjoying his own highly accurate, hilarious analogy.

  Aoi looked at the screen, immediately seeing her own wide, surprised eyes and her slightly puffed, food-filled cheeks. She let out a loud, highly dramatic groan of pure, unadulterated embarrassment.

  Without a single second of hesitation, Aoi raised her small hand and smacked him sharply right on his broad shoulder. The physical impact didn't hurt him in the slightest, but it successfully conveyed her deep, highly playful annoyance.

  "You are absolutely terrible," Aoi grumbled loudly, completely crossing her arms over her chest and looking away, though a massive, entirely uncontrollable smile was already breaking across her flushed face.

  Erwin laughed even harder, the deep, rumbling sound incredibly pleasant and warm. He casually slipped his smartphone back into the pocket of his coat, feeling completely victorious and deeply, wonderfully happy.

  Sitting directly across the narrow, carpeted aisle from the playful young couple, Tobias and Martha Linden were quietly watching the entire adorable exchange unfold.

  The kind, elderly couple had warm, highly nostalgic smiles completely plastered across their deeply wrinkled, heavily weathered faces. They watched Erwin and Aoi playfully bicker and laugh, completely transported back in time by the beautiful, innocent display of young, unadulterated love.

  Martha gently reached out with her frail, calloused hand, softly resting it against her husband's arm.

  "Do you remember when we used to be exactly like that, Tobias?" Martha asked softly, her voice carrying a deep, incredibly sweet, and loving nostalgia. "We used to tease each other relentlessly on the old steam trains when we were just kids."

  Tobias let out a warm, hearty chuckle, his kind eyes crinkling deeply at the corners. "I remember it perfectly, my dear," he answered thoroughly, patting her frail hand affectionately. "Though I believe you used to hit my shoulder much harder than she just hit his."

  Hearing the older couple's warm, highly amused voices floating across the aisle, Erwin and Aoi immediately stopped their playful bickering. They both turned their heads, their cheeks flushing with a fresh, highly polite wave of social embarrassment.

  "We are incredibly sorry for the noise, Mr. and Mrs. Linden," Aoi apologized quickly, offering them a deep, highly respectful nod of her head. "We did not mean to disturb your peaceful journey."

  "Oh, please, you must not apologize for a single thing, child," Martha reassured them instantly, waving her frail hand dismissively with a bright, welcoming smile. "We are absolutely not bothered in the slightest. Watching you two simply reminds us of our own beautiful youth."

  Tobias nodded in absolute agreement, leaning slightly forward in his comfortable velvet seat to engage with the young couple.

  "It is a genuine joy to see young people so deeply, happily in love," Tobias stated warmly, his voice carrying the gentle, grounded wisdom of a man who had lived a long, fulfilling life. "If you do not mind an old man asking, exactly how old are the two of you?"

  Erwin politely straightened his posture, respectfully answering the kind elder's question. "I just turned twenty-one recently, sir," Erwin replied smoothly. "And Aoi is currently twenty years old."

  Martha and Tobias both nodded their heads in deep, profound understanding, sharing a highly meaningful, loving look with one another.

  "Just as I suspected," Martha noted cheerfully, her eyes shining with warm memories. "You are exactly the same age we were when we first began building our lives together. The only slight difference is that in our generation, we married incredibly young. Tobias had just turned nineteen, and I was only seventeen years old when we finally tied the knot."

  Erwin and Aoi both widened their eyes in genuine, absolute shock. The very concept of getting married and entirely settling down at such an incredibly young age was almost entirely unheard of in their modern, highly academic, and fiercely competitive social circles.

  "That is truly amazing," Aoi said softly, her voice full of profound, highly respectful awe. She leaned forward slightly, incredibly curious to know more about their peaceful lives. "If you don't mind me asking, where exactly do you live in the city of Altkanz?"

  Tobias smiled proudly, completely happy to share his life's work with the polite young students.

  "We do not actually live inside the busy city center," Tobias explained thoroughly, his voice filled with deep, hard-earned pride. "We live high up on the snowy slopes of the Altkanz mountains. We own and operate a massive, beautiful apple orchard and a highly successful natural honey farm. We have worked that sacred land with our own two bare hands for over fifty years."

  Erwin and Aoi were completely amazed by the beautiful, incredibly rustic description. The thought of living a quiet, peaceful life on an apple orchard, far away from the dark, terrifying corporate wars and the suffocating stress of the capital city, sounded like an absolute, heavenly paradise to both of them.

  "Love used to be so incredibly simple back in our day," Martha continued softly, her voice taking on a deeply philosophical, highly reflective tone. "You simply met someone, you looked deeply into their eyes, you realized you had fallen completely in love, and you simply married them. You built a life together from nothing."

