Celine and Lucian never walked in the open like this. With people trailing behind them, watching their every move. For a moment, it felt like they were a couple, a couple no one dared to question.
It wasnât how theyâd pictured it in their heads back then. Lucian couldn't confront her with so many ears around, and Celine couldn't talk to him without feeling like she was being pushy.
"Are we going to wander around until the sun goes down?" Lucian asked.
"Why? Do you have more important things to do?"
"I thought you would," Lucian said, causing her to stop walking and look up at him.
"How could I be more busy than Lord Arclight?" she asked, covering her cheeks with her palm, pretending to be moved, "You must think so highly of me, I'm flattered. That's the first real compliment I've received from someone in years."
"..." Lucian noticed how her aidesâ eyes bulged slightly, shocked by her shift in behavior. She always put on a show as if being genuine was a foreign concept, and she rarely approached a man she already dissed once, "Then you won't mind me stealing more of your time? Since I'm already a bother and a headache, what's a little more, hm?"
"Oh," Celine looked away, her tone turning shy, "You are being so bold, Lord Arclight. We hardly know each other and here you are, asking to steal my time and keep me by your side."
Lucian coughed, his neck feeling, "Let's not cause a misunderstanding here, Lady Rochefort. You were the one who asked for my company, not the other way around."
"Ah," Celine covered her lips, and pretended to look shocked, "You kept glancing my way and looked so lonely, so I thought you wanted me to cheer you up. Was I wrong?"
She wasnât exactly wrong, and he had nothing to refute her with. So instead, he leaned in slightly and asked, "How far are we taking this, Lady Rochefort? Are you just here to lift my spirits, or should I expect a kiss by the end of the day, too?â
"Huh?" Celine blinked, going through his words one more time, which caused a soft pink to dust her cheeks. She hadn't expected him to play along, let alone act like a real suitor.
"That's a nice shade of pink," Lucian noted, ignoring the heat creeping up his own ears, "It brings out your eyes, too."
Celine quickly covered her face, shaking away the sudden image of them kissing, âWhere did you learn to be so brazen, Lord Arclight? Or is this how you normally behave when you have a woman in front of you?"
"Does it matter?" he asked, "No matter what I say, you won't take it to heart, right? After all, you've already made up your mind about me and my intentions, haven't you?"
â...â Celine sat down onto a nearby tree trunk, hiding her face in her palms. She didnât know whether to match his flirting with something clever, or just sit there like a stone and wait for it to pass. She was called a slut so many times, that she was afraid Lucian might start thinking she was one if she didn't act appropriately.
Lucian's shoulders trembled, his laughter was hidden behind a fake cough. He crouched in front of her, trying to get a look at her expression, âAre you alright?â
"..." Celine slowly moved her fingers, her eyes peeking between them, meeting his amused ones. 'Don't look at me like that! You are making it worse!â She smacked away the dirty images, but they returned tenfold. Messier, more intense, more vivid.
"I'm not alright," Celine shook her head, âDon't bring up such vulgar topics into our conversation again, Lord Arclight. I'm a noblewoman, and my virtue is the most precious thing I can offer to my future husband."
"I see. Forgive me for overstepping," he smiled, "Can I at least compliment you without making you uncomfortable? You look really cute with that expression, and I'd hate for it to disappear."
"..."
"It's like looking at a tomato."
"..."
"A really red tomato."
"..."
"Maybe even a strawberry."
"..."
"Are you not going to help me up? You are supposed to," she stopped him, blinking in expectation, "It's the rule. If a lady of your favor happens to stumble, physically or emotionally, it's the gentleman's duty to help her. That's basic chivalry. How are you supposed to be a good lord if you can't even help a lady in distress?"
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Lucian didn't move, "Chivalry?" he repeated, and then chuckled, "Do I look like a noble gentleman to you, Lady Rochefort?"
Celine felt the sudden hostility. She wasn't aware of it at first, but his body language changed, and so did his smile.
He was humoring her, and was not genuinely enjoying their little banter. The cold words which followed were proof of it.
"Had enough fun, my Lady? I wasn't sure what your goal is here, but if you want me to follow you around like a lapdog, and treat you as a queen, then, you will have to do a lot better. Your performance was passable, though, so congratulations. You did manage to get a reaction out of me, and I hope this satisfied you, because I am done entertaining you."
"..." Celine sat still, stunned.
Lucian got back up, dusted off his pants, and was about to return to his place when he felt something peck his leg. He looked down at the raven. It was glaring at him, and he glared back.
Celine snatched the bird, holding it protectively as if he would do something to harm it.
