Xavier caress Xue's hair to comfort her.He was in extreme pain to see Xue like this.She knows how to control her emotions but right now she was crying so badly.So badly that he couldn't imagine this would happen to her.Just what kind of a dream did she dream?To make her cry like this, it's probably something big.He couldn't help but to feel in danger.He still doesn't know what their past life dreams indicate.He doesn't know if it will be repeated again in this life.His eyes went cold for a minute.He closed his eyes to calm himself and looked at Xue.His eyes went soft.He wrapped his strong arms and her legs and carried her.He crossed his legs and made her sit down on top of his legs.He made her face him and wiped her tears.He also fixed her messy hair on her face.
He chuckled."Why are you crying.It's just a dream, okay?", he comforted her.
Lia didn't answer and just silently sobbed.
"Shh.", he said and caressed her back to comfort her making Lia feel like crying even more.She hugged Xavier again and covered her face with his shoulder and calmed herself.
"Do you want to talk about it?", he asked her worriedly.
"No.", she said with a crack voice.
Xavier sighed.They remained in that position in silence.Xavier was slightly patting her back until Lia noticed something.
"Xavier.", Lia asked and faced him.
"Hmm?", Xavier hummed to her and fixed her hair behind her ears.
"Why is it so hard down there.", she asked innocently and worriedly.Why is his legs hard? Shouldn't legs be soft?
Xavier was stunned and slightly gasped when she touched him down there.He immediately caught her wrist and moved it away making Lia shocked.Xavier growled in low voice with his teeth clenching.Trying to control himself.
Lia looked at Xavier's eyes trying to read his eyes.She doesn't know why he is overreacting when she was just worried.
Xavier gripped her wrist hard.
"You know that I'm hard.Why are you still touching it?", he said in a low voice with his deep voice.His voice came out seductively like music to her ears.
Lia's eyes went wide and her body went stiff.Her face went red.Super red.He is hard?Hard like those stories she read on novels?Lia was embarrassed and shocked at the same time.She was clearly innocent.She doesn't know it was his ****.
"You're courting death, Xue.", he said and made her lie down in bed with him.He hugged her tightly as if scared of letting her go.
Lia was troubled all this time and didn't even notice she was trapped in his arms.
"I-I'm sorry.I thought it was your legs.I was just worried."
Xavier hummed and closed his eyes.But his eyes opened.He forgot to cover themselves with blanket.He sat up and cover Lia with blanket.He again lay down and went under covers and hugged Lia.
Lia was stunned.She just realized her position with him.He was hugging her tightly while they were laying down on a bed together!Her eyes went wide.Is he planning to make her sleep here?This is wrong.She has to get out of here.Lia moved her body to get out but Xavier didn't let her.His arms wrapping around hers tightened.Her face went to his chest.
Her body went stiff when she felt her hard thing again.
"Don't move.Please.", he said.
Lia's eyes looked troubled.
"This is wrong, Xavier.", she muttered.
They are not in a relationship.Even Eiser before can only touch her hands.Xavier however is doing something with her like what couples do.Although it was just an embrace, it's still not okay.
"Stay.", he murmured.
Lia was helpless.She knows she has to get out of here but his warmth embrace is so comfortable.Much more cozy than her room.As an anemic person she always loves warm temperature.His embrace is so warm under the blanket.His natural body scent also smells good and relaxing.Lia began to feel tempted to stay.Her body slowly relaxed.She decided to stay.she blinked her eyes several times feeling sleepy before closing her eyes.
"Xue.", she heard him murmured.
Lia hummed, waiting for whaat he's going to say.
"Call me Lur."
Lia opened her eyes.She was wondering why he wanted her to call him with the nickname she created.
'Does he like it?'
"I like it.I like it very much.", he murmured.
Lia was surprised.She didn't expect that he'll like it.Lia felt her heart warmed up.She likes that nickname too.His name Xavier Lumiere is too long and she thought his two names have letter 'r' pronunciation at the end so she picked 'Lu' from Lumiere and combined it with 'r'.
Lia closed her eyes again and murmured;"Okay."
Lia soon fell asleep.Xavier eyes opened and looked at Lia.He noticed Lia's breathing indicating she fell asleep.Xavier smiled and closed his eyes.He was in good mood.The two of them slept on the same bed that night.
Lia woke up by the alarm clock.
Lia groaned softly and sat down.Lia saw Xavier coming out of the bathroom in silk robe.Xavier looked at her and smiled.His face is so handsome with a smile that made Lia speechless.
"You're awake.", he said.
Lia looked away and got out of the bed.
