The west wing always felt different at night. Even within the sa house, the divide was clear.
The east wing was full of life—the soft voice of Lily from the twins’ rooms earlier in the evening, the gentle sounds of staff finishing their duties, and doors closing quietly. The west wing was quiet. It had fewer rooms and fewer movents. It was a space designed for order and focus, free of interruptions.
Franz’s bedroom door was closed, and Arianne stood outside it longer than necessary.
The corridor lights were dimd, casting long shadows on the polished floor. Behind the door, she heard the rustle of fabric and the soft click of a suitcase handle. He was packing, just as she expected.
They did not share this space. It had never been formally discussed, but the divide between east and west had remained intact.
Her hand hovered near the door. For a mont, Arianne considered turning back. It would have been easy to leave in the morning and say nothing, consistent with how they had handled things for months.
She raised her hand and knocked once—not loudly, not hesitantly, just a single tap.
The sound inside stopped almost imdiately, and after a few seconds he spoke through the door, calm and unhurried.
"Co in."
Arianne opened the door. Franz stood by the wardrobe, holding a garnt bag over his arm. An open suitcase rested on the bench at the foot of the bed, half-filled with neatly folded clothes. Shirts were stacked neatly. A dark jacket lay flat on top, its seams straight.
He didn’t seem surprised. He didn’t move closer, only t her gaze.
"You’re still working," he said, noticing the tablet in her hand.
"For a few minutes," she replied.
Arianne stayed just inside the doorway. The room felt unmistakably his.
The way the desk was arranged, the placent of docunts, and the shoes lined up along the wall all showed his discipline. Even the air slled faintly of cedar and starch.
Franz watched her a mont longer before stepping aside to let her enter, the movent subtle—an allowance without comnt.
She walked in and closed the door behind her.
Neither of them said anything about it.
Franz returned to the wardrobe, placing a second jacket into the garnt bag before laying it flat inside the suitcase. He folded a sweater once, then adjusted the crease as if the line bothered him.
Arianne walked to the desk by the window and placed her tablet down. She didn’t sit right away. Instead, she stood with her hand lightly touching the edge of the desk, looking at the dark glass and reflecting on the room instead of looking at him directly.
Silence settled again.
Franz crossed behind her to reach the drawer. His fingers brushed the fabric of her sleeve in passing. Neither acknowledged it.
Franz retrieved a leather travel case and returned to the suitcase, placing it in the corner before adjusting the contents’ alignnt once more.
"I will be late most days," he said calmly as he zipped up halfway to see how it worked.
Arianne looked down at the tablet without turning it on.
"I’ll adjust the schedule," she said.
He nodded once, but she didn’t see it.
The zipper sound carried across the room as he sealed the suitcase completely this ti. The click at the end felt sharper than usual in the contained space.
Franz straightened, resting both hands briefly on the suitcase handle before lifting it upright. The wheels touched the floor with a soft shift.
She finally sat down in the desk chair, but did not start reading again. She sat up straight.
"What is the location?" she asked.
"It’s on the coast," he replied. "You can only access it remotely. There is little infrastructure."
"How long will you be on-site?"
"A week." The word stayed there.
"Is the signal stable?" she asked.
"It’s inconsistent," he replied. "The production team has set up backup satellites."
She nodded once.
Arianne only adjusted the tablet slightly on the desk. She didn’t show that the pause made her uneasy.
He picked up the production folder from the bed and put it into the side compartnt of the suitcase. He moved carefully.
He walked to the door with the suitcase handle in his hand.
Franz paused before opening the door, posture steady, shoulders relaxed.
"You don’t have to stay up," he said, still facing forward.
The line carried practical reasoning on its surface. Early departure. Efficient rest. No disruption required.
There was more under it.
Arianne stayed in her chair.
"I don’t," she said.
Her voice was calm. It wasn’t clipped or defensive.
He stood still for a mont before turning, the suitcase upright beside him, his hand resting on the handle.
Franz looked at her fully. The room’s order sharpened the distance between them. The desk was by the door, and the bed was near the wardrobe. Everything was lined up, with no clutter to soften the feeling.
He held her gaze.
Franz drew in a controlled breath and started to speak, but the words didn’t form. Instead, he released the suitcase handle and stepped back toward her—only once—stopping close enough to reach her.
Arianne did not stand or move away.
Franz reached for her wrist, thumb resting lightly against her pulse. His gaze remained on her face.
Arianne t his gaze without looking away, her hand relaxed in his. Franz held it a mont longer before letting go.
He stepped back, putting space between them.
He picked up the suitcase handle again.
This ti, he opened the door.
Light from the hallway ca into the room.
Franz paused at the doorway, not because he had forgotten anything. He turned his head slightly, looking at her from the doorway.
The look lasted longer than usual.
"I’ll call," he said.
The words were simple.
She inclined her head once.
"Travel safely," she replied.
He gave a single nod and stepped into the corridor.
The door closed softly behind him.
The latch settled with a quiet click.
Arianne remained seated for several seconds after the sound faded.
The room remained arranged exactly as he left it. The suitcase wheels had left no mark on the floor. The bed remained untouched aside from the folded indent where the suitcase had rested.
She rose slowly.
Arianne lifted her fingers to her wrist, resting them where his thumb had pressed.
She switched off the desk lamp. The room fell into shadow. She closed the door behind her and walked back toward the east wing.
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