(DISCLAIMER!!!)
This chapter contains scenes of violence and indecency, which might be sensitive for some readers.
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The streets were silent beneath the full moon, pale light stretching across the cobblestones.
Only the distant hoot of an owl disturbed the quiet.
Kale and his mother walked side by side, his small hands clutching hers as he hummed, nibbling happily on the bread Lady Celestine had given him.
"Do you like it that much, Kale?" She asked, a faint smile touching her lips.
"Yes, mother!"
They turned into a narrow alley, the warmth of the evening fading into the dark.
Behind them, a sound was faintly heard.
A second set of footsteps.
Her steps slowed, then she stopped.
The sound stopped too. Her grip tightened around Kale's hand. "Mother?" He whispered.
But she didn't answer.
Her eyes flicked back, and in the corner of her vision, she caught it.
A shadow shifted behind them.
Quickly, she scooped up her son.
"Kale, hold on to me." This time, her voice wasn't gentle.
She moved fast, but the sound drew closer.
Her heart pounded violently, as she broke into a run. Kale's bread slipped from his hand, falling onto the ground unnoticed.
She turned sharply into a corner, and froze.
Someone was already there.
Waiting.
The figure lunged forward with a blade, face hidden.
The blade caught a glint of the moonlight.
She screamed. A sharp, tearing sound echoed through the night.
Kale cried out, his small voice breaking into a panicked sob.
"Mother…"
Then, there was silence, fading into the alley.
Only the half-eaten bread remained on the cold stone, crushed underfoot.
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The early sunlight spilled through the thin curtains of the window, settling over a canvas
Lucian sat near the balcony, bare-skinned, blue staining his fingers.
The brush moved across the canvas.
His brows narrowed at every traced curve, then he stopped.
The brush tip hovered inches away from the figure.
A faceless woman.
Suddenly a firm knock pulled his attention. "Come in." he answered, but his eyes were fixed on the streak of black and blue.
Aziah walked in. "Up early as usual." he said, his gaze pinned on him.
Lucian's gaze glinted, sharp and unsettling.
"You still can't remember?" Aziah asked, his grip steady on a scroll in his hand.
Lucian exhaled deeply, his fingers tightened around the brush, knuckles paling. "My mind remembers everything. The snow, the ash."
His jaw shifted slightly. "Everything else…"
He paused…
"Except for her face."
Then hurled the brush across the room.
Aziah said nothing. He picked up a cloth by the side and handed it over to Lucian.
Lucian wiped his hands clean, the color stains bleeding into it. His head snapped towards Aziah, his expression sharpened instantly. "What do you have for me?"
"The Court has summoned you." Aziah replied.
"What for?"
But Aziah could only give a shrug. Lucian moved closer, taking the scroll. His gaze moved across the page, taking in each word.
"An urgent summon?" He muttered. "What could be the reason?" He turned to Aziah, who stood by the oak desk close to the balcony.
But Aziah didn't respond. His attention settled on the incomplete painting.
Then, a knock followed. Edith carefully pushed the door open. She bowed her head slightly, her hands folded in front. "You have a visitor, they are in the receiving room."
Aziah and Lucian exchanged glances.
"Who…?"
But before he could finish his question, Edith took a quick bow excusing herself.
"Well…," Aziah straightened. "I'll leave you to attend to your guest." He said with a light bow. Then, walked out of the room.
Lucian stood still. His grip tightened on the scroll, his gaze fixed on the painting.
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Celestine's hands shook. She held a small box in her lap, her fingers fidgeting restlessly around it.
She tried to stay calm, but her heart jumped at every footstep that trailed the corridor.
Seduce the Duke. That was the plan.
How hard could it be?
Her fingers trembled anyway.
She had written women who could ruin men with a single glance. She knew every step. When to smile. How to hold eye contact. When to lower her voice.
And yet, she couldn't steady her hands as Lucian took his seat across from her.
"Why have you come?" Lucian asked, his expression unreadable. The rehearsed words in her head instantly slipped away.
Lucian stared back, waiting for a response. But he could tell, she had nothing prepared.
"Lady Celestine?" He repeated, "Why have you come?"
Celestine swallowed, then glanced at the box in her hand. She stretched it towards him. "I came… to return this!"
Lucian's brow lifted. "What is that?"
She opened the box, placing it on the table in between them. "Thank you… for yesterday." Managing a faint smile.
His gaze flickered to the box. "My handkerchief?"
"Yes." She said, "I wanted to return it personally, to show my gratitude." her body slowly gaining composure.
His focus returned back to Celestine, observing her closely. Then a smile crept on his lips, his hand resting over his chin.
"I see…" Lucian said quietly. "You went through the trouble of coming here… for this?"
Celestine straightened. "Well yes.." she said, "You saved my life, it's the least I could do."
"All this… for a piece of cloth?"
Celestine's pulse steadied. "I didn't come, only for that."
Lucian's eyes sharpened.
She continued. "I arranged an evening stroll with me."
Lucian blinked, "Excuse me?" surprise flickered briefly across his face. But Celestine held his gaze. Maintaining a smile on her face.
She relaxed her shoulders, leaning backwards. "Let's take a stroll this evening." She insisted.
His gaze lingered on her longer than usual. He studied her like she had changed shape right in front of him.
Then he leaned forward slightly
"You canceled our engagement." He said evenly, "And now you want me to go on a walk with you? That's inconsistent."
Celestine remained quiet, because deep down, she knew it was true.
Lucian tilted his head slightly. "What are you plotting this time?" He asked.
Lucian was the hero of this world, and it would be absurd if he never suspected anything.
And as expected
"Is this a desperate attempt to seduce me?" Lucian asked.
He had caught on.
Celestine held her breath, every instinct in her body screamed— something would go wrong.
But she made up her mind, she was going to survive.
She had to. Her hand clutched the hem of her dress, but her expression held a smirk. "That is cheap." She scoffed. "I don't move with such tactics."
The corner of Lucian's lips twisted, he found her amusing.
"Do you take my offer?" She asked, her voice trying to sound calm.
He leaned back. "I have heard you always got what you wanted." He said, then added. " Let's see if that remains true." he stood up.
Inclining his head slightly. "Please excuse me, my lady." He said, his tone without emotion. "I have official matters to attend to." Then turned, and left.
Celestine didn't move at first, only after a few seconds did she realise her hand had stopped shaking.
But her chest hadn't settled. Because she knew, what he left behind wasn't a rejection.
It was a test.