Chapter 4

......Chapter 4.....

“Why are you here?”

“Lucas?”, I asked.

“Oh! How rude”, he said with a clear hint of pretence in his tone.

“What?” Dumbfounded me.

He’s got to be kidding me! Like seriously?

How can such a shameless person exist?

“I am the one who’s being rude?” I asked.

“Who else is there beside you and me?” There he goes again.

“And would you be so kind to please enlighten me as to how I am being rude? Sir Lucas.”

“Of course. Now that you’ve acknowledged my talent then I’ll guide you. At first when you came here, I said you’re late but instead of explaining yourself to me you questioned me while ignoring mine. Isn’t it basic courtesy miss Rose?”

Wait! I think I just heard something shattering? Was it my ‘Hope?’ Just what on earth was I expecting from this guy?

Hah! Still as dramatic as ever, are you not? Fine. I’ll admit that I did miss these small jokes but is this really the time for this? I mean it’s literally past midnight and you came here all the way inside the mansion near the main chambers here in this forgotten tower just to fool around? Argh! Then I’ll try to play along. I bowed a little and started speaking.

“Oh, great sir! Thank you for telling this worthless me my faults. Your grace enlightened this impudent being. Answer to your ‘Question’, I was held back while trying to distract a couple of guards while trying to reac__”

“Pfft…”

What? I lifted my head only to find him shaking and chuckling. He was trying to hold in his laugh. Sudden shame hit me. My cheeks felt warm and I could just feel the humiliation of my actions. Thank God it was so dark here.

Why did he start playing if he wanted to laugh. I should have never decided to play along. Now I am flaring up with embarrassment.

“Y-You were the one who started it! W-What are you l-laughing about now?” I stuttered.

“Don’t you know already? Want me to rephrase it?” He said still holding in his laughter.

“YOU!”

“Okay! Okay! But not really my bad, is it? I was just messing around with you but who knew you’d play along so nicely—I just couldn’t help it.”

Help what? His laugh? Hah. I know you are still restraining yourself from laughing. Who would believe you are sorry with all that shaking and snickering? Must be nice to see me make a fool out of myself. Just why do I always get played in this person’s hands?

I took a deep breath and asked him again.

“Hu… So, why are you here?”

“Can’t I come to see you? I really missed you in the last two years you know”, he said acting all coy and honest.

“Cut to chase. What are you really here for?” Even though I said that and even though I know he is sweet talking but I still felt a little tingling when I heard those words.

No Cynthia! No! Don’t get trapped into this sweet talker’s words. Every word out of his mouth is a honey coated lie.

“Aye! Don’t say that! You’ve greatly hurt my feelings, you know. Oh, my poor heart can’t take it anymore.” He’s still not done? But I won’t be tricked a second time so I didn’t budge.

“See? You are not even consoling me. You really are such a heartless person Rose.”

That’s it now! I could feel my nerves twitch with anger.

“Yeah, you are right. I am really bad at consoling people and I’ve also hurt you so badly. Then as an apology how about I get someone else to ‘console’ you in my stead?”

“Eh?”

“Guar__!? Mft! Mpht!”

“Hey! Hey! Don’t be like that. Why bother the guards?”

“Mfttt! Mmm!?” HE! I can’t seem to push him away using only physical strength. But I can’t use magic in front of him. Even if I do have to use it then the elders will detect my Mana and then everyone will gather here. No-No, it will create a big mess. I need to think this through. He is only playing, let’s just listen to him.

“What? Suddenly stopped struggling? What are you planning now?”

“Mhmm…” Now that I’ve calmed down, I can feel his body behind me. His one hand hugging my waist and hands while the other grasping my mouth. There’s a scent of morning dew and freshness of trees mixed with faintness of sweat. Thinking back, I didn’t realize it when we were horse riding but now, my back could feel his warmth while his grasp gives me a sense of familiarity.

“Okay. I’ll let go but don’t make a noise and listen to me first.” He lets go of me slowly and gradually. I turned to face him and listen what he wants to say but if it turned out to be another joke then be prepared to face my ‘wrath’ Lucas.

“Let’s go over there. There’s moonlight so it won’t be so dark anymore.” He grabbed my wrist gently and guided the way towards one of the edges of the tower. As we stopped and he turned towards me I saw something unexpected.

Lucas let go my hand as his eyes widened with what I assume is shock. For a brief moment he seemed unable to move or think like he got froze in place but soon after he turned his head sideways with an expression, I could’ve never believed he could make.

He was flushing bright red and looked really nervous and confused at the same time. What is wrong with him?

“Y-You!” He yelled.

“What?” I asked confused from his recent actions.

“That…” His finger pointed towards one of my hands which was still holding something.

“My hand? What’s in my h__?!”

