'They've probably noticed me by now,' Lucian thought, feeling a few pairs of eyes on him.
Celine's simple gesture had them behave and let him observe them from the shadows. Her steps slowly reached him, and Lucian felt a sense of dread fill him as her voice rang out. "Are you going to snitch to His Highness about this, My Lord?" she asked, her face showing up in his peripheral vision.
"Not if you let two of my men come and train here, My Lady," Lucian replied, turning to face her leisurely as if he just lost his way here during a walk, "They could use some pointers from your training."
She tapped her fingers on her whip, "Hmmm," she hummed, "Up the offer a little bit. I don't feel tempted enough..." She closed the distance between them, pressing the whip against his chest, dragging it up to his chin. "...nor do I feel threatened by the prospect of you telling His Highness."
Lucian couldn't resist a chuckle, "It's not a threat, nor is it a bribe. It's a trade. A simple trade. You help me, I help you."
Celine lowered her whip, "I'm not the one who needs your help."
Lucian's smile grew wider, whispering in her ear, "Don't you need a new scapegoat to cover up your tracks? You've been using your father for too long, and it's about time for him to retire, don't you think?"
"We are not allies," she said, giving him an intense look.
"Yet we share a bed," he replied, leaning closer to her, "And I have a feeling we'll share a lot more than just our bodies in the future."
"Still not enough." Her lips parted, "I need you to seduce me…" she paused, her whip moving behind his head as she pulled him down to her level, her lips brushing against his cheek as she spoke, "...more."
"...I beg your pardon?" Lucian asked, looking around the room, noticing that everyone else had stopped fighting or training and were watching them. Even the birds had stopped chirping. 'What's with this sudden display of public affection?'
"I'm not asking you to seduce me like a lover," she clarified quietly, "I'm asking you to seduce me like a business partner."
"..." Lucian covered his cheek with his palm, his ear reddening as he misunderstood her words. He coughed, and his ears turned a shade darker when her lips brushed his. She let go as fast as she had pulled him in, but the taste of her tongue lingered on his lips.
The sound of a few snickers could be heard coming from the others, and a few sights in relief to accompany them as well.
"If that isn't whipped, what is?" Celine asked, taking advantage of Lucian's flustered reaction that looked more shy than annoyed, "Everyone who doubted my skills, come and pay your dues."
Five people out of around forty walked to her, and offered their forearms. She flicked her wrist, and the whip came down on their skin. They were taking it, without a word of protest, just their brows wincing in pain sold out their emotions. Even Seb, one of her aides, was in line!
Celine's questionable actions constantly made her people doubt her intentions. Over and over, she had to build up their loyalty. And the longer they were with her, the more they trusted her judgment. She somehow made them believe that Lucian was on her side, and not just as a business partner.
"..." Lucian took a step back toward the exit. He was definitely not partaking in this madness. "..."
The two soldiers who were guarding the door before were now inside, blocking Lucian's escape route.
"Lord Arclight was able to defeat the Crown Prince in a duel," Celine said, making Lucian curse under his breath, and turn around to see that all eyes were on him, ready to test her words, "I will give you a chance to redeem yourselves."
Lucian could feel the weight of their gazes upon him, weighing him, judging his every move. He witnessed the shame in their eyes as they got punished by Celine before a stranger, and the need to retaliate against him for being a witness. They didn't look down on him though because he had beaten the prince in a duel, which was not a feat easily achieved. Even for the best of knights.
'Why doesn't she just tie me up and punish me for being a snoop?!'
Whather Lucian was supposed to see, or not supposed to see, he thought he could avoid the consequences by playing ignorant, act as Celine's partner in crime to prove himself and maybe even gain her people's trust. And then, leave unscathed.
But this woman! This woman had to mention his match with the Crown Prince and make everyone interested in testing his abilities!
"Step inside the ring, My Lord," she said, "I believe we could use some pointers from a skilled fighter like you to improve our techniques. Whatever deal you wish to make with me, I will consider it after you teach us a thing or two in exchange first."
'Skilled fighter my ass,' Lucian wanted to shake her so bad, wondering if she really believed his win in the duel was not a fluke, 'she is just toying with me and wants to make me look bad, isn't she?'
"Why the long face, My Lord? Do you perhaps need a little… encouragement?" she asked, switching her stance to a less threatening one, lowering her chin and raising her eyebrows to appear less aggressive, "You wanted me to share some of the affection I had for His Highness, didn't you? My bad, I almost forgot."
Before Lucian could stop her, her gaze locked on him. It became admiring, almost feverish. Her eyes twinkled as she raised her hand in a cheering gesture, "Go, my love, show them how strong you are! I'm betting on your win!"
Lucian almost coughed up blood from embarrassment. She chose the worst moment to fulfill his request and act obedient and submissive, and her words were so sweet that he felt like vomiting. So this was how the Crown Prince felt about his admirers…
'I SWEAR TO GOD, SHE MUST STILL BE PISSED ABOUT THIS MORNING REJECTION TO BE DOING THIS TO ME!'
╔═══ Author's note ════╗
Yes, she is. 😆
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