The raven was like a bearer of bad omens, and the last time he heard it, things didn't end well.
"My apologies," he said, his tone back to normal, "I forgot my manners for a second. I hope you won't hold it against me. I can't afford to get on Rochefort's bad side, can I?"
Celine was still glaring, not moving from her spot.
Lucian sighed and extended his arm, and she took it, pulling herself up. He dusted her skirt, and straightened her cloak, "There," he said, "You are presentable again. Now, shall we continue our walk?"
She was staring, and it was getting harder and harder to maintain eye contact with her.
"I know you are not a noble gentleman," she muttered and followed after him, "You are more than that, which is why I am trying to be civil. And a lot nicer, too. If you haven't noticed."
"You can say whatever you want, I have a thick skin," he said, stopping to allow her to catch up, and she did.
She was still holding the raven, and she put her chin on its head, looking incredibly cute.
It was a trap.
He was certain it was a trap.
A honey trap.
A honey, cute, trap.
"..." Lucian cleared his throat, "Are we heading back or are we going deeper into the woods?"
"I will follow you, since I am the lady," she said, and then added, "But you need to let me set the pace, because my legs are shorter."
She released the raven and it flew up, landing on a tree, watching the two of them.
Lucian matched her steps, "Is this acceptable?"
"Perfect." She took a deep breath, and her shoulders relaxed, "I almost misunderstood you, Lord Arclight. I was this close to throwing a fit, thinking you wanted to harm me. But thankfully, we are both reasonable adults and can have a mature conversation." She gestured for him to lean down, and when he did, she whispered, "I couldn't wait for our next encounter too, my beloved."
Lucian covered his mouth and looked at the distance, not letting her see his flushed face.
Celine turned her head in the opposite direction, her cheeks burning, too.
"You really think I'll forget how you've treated me, don't you?" he asked.
Celine shuddered at the low, threatening tone, and she rubbed her arms, suddenly feeling cold. The constant switches in his personality were like a whiplash, bringing her back to reality and reminding her of her place.
She tried to ignore her growing sense of dread, but his next words only intensified it. Making her believe that he only acted nice to lower everyone's guard around him, so he could say these terrifying threats in her ears without anyone suspecting him.
"I want you on your knees, begging for my forgiveness," he whispered, his breath caressing the side of her face, "In front of everyone. And you will tell them that I am your beloved, and that you can't live without me. Then, we'll see what kind of mature conversation you will want to have with me afterwards."
Celine looked down, biting her lip in frustration. Of course he still felt a grudge against her, not that she expected anything else.
"Don't bite your lips," he took a piece of candy from his pocket, and popped it into her mouth, "They'll bleed. You're not a wild animal, you're a lady, remember? Ladies don't bite."
"..." Celine slapped his hand away.
"If you don't like the taste, I'll have it. Don't spit it on the ground. You're not a rogue either, are you? I don't like seeing people wasting food. If you can't finish it, then give it to me, I will eat it," he outstretched his hand before her mouth, waiting for her to make a decision.
Lucian could eat anything and everything, and Celine would throw a fit whenever she saw him eating scraps that fell on the floor like some wild dog instead of eating a full course meal she had kept behind for him.
It was an after party for the servants, where they were allowed to eat the leftovers. He used to join them, and it was the only time they could share a meal in public (she was forced to eat his share of the meal, or he would threaten to eat moldy bread and force kiss her with a rotten mouth).
Despite this dirty habit, he bathed more often than the nobles, and always made sure his mouth smelled and tasted inviting. His candies and mints were made with a special blend, and he was very picky with his flavors.
Celine puckered her lips as if ready to spit the candy on his face.
"Go ahead," he leaned in, daring her, "If you think you can handle me being mad at you."
She puffed her cheeks and sucked the candy into her mouth, rummaging through her shoulder bag.
â...â Lucian accepted the half eaten baguette she couldn't finish this afternoon, and ate it as they walked back in silence.
Celine thought his favorite food was anything half eaten, and he never corrected her.
At the beginning of their relationship, she would feed him like a stuffed turkey, and he ate whatever she gave him, never complaining, always thanking, and always eating.
Until he turned into a big fat, stuffed pillow.
That girl would feed him and rub his belly, and call him her sweet little pig, and then would proceed to squeeze his cheeks, calling him a round ham, too. She was an extremely picky eater, so while he was getting bigger, she was getting smaller.
This couldn't continue forever, so he began to ask for the food she liked and instead of feeding himself, he began to feed her, only eating the leftovers she couldn't finish.