Margaretta stood at the edge of the balcony, the gentle breeze carrying the scents of jasmine and salt from the Bosphorus. The city below pulsed with life, lanterns dotting the dark streets like fireflies. She turned her gaze upward, her eyes tracing the constellations as though searching for answers among the stars.

  Behind her, Mephistopheles emerged from the shadows, his presence filling the room with an almost oppressive warmth. His eyes softened as they fell upon her, his lips curving into a faint smile. “The stars have your attention tonight,” he said, his voice low and smooth.

  “They always do,” Margaretta replied without turning, a small smile playing on her lips. “But tonight, they feel... quieter.”

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  Mephistopheles stepped closer, his movements silent despite the weight of his presence. “Perhaps they’re simply humbled,” he said, stopping just behind her. “Even the stars can be eclipsed by beauty.”

  Margaretta turned to face him, her dark eyes searching his face. “You always speak as though you’re trying to convince me of something.”

  “Only of what’s already true,” he said, lifting a hand to brush a stray lock of hair from her face. His touch was warm, almost unbearably so, but she didn’t pull away. “You’ve shown me something rare, Margaretta. Something I’d forgotten could exist.”

  “And what’s that?” she asked softly.

  “Purity,” he said, his voice tinged with something uncharacteristically vulnerable. “Not of body or faith, but of spirit. You are... unguarded. Untamed.”

  Margaretta’s smile widened slightly, though her gaze grew thoughtful. “And what does that make you?” she asked. “Someone drawn to what he lacks?”

  Mephistopheles chuckled, a low, resonant sound. “Perhaps. Or perhaps someone who finally sees what he’s been searching for.”