"I gotta go.", she said in a hurry.Her brother might catch her inside Xavier's bedroom.She felt like crying.
Xavier just let her got out with a smile.
Lia walked towards her room.What was she thinking?!She slept with a man on the same bed!Although, something didn't happen, it's still not acceptable.
Lia took a bath and changed her clothes.She didn't wear a uniform but a black and pink colored dress that's available in her wardrobe.It seems flashy like a rich young lady.Lia looked at the mirror and paired it with black leathered boots.
Lia dried her hair with a hair dryer and combed it.She then got out of her room with a little glittery black bag.
When Naftali, Alaric and Naftali saw her, they were shocked.
"Xavier, u did well.Her dress suits her.As expected from an artist.From now on you're in charge of her clothes.", Naftali said.Xavier was the one who bought all of her clothes.Naftali just provided him her size based on their investigation.
The four of them began to walk.
Lia was surprised when she heard Naftali praised Xavier.Lia looked at Xavier's back.Xavier seems to be the one who's in charge of buying her clothes before.
"Alaric, how's mother?"
"Her highness is still busy with her current mission.The king is also busy.Both of them are rushing to finish their works so they could finally see Princess Xue.", Alaric answered Naftali respectfully.
They got out of the Sterling Heights and walked towards the parking lot.Alaric drove towards the airport.He has to finish his business in Country N by the Queen's order.
Naftali took over the drive seat and drove the car towards their school.Today was the day of Xavier's Archery competition and Naftali's battle of the bands competition.Xavier's competition will be held at afternoon while the battle of the bands will be held at night.When they arrived at the gymnasium.Naftali and Lia went to find Henry and his friends.When they found them, Lia sat down beside Naftali.The gymnasium was packed with students.They are mostly here to watch Xavier's battle.
In the first round with fifteen arrows, Xavier scored perfectly with a score of 150 effortlessly.The second round he also scored perfectly, a total score of 150 again.This made his other competitors speechless.The people screamed everytime Xavier gets a score of 10.Lia was speechless while looking at Xavier's figure.She didn't know he was this good at archery.
Xavier won at the individual competition in the end.
When they all got out of the gymnasium.The three of them including Henry and his friends decided to walk around the campus.The visited a lot of booths and took a lot of pictures.They injoyed themselves with food.When the night came, it was Naftali's battle of the bands.
Then enjoyed the battle of the bands at the field with a foam party.Lia was dragged by Margarette and Henry.Lia was hesitant at first but when her brother performed.She screamed with the people and jumped around with the others.Lia was happy for her brother and felt proud.Xavier behind her guarded her and didn't jumped around unlike the others.His everyone remained stoic.In the end, Naftali's group won 1st place.
Lia, Naftali and Xavier went to their cars soaking wet.They hesitated to enter.Suddenly a pickup car stopped beside them.It was Henry and his friends.
They called the three of them to ride with them and persuaded them to leave their car inside the school.The three of them joined the others at the back of the pick up car.
Xavier looked at Lia beside him.
"Lia, about the dream.", Xavier asked Lia.
Lia looked at Xavier."I'll talk about it when I have time."
Naftali who heard Lia's conversation frowned.
"What are you two talking about?", he asked suspiciously.
"Nothing.It's just about the painting.", Lia answered her brother to calm him down.Naftali felt relief hearing her answer.
They arrived home at 1AM.
Lia took a bath again and slept tiredly.
The next day.Xavier decided to quit joining the painting competition.His hands experienced felt fatigued due to performing archery yesterday.
Lia and the others decided to go to Henry's penthouse and celebrate.Henry's friends also participated in some competition so their celebration is for all of them.
When Henry's friend prepaid their glasses of beers, Naftali shook his head and took the supposed to be Lia's glass of beer.
"I won't let my sister drink beer."
Henry's friend let out an 'oh' sound and nodded.
"Cheers!!", they all said and let their glasses meet together with a clank sound.
All of them drank their glass of beer except for Lia.She was forbidden by Naftali.She only drank her juice obediently.
Their huge table had a lot of food on top and all of them enjoyed eating.Xavier gave Lia a lot of food on her plate as usual.As for Eiser he was not invited.Eiser left Henry's group chat and Lia, Xavier and Naftali became the new members.Henry added Lia, Xavier and Naftali in their group chat when they celebrated their 1st place in K-pop Sing and Dance Competition.Naftali accepted the invitation and Xavier accepted it as well as Lia.As someone who knew Lia and Naftali's background, Henry was so happy that he became friends with the royalties of Country N.
