Valeria gently grasped Eros' hand, her touch a soothing balm to his nerves. With a soft smile, she led him out of her room, the weight of their worries increasing as they stepped into the corridor. 

She took him to the arcade which led towards the garden. Valeria did not want him to be seen with her. The air seemed fresher there, carrying a hint of jasmine from the nearby garden. "Come, Eros," 

she whispered, her voice like a melody in the quietness of the hallway. "You can go out from here ...