  Martha shook her grey head slowly, looking at the young couple with a gentle, slightly confused expression. "I honestly do not understand why modern romance has to be so incredibly complicated and stressful for your generation."

  Erwin and Aoi instinctively turned to look at each other, sharing a highly complex, deeply meaningful, and entirely silent conversation through their eyes. They both knew exactly why their specific love story was so incredibly complicated. They were constantly fighting against massive corporate empires, ruthless billionaires, and terrifying social expectations.

  "I suppose times have just completely changed," Aoi explained softly, offering the older woman a polite, gentle smile. "Everything moves so fast now. We are actually not married yet. We are still just university students trying to finish our degrees."

  Hearing that specific piece of information, Tobias immediately leaned completely forward in his seat, his thick, bushy eyebrows raised in highly blunt, straightforward curiosity.

  "Well, then," Tobias asked loudly, his voice completely devoid of any modern social filter. "When exactly are you planning to buy a ring and propose to this beautiful young woman, son?"

  Erwin, who had just taken a slow, polite sip from a plastic bottle of cold water, completely choked.

  He coughed loudly, his broad chest heaving as he frantically tried to clear the sudden, highly unexpected blockage in his throat. He completely failed to maintain his usual terrifying, stoic, and highly calculating aristocratic composure.

  Aoi's entire face instantly turned a massive, brilliantly bright shade of burning crimson. She quickly covered her flushed cheeks with both of her hands, completely mortified and utterly shocked by the older man's incredibly blunt, direct interrogation regarding their highly private romantic timeline.

  "Tobias Linden!" Martha scolded her husband sharply, playfully swatting his arm with her hand. "You absolutely cannot just ask a young man a highly aggressive, personal question like that out of nowhere! You are going to completely terrify the poor boy!"

  Erwin finally managed to clear his throat, wiping his mouth with a clean paper napkin. Despite the sudden, highly unexpected shock of the question, he quickly regained his flawless, deeply confident composure.

  He didn't look annoyed or insulted in the slightest. In fact, he looked directly at Tobias with a highly respectful, deeply sincere, and entirely honest expression.

  "It is perfectly alright, ma'am," Erwin reassured Martha smoothly, his deep voice entirely calm and steady. He casually reached out, gently taking Aoi's trembling hand back into his own, entirely ignoring her massive blush.

  "To answer your question honestly, sir," Erwin explained thoroughly, his dark eyes shining with absolute, unwavering devotion. "We are simply very young, and we carry incredibly heavy academic burdens right now. We deeply believe it is highly responsible to completely focus on finishing our university education first. We want to build a highly stable, unbreakable foundation before we make any massive, lifelong decisions."

  Erwin squeezed Aoi's hand gently, offering her a deeply reassuring, highly romantic look. "We are absolutely not trying to rush anything. But I can assure you, I am incredibly serious about our future together."

  Martha visibly melted at his highly articulate, deeply respectful, and incredibly romantic answer. She placed a hand over her heart, smiling warmly at the young, brilliant advocate.

  "That is a highly mature, incredibly wise way to approach your lives," Martha praised him deeply. "I can clearly see the absolute devotion shining in your eyes when you look at her. We both pray that you two will officially become one someday very soon."

  "Thank you very much," Erwin and Aoi said in perfect unison, their voices filled with deep, profound gratitude for the kind elders' blessing.

  They looked deeply into each other's eyes for a long, quiet moment. The heavy, unspoken weight of the older couple's words hung beautifully in the air between them. It was as if they were both silently acknowledging that they were absolutely, undeniably ready to take this relationship all the way to the end of the line, no matter what terrifying obstacles stood in their way.

  The luxury express train continued to roar powerfully through the dark, cold night, its massive steel wheels eating up the miles of track.

  A short while later, the heavy train carriage suddenly hit a slightly rough, uneven patch of old iron tracks. The entire carriage swayed sharply to the left, causing the comfortable seats to vibrate violently.

  Martha slowly attempted to stand up from her velvet seat, intending to carefully make her way down the narrow aisle toward the carriage restrooms. However, the sudden, violent swaying of the train made her instantly lose her frail balance. She stumbled slightly, grabbing the edge of Tobias's seat in a highly panicked attempt to stop herself from falling.

  Seeing the elderly woman struggling to maintain her footing, Aoi's deeply compassionate, highly empathetic instincts instantly took over.

  She immediately unbuckled her seatbelt and stood up with graceful, rapid speed. She stepped quickly across the narrow, carpeted aisle, gently wrapping her strong, young arm securely around Martha's frail shoulders to physically steady the older woman.