After the celebration Henry messaged Lia and told her about his feelings.Lia stared at her phone for a long time.In the end, she can only say, 'I'm sorry.I can only treat you as a friend.I indeed treat you as a friend.I'm still healing.I hope you understand.'
Henry could only sigh in his bedroom but there's sadness in this eyes.She only treats him as a friend and nothing more.It was still a rejection.He sighed again.Her rejection is respectful and gentle.
"Xavier's lucky.", he could only say to himself and laughed sadly.
After the anniversary week, the class mayor slapped the table to get the attention of her classmates.
"Guys!Listen!"
Her classmates behaved and went quiet.She smiled in satisfaction.
"I want us to celebrate our hard work during the school anniversary week on this Saturday.Although there's only a few of us who got into first place.2nd or 3rd and the rest should still be celebrated.We all worked hard during those times.We all deserve a celebration."
Lia's classmates became excited.
"I wanna know who's interested.Please, raise your hands!"
Almost all raised their hands.Eloise was also interested and raised her hands.Lia didn't raise her hands.She was interested.She never even once tried to experience going on a trip even before in her highschool days.She knows the Williamson family wouldn't let her.But she was hesitating because her brother might don't want her to go.
The class began to discuss their destination and voted.
"I wanna go to beach!"
"A pool!"
"No!I wanna hike!"
"Shh!Quiet!!", the mayor angrily scold here classmates.Everyone became quiet.
"How about we'll write our ideas on the blackboard and vote?Raise your hands for those who wants to suggest!", the class mayor said.
Her classmates cooperated.
Lia took her phone and messaged Naftali.
Lia
Brother, can I go somewhere with my classmates?They're going to celebrate all of our class hardwork during the week of school anniversary.
Lia stared at her phone for a while.She was waiting for Naftali to see her messages but Naftali seems to be offline.
She remembered what Xavier said to bill at the restaurant.
"I know.Xue's life is complicated.The Queen and King wants Xue's to finish Xue's current semester here and enjoy her freedom for a few months.She'll be busy in training and handling the Queen's secret mercenary group by then."
She knows, she's never going to experience this ever again once she goes back to where she belongs.
Lia typed again.
Lia
I wanna go.I heard when I'll come back to the Country N, I'll be very busy by then.I never had a freedom to go on a school trip since highschool so I never once experience this.
She also looked for Xavier's account.Luckily he's online.He messaged him.
Lia
I wanna go with my classmates on a trip.Can you convince my brother?I never had the freedom to experience going on a trip with my classmates.
A message of Xavier arrived very quickly.
Xavier
Ok
Lia smiled.She warmth inside her heart.Xavier agreed without hesitation very quickly.
The mayor created a poll in their group chat.
Poll
Who wants to go
40
Who doesn't want to go
3
Lia looked at their group chat and voted for 'who wants to go'.
Eloise looked at the group chat and saw Lia's name who voted for 'who wants to go'.She frowned.She felt horrible while staring at their Lia's name.It was as if a poison churning inside her heart.She looked at Lia with hatred in her eyes.
She hated that Lia's regaining her freedom and enjoying her life.She remembered Lia's performance back in the competition.Lia was smiling so brightly.Lia was the face of that night.People couldn't even remember her that night.Lia is just too beautiful with her face filled with emotions unlike her used to be dull eyes.She should be always beneath her.
"Who else wanted to suggest a place to go?", she heard the class mayor.
A thought came to her mind.Her clenched fist loosened and she took a deep breath before raising her hand.
"Eloise.Yes?"
"How about Suruyandiri Falls?", she said after standing up.
The whole class gasped and felt excited.
"Wahhh!! Isn't that the newly opened tourist spot?I wanna go there and try!!"
"I heard it's a beautiful waterfall inside the forest.The water there is so clear and cold.Much colder than the freezer of a refrigerator!"
"Ahhh!!I wanna go there and try!"
"How about we'll rent the waterfalls for overnight!We will sleep there with tents.", Eloise suggested and the others became excited and agreed.It was a great idea.
The class became loud until the mayor scolded them.
"Quiet!!", the class mayor scolded her classmates.Her classmates became silent.Eloise sat down again on her chair.The mayor sighed and smiled.
"Okay.We'll go there overnight.We'll rent the place.", the mayor agreed.
The whole class became loud again in excitement.
Eloise looked at Lia and clenched her fist.A falls inside the secluded forest where there's not a lot of people and only her classmates are inside.This is her chance.An opportunity to kill Lia.Now that the whole class agreed, the only thing she could do now is to hire a skillful killers.Much more skilled than those lousy men her mother hired to kill Lia.She wanted to see Lia's lifeless body.She can't wait for that time to come.