Lia was thrilled at the change in her brother. She had to restrain herself from shouting her joy out to the world, every now and again, when the changes overwhelmed her.
It had been a week since Kieran had come to the capital. Anastasia had been invited to multiple parties and found little time to be around her son. Kieran was almost as busy, dragging Ian to the Marquis’s townhouse. He quickly became the central socialite of the capital.
Princess Rosina von Weise’s man. The fact that he was a child of Marquis Gilad Vale made him look exotic. Either way, Kieran’s superior appearance along with his innate confidence, won women’s hearts.
Lia was able to take the time she needed to recover fully, just as Kieran had told her she would. She still had a few bruises, but she no longer had to hold back tears every time that she moved. Lia felt better than she had in a long while.
“Welcome, Sir Canillian,” the concierge at the Academy’s front door said, welcoming her more formally than usual.
Even the students themselves acted differently around her now. People that used to stair at her openly, would not meet her eyes now. People surrounded her, wanting to talk to her. She only recognized a few of the faces around her, but most of them were unfamiliar.
Feeling vulnerable, Lia headed into a class, attempting to lose the crowd following her. It was horrible. She was unable to focus the entire class. Every gaze fell upon her. Her association with Kieran, who was mesmerizing the entire capital, made her even more interesting to those around her.
“Sir Canllian! Let’s discover the great mystery of nature…!”
“Sir Canllian! Tell me how to become a 9th year student.
“Sir Canllian!”
“Sir! You look as beautiful as Marquis Kieran. Will you accept my invitation?”
“I heard that you were wounded. I have medicine from a far off land that could help you heal faster. Can I bring it to your home sometime?”
Lia ran away from the crowd of people following her. She knew that they all wanted to be near Kieran, and they were simply using her to get close to him.
Tired of being chased and pestered by people all day, she sought a place to rest. Spotting a stable nearby, she darted inside. As she entered the structure, she heard people shouting for her outside.
“Sir!”
“Sir Canillian!”
“Where did he go?”
Panting in an empty stall next to the horses, she tried to catch her breath. The massive beasts paid her no mind, simply flicking their tails and chewing their hay.
Each time she breathed in, her ribs hurt, a shooting pain lancing through her chest. Holding her side, Lia politely greeted the stable keeper and opened the door with a familiar symbol on it.
The room she entered had a thick buffalo skin couch, dark brown in color. Various guns hung on the walls. The curtains created a stifling feeling throughout the room.
A dark place, black and red. It would have been overwhelming to anyone else if they were in her place. But she felt strangely comforted. It was the scent of lavender that clung to the room, which put her at ease.
As she tilted her head to one side, she rubbed her ribs. She sat on the sofa and marveled at how it could feel both hard and soft simultaneously.
“Damn it, Canillian!” someone yelled.
Lia recognized the voice.
“D…Duke?” she asked.
She attempted to get up, but the arms that wrapped around her waist were faster. Pulled into his embrace, Lia sunk back into the couch.
Held in place, she sat on the couch next to him, feeling her body heat rolling off him in waves.
“I’m sorry! Are you okay? Why are you here?” she asked.
Claude chuckled at Canillia’s confusion, brushing his messy hair back. He looked like he had just woken up. Putting his head on her shoulder, he said, “Please don’t yell. My head is ringing.”
“Were you sleeping?” Lia inquired.
“I was. Is there something wrong with sleeping in my own room?” he asked.
Ah, no wonder the symbol looked familiar, Lia thought to herself.
Covering her face with her hands, she embarrassedly peaked through her fingers at him. Claude laughed like he didn’t care and put his chin on Lia’s shoulder.
“Is the Academy rowdy because of Kieran?” he asked, his breath tickling her neck.
Her pale neck still showed a small bruise. His warm lips touched it, and she curled up in surprise.
“It’s alright now. It’s all better,” she said.
“No, there’s still a mark.”
“I’m really okay. It doesn’t hurt,” Lia insisted.
“Really?” he asked.
She nodded at him. He didn’t ask any further questions. He lay back on the couch and closed his eyes, still not letting go of her waste.
“Please let go. I’ll sit on another chair,” Lia said.
He shook his head as he held her close.
“There is no other chair. Wait until it calms down, then you can go.”
Lia’s heart raced. The whole experience was unfamiliar, but she didn’t mind. She was fixated on his breathing and wanted to tear herself away from him at the same time. Her mind told her that there was something wrong with this, but her heart fluttered in disagreement.
An emotion she had repressed suddenly manifested itself again. She had dismissed it when he had told her that he found her repulsive, but it had suddenly reappeared.
“Smells like lavender….”
The place was full of the scent she smelled whenever he caressed her.
Lia looked around after her eyes adjusted to the dark. Then she turned to Claude. She thought he had his eyes closed but he was staring at her.
His voice approached her, saying, “You don’t smell like anything.”