  "Please, allow me to escort you down the hallway, Martha," Aoi offered instantly, her voice incredibly warm, gentle, and deeply supportive. "The train is swaying far too violently right now, and I absolutely do not want you to accidentally fall and hurt yourself."

  Martha looked up at the beautiful, highly considerate young psychology student with eyes full of immense, profound gratitude.

  "You are such an incredibly sweet, deeply kindhearted girl," Martha thanked her warmly, her frail hands gripping Aoi's arm for necessary support. "I would highly appreciate your assistance, my dear."

  Aoi offered Erwin a quick, highly reassuring smile before she slowly and carefully began to guide the elderly woman down the long, narrow, and slightly unstable carpeted hallway, completely leaving the two men entirely alone in the seating area.

  Tobias watched his wife safely disappear down the corridor under Aoi's highly protective care. He then slowly turned his grey head, looking directly across the aisle at the highly intimidating, deeply calculating young heir sitting opposite him.

  "You have managed to find yourself a truly magnificent, incredibly rare young woman, son," Tobias stated bluntly, his voice dropping into a low, highly serious, and deeply observant tone. "She possesses a very pure, incredibly kind soul. That is a highly precious commodity in this dark world."

  Erwin leaned back in his seat, his dark eyes following the empty hallway where Aoi had just disappeared. A profound, deeply emotional sigh slowly escaped his lips.

  "I am completely aware of that fact, sir," Erwin replied softly, his voice saturated with absolute, undeniable truth. "She is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I owe her my entire life."

  Erwin paused, his brilliant, highly analytical mind completely dropping its terrifying, stoic courtroom defenses for just a brief, vulnerable moment. He looked at the older, deeply experienced farmer, deciding to seek genuine wisdom from a man who had successfully built a lifelong marriage.

  "I was entirely honest with you earlier," Erwin confessed, his voice dropping to a highly secretive, deeply conflicted whisper. "The absolute second she graduates and receives her university diploma, I am going to buy the most beautiful ring I can find, and I am going to beg her to marry me."

  Tobias raised a thick eyebrow, highly intrigued by the sudden, highly emotional confession. "Then why do you look so incredibly burdened and terrified by that beautiful thought, son?"

  Erwin closed his eyes for a brief second, the terrifying, bloody reality of his dark existence crashing heavily over his mind. He thought about his ruthless father, Klaus von Stahlberg. He thought about the deadly corporate assassins, the massive, highly dangerous legal wars, and the terrifying, heavily armed enemies he was actively creating every single time he stepped into a federal courtroom.

  "Because I am absolutely terrified that I am being completely, utterly selfish," Erwin admitted, his voice carrying a heavy, agonizing weight of pure emotional dread.

  Erwin leaned forward, resting his elbows heavily on his knees, looking down at his large, capable hands.

  "My life is not safe," Erwin explained, his voice tight with deeply rooted anxiety. "I am actively hunting massive, incredibly dangerous corporate monsters. The people I am fighting possess endless wealth and terrifying, ruthless power. If I marry her, I am dragging her beautiful, peaceful soul directly into a highly toxic, extremely dangerous, and potentially bloody crossfire. I am terrified that she is not truly ready for the terrifying consequences of my actions."

  Tobias listened in absolute, respectful silence. He completely analyzed the profound, agonizing fear radiating from the powerful young man in front of him.

  Tobias slowly reached across the narrow aisle, placing his heavy, highly calloused, and deeply weathered farmer's hand firmly onto Erwin's broad shoulder. His grip was surprisingly strong and incredibly grounding.

  "Listen to me very carefully, son," Tobias instructed, his voice carrying the absolute, unshakeable authority of a deeply experienced mentor. "A true man will never, under any circumstances, stop fighting tooth and nail to aggressively protect the people he loves. But a man who constantly allows himself to be paralyzed by dark, poisonous doubts has already lost the war before the first shot is even fired."

  Tobias squeezed Erwin's shoulder firmly, forcing the young heir to look him directly in the eyes.

  "If you truly love this girl, you do not push her away to protect her," Tobias advised with profound, heavy wisdom. "You build a massive, impenetrable fortress around her. You become so incredibly strong, so terrifyingly unshakeable, that the dark monsters you are hunting will never even dare to look in her direction. You must completely conquer your own internal fears, Erwin. You must be absolutely, undeniably certain of your own strength before you ever dare to drop to one knee and offer her a ring."