“Eh?” My cheeks felt blazing hot and I could’ve sworn they flushed a hundred shades of red in a single moment. Never in my wildest dream have I ever experienced such a shameful scenario happening. How could I forget about this? Oh God! Just let me bury into a rabbit hole!

‘MY SHAWL!’ In a fit to reach here quickly ‘I FORGOT TO WEAR MY SHAWL’? What must he be thinking? Would he think that I did this on purpose? To get his attention? That I have a bad character? Or that I am playing a shameful joke on him? NO! My image is ruined. Now he’ll make fun of me and mock me for this incident whenever he gets a chance. I am done for.

Suddenly something got snatched from my hand.

“Huh?” Lucas pulled me close and draped the shawl that he took from me around my shoulders.

I didn’t even realise that I was standing there shocked like an idiot. My thoughts overtook me so much that I even forgot about the shawl in my hands. We both stood there silently for a while. Lucas must have noticed the awkward atmosphere between us and my embarrassed expression that he decided to break it first by striking a conversation.

“Weren’t you so excited before to ask me something. Not interested anymore?”

I came to my senses as soon as he asked. Yeah! This was the main topic all along. How could I let it slip my mind?

“So why did you come here?” I tried to sound

as calm as I can.

“Why don’t you believe me? I really came just to see you.”

“Uh-huh.”

“After you left suddenly I was worried. I wanted to follow you but thought you had something going on and didn’t wanted us to tag along.”

“Go on.”

“So after a while I came to check up on you. So, you see I really came just to see you”, he seemed stern.

My gaze examined his face for any suspicious give away. From the flawless look on his face, he seemed to be telling the truth.

There wasn’t any suspicious expression at all. This was suspicious in itself. Let me test the waters..

“Oh really? Then I guess I am sorry for doubting you.”

“It’s ok. There’s no need for it. Come let’s sit here, it’s almost dawn.”

We sat down on the edge dropping our feet in the air.

“By the way, where’s John?”

“Oh he?”, he replied with a nonchalant look.

“He had something to do and...damn.”

He turned to me in realisation while I couldn’t hold in my smirk.

“So you sent him to run an errand and while you were bored, you came to ‘see me’?

“Well…uh—you see__”

“Truth.” My voice firm.

“I was bored.”

Hah! I knew it. I had an inkling. It couldn’t be have been that simple. Annoying wretch!

“I can’t believe it”, his voice held amusement.

“You’ve gotten somewhat keen in the meantime I wasn’t here. Prudent indeed.”

What’s that suppose to means? Does he mean I was dumb before? This guy!

“Sigh–But to me it seems like you’ve lost your touch— Lucas.”

“Heh!”

The morning chill of the wind embraced us. The stillness of the world and this quiet and peaceful time felt so soothing. I could feel the air from my feet as I swayed it like a child. The tower is really tall but right now I don’t feel at all wary. This feeling of freedom is really something.

I peeked at him from the corner of my gaze.

Now that I pay attention to his face it seems like he also changed somewhat over the last two years. His chocolate brown locks fluttered softly and the moonlight gave them a gleam of silver. His face muscles are sharper and more defined now and those

hazel eyes have a mysterious look in them.

“Look, the sun is rising.” Lucas said pointing towards front.

“Wow.” The fiery rim emerged front the distant mountains. As far as sight beholds the sunlight peeped through the clouds stretching along the horizon blanketing anything and everything in the expanse like a sheet of dusted gold. The rivers and steams miles off met with the light, glittering like shards of broken glass.

It truly is strikingly gorgeous.

“Beautiful, right?” a hand nudged me.

“Yeah.” I uttered without much thought. My mind was still fathoming the beauty in front of my eyes.

The light of dawn shone softly on the city streets and buildings, bringing with it early morning bustling all across. People started rushing to work while there lovers stared at their backs till they vanished down the street. Vendors began to setup their stalls while bread boys winding door to door. The mansion also started to ring with all kinds of lively sounds.

Soon it will be very busy and as such it will be difficult to return to my room. Hah— I didn’t sleep the whole night but am still feeling surprisingly energetic and fresh. Maybe it’s because my mind got refreshed from such sightseeing. I have to say, this birthday of mine started with some really nice happenings.

“It’s getting late now so I should get going.” I said rising slowly when suddenly a hand grabbed mine.

Those hazel eyes stared into mine.

“Will you come to the night market tonight?”

“Maybe not because as you know that today is m_ I mean my lady Cynthia’s birthday so there will be a lot to do. She must have many things planned so I will probably be busy the whole day as I have to accompany her.”

His grip loosened.

“Mmm… okay then. I should also go now or else John will be worried to death.” Lucas said. He also got up but didn’t look at me.

Before I could say anything else he jumped down from the tower and landed at a tree nearby and in a blink of an eye vanished out of sight.

“Ah. I should also go back otherwise Emily and Marry would be terrified not to find me in my room.”

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