Between Silk & Strings Novel PDF Free Download

Chapter 1 — The Night He Left

The palace felt too quiet

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Sat on the edge of his bed*

Sketchbook open

Pencil resting between his fingers

The page was half-filled with loose lines

Windows, trees, a road that didn’t exist inside palace walls

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Stopped drawing*

Silence again

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Closed the sketchbook and stood*

His loose boho-style shirt moved softly as he walked toward the window

The city lights in the distance looked alive

Nothing like the stillness around him

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Murmured* …Just for a while

A few minutes later

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Slipped out of the palace in simple clothes*

Unnoticed

No guards stopped him

No one expected the prince to leave

The air outside was cooler

Different

Free

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Walked without direction*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Hands in his pockets*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Sketchbook tucked under his arm*

Voices

Laughter

Music

Everything blended together until one sound stood out

Guitar strings

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Followed it*

It led him to a small bar

Warm lights glowed from inside

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Hesitated*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Pushed the door open*

The place wasn’t crowded

Just low chatter and soft music

And then he saw him

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Sitting near the stage*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Casually holding a guitar*

Dark brown hair slightly messy

Sleeves rolled

A watch visible on his wrist

He played without trying to impress anyone

Just calm

Steady

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Stopped walking*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Didn’t even realize he was staring*

The melody was simple but it filled the space in a way Arezo had never felt before

Real

Unpolished

Alive

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Quietly took a seat at the corner*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Pulled out his sketchbook and started drawing without thinking*

Messy hair

Relaxed shoulders

The guitar resting against his knee

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Paused*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Looking at the page*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

…Already?

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Finished playing and looked up*

Their eyes met for a brief second

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Quickly looked down*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Pretending to focus on his drawing*

A moment later

Footsteps approached

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You’re drawing me.

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Looked up*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Slightly surprised*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Stood beside his table*

Calm expression

Brown eyes steady

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

...Sorry

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

It’s fine

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Leaned lightly on the chair*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

I was just curious

Silence

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

I’m Dexter

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Hesitated*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Replied quietly* Arezo

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Nodded*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

First time here?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Yes

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Thought so

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Closed his sketchbook slowly*

Neither of them moved away

It wasn’t awkward

Just quiet

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Glanced at the sketchbook again*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You draw often?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Yes

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Good hobby

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Looked at him*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Your music is good too

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Smiled faintly*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Thanks

That was all

But somehow

It felt like the start of something

Outside

The night continued

Inside

The prince who had everything sat across from a guitarist he had just met and for the first time in a long time

Arezo didn’t feel trapped.

To be continued

Chapter 2 — Staying a Little Longer

Arezo didn’t leave immediately

He thought he would

Just a short escape

Then back to the palace

But he stayed seated

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Fingers resting on the edge of his sketchbook*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Pulled the chair opposite him*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Sat down casually*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Guitar still hanging from his shoulder*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You don’t talk much

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

I don’t usually meet strangers

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Nodded*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Fair

Waiter

*Passed by*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Ordered two drinks without asking*

Waiter

*Placed the drinks in front of them*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Looked at it uncertainly*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You don’t drink?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

I’ve never tried

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Then just take small sips

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Nodded slightly*

They sat quietly for a moment

The background noise of the bar filled the silence

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Tapped his watch absentmindedly*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You from around here?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

…Yes

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Work nearby?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Paused*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Something like that

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You don’t have to answer if you don’t want.

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Looked at him, a little surprised*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*In mind* Most people usually kept asking

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Thank you

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Shrugged

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

I’m not very curious about details

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Just… people

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Opened his sketchbook again*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Then what do you see?

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Leaned back*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Studying him*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You look calm

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

But not relaxed

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Blinked*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

That’s… accurate

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You also look like you don’t belong in noisy places

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Probably

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Then why are you here?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Thought for a second*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

…Your music

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Smiled faintly*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

That’s a good reason

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Adjusted the guitar*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Played a few quiet chords*

Softer this time

Just for their table

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Watched his hands carefully*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Started sketching again*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You’re drawing again?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Yes

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Let me see?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Turned the book slightly*

The lines were rough but recognizable

Dexter’s posture

His watch

The guitar

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Impressed*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You’re fast

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Closed the book*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Only when I focus

They fell into another comfortable silence

After a while

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Checked the time on the wall*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Stood*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

I should go

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Nodded*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You coming back?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Hesitated*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

…Maybe

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Smiled*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

I’ll take maybe

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Picked up his sketchbook*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Walked toward the door*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Glanced back once*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Still sitting there*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Watching him calmly*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Stepped out into the night*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Heart slightly lighter than before*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Didn’t notice the small smile on his own face*

Inside the bar

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Tapped his watch gently*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Thinking*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*in mind* “Maybe…”

To be continued

Chapter 3 — The Habit of Returning

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*In mind* I wouldn’t go again

The first night was enough

The second night was coincidence

But on the third evening

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Steps slowed near the same street*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Stopped*

The music wasn’t loud tonight

Just faint guitar strings slipping through the door

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Pushed it open*

Dexter was there again

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Sitting on the stool*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Playing casually*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Noticed Arezo almost immediately*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You’re back

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Nodded*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Yes

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

I thought so

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Took the same seat as before*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Looked more comfortable*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Placing his sketchbook on the table without hesitation*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You always come alone?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Yes

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Tapped his fingers lightly on the guitar*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Me too

Waiter

*Placed a drink in front of them*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*In mind* Dexter must have ordered it earlier

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Looked at him*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

You remembered?

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You didn’t finish it last time

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

…Thank you

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Started playing softly again*

Something slower than before

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Listened*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You don’t look as tense today

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Maybe

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You getting used to this place?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

…I think so

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Smiled faintly*

After a moment

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Opened his sketchbook*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Flipped to the previous pages*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Noticed*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You kept them

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Yes

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Why?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Because I wanted to

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Looked at him quietly*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Glanced away*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Slightly amused*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Can I ask something?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Yes

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Are you running away from something?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Paused*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

…Not running

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

Just stepping outside

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Nodded*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

That makes sense

They sat in silence again

It wasn’t awkward anymore

Just two people sharing space

After a while

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Stopped playing*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

You staying longer tonight?

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

*Looked at the clock then back at him*

Arezo Oryn Lycidas

…A little

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

*Leaned back*

Dexter Sylvan Aelfric

Good

Outside

The night grew deeper

Inside

It was becoming a habit

Arezo returning

Dexter expecting him

Neither of them questioning why

To be continued

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