  Erwin stared at the older man, completely struck by the sheer, profound, and incredibly empowering simplicity of the older man's highly masculine advice. The heavy, suffocating anxiety regarding his father's dark world slowly began to evaporate, replaced by a cold, deeply resolute, and terrifyingly absolute determination to become completely invincible.

  "I understand," Erwin stated softly, his dark eyes hardening into shattered obsidian. "Thank you, Tobias. I truly needed to hear that."

  Meanwhile, at the far end of the swaying train carriage, standing safely inside the small, brightly lit vestibule area near the restrooms, a completely different, highly emotional conversation was simultaneously taking place.

  Martha leaned gently against the metal handrail, her warm, highly observant eyes completely locked onto Aoi's beautiful, delicate face.

  "Tell me the absolute truth, child," Martha asked softly, her voice carrying a deep, probing maternal wisdom. "Do you truly, deeply love that highly intimidating young man sitting back there?"

  Aoi didn't even have to think about the answer for a single, microscopic fraction of a second.

  "I love him more than I ever thought it was humanly possible to love another living person," Aoi answered with absolute, unshakeable, and completely flawless conviction. Her dark eyes burned with a fierce, highly protective light.

  However, a small, highly vulnerable shadow slowly crept across Aoi's elegant features. She looked down at the carpeted floor, her hands nervously twisting the fabric of her thick sweater.

  "But if I am being entirely honest," Aoi confessed, her voice trembling slightly with deeply hidden, highly painful insecurities. "The path we are walking together is incredibly terrifying. He possesses this brilliant, completely terrifying legal mind. He fights massive billionaires and destroys corrupt empires with terrifying ease. Over the past year alone, we have survived things that most normal people will never see in their entire lifetimes."

  Aoi looked back up at the older woman, hot, highly emotional tears slowly pricking the corners of her dark eyes.

  "I am just a simple psychology student from a normal, working-class family," Aoi admitted, her voice cracking with heavy emotional pain. "I am absolutely terrified that one day, when the legal wars become too incredibly dangerous and violent, I am going to become a massive, heavy liability. I am terrified that I will become a burden that holds his brilliant mind back from achieving his true potential."

  Hearing the deep, agonizing fear hidden inside the young girl's heart, Martha immediately reached out. She took both of Aoi's trembling, soft hands into her own frail, highly calloused ones, holding them with incredible, deep maternal warmth.

  "Oh, my sweet, beautiful child," Martha whispered soothingly, offering Aoi a highly compassionate, deeply understanding smile. "You must never, ever allow such dark, poisonous thoughts to completely infect your pure heart."

  Martha squeezed Aoi's hands gently, her eyes shining with absolute, undeniable truth.

  "Men like your Erwin, men who possess that kind of terrifying, cold, and highly calculating strength, they fight their brutal wars in the absolute, darkest shadows of this world," Martha explained beautifully, her voice carrying the profound wisdom of a lifelong matriarch.

  "But you must understand a fundamental truth," Martha continued, holding Aoi's gaze firmly. "If a powerful warrior does not have a warm, peaceful, and highly grounded light to return to when the bloody battle is finally over, the dark shadows will inevitably swallow his soul completely."

  Martha raised one hand, gently wiping away a stray tear that had fallen down Aoi's cheek.

  "A woman's highest, most sacred duty is not to pick up a sword and fight his bloody wars for him," Martha advised with deep, highly empowering conviction. "Your absolute duty is to be his perfect balance. You are his emotional anchor. You are the sole provider of his profound, internal peace. When the entire world is screaming at him, you are the quiet, beautiful sanctuary where he can finally rest his heavy head."

  Martha smiled warmly, her eyes completely radiating pure, unadulterated truth. "You are absolutely not his burden, Aoi. You are his salvation. Never, ever doubt your profound worth to that boy again."

  Aoi stood completely still in the narrow, swaying hallway, the profound, incredibly beautiful weight of the older woman's powerful advice sinking deeply into the very core of her soul.

  The heavy, suffocating anxiety, the deep-rooted social insecurities, and the terrifying fear of the corporate elite completely, utterly vanished from her mind in a single, miraculous instant. She finally understood her true, profound purpose in his dark world.

  "Thank you," Aoi whispered softly, a massive, incredibly bright, and entirely fearless smile completely breaking across her beautiful face. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms gently around the older woman in a deep, highly appreciative hug. "That is absolutely the greatest, most beautiful advice I have ever received in my entire life."

  Martha hugged the young girl back, patting her back warmly, her deeply wrinkled face breaking into a wide, highly satisfied smile. She knew, with absolute, unshakeable certainty, that this beautiful, fiercely loyal young couple was completely ready to conquer the entire world together.