The familiar voice startled Skylar. But she caught herself. She would not give Lucian the satisfaction of seeing her alarmed. So, Skylar relaxed her shoulders and kept walking.
"Wrong way, Princess."
"I am not a Princess."
"Then why must you behave like one?"
Skylar could not walk away from that. She whirled around, facing Lucian with a fury. Instead of looking apologetic, and regretful like he should have been, he looked unimpressed. The cheek of him.
"How dare you?" Skylar charged towards him. "I am standing up for myself. And I thought you might stand up for me, too!"
Something flickered in Lucian's eyes. Dullness to something brighter, like moss transforming into grass covered in dew. He hesitated, not knowing what to say, so he looked away. It was a habit of his, to gaze at anything but her whenever he was lost for words.
It was Skylar's turn to feel unimpressed.
"That's it? You're not going to say anything?" She shoved against his shoulder, as though to check he was working properly, that this was truly her best friend standing before her. Still, the Sunborne heir said nothing. What irritated her more was how he had barely moved when she shoved him.
"Agh! The least you could say is that you do not want me to go. I have not heard you talk about my marriage, not even once. I want you to say that this union is ridiculous and unfair. Say that I shouldn't marry him. I-I'm not going back. I'm not going to that ball, I'm not—
"Okay, okay, I hear you."
Lucian brushed his hair back, awkward and rather uncomfortable. "It's just... I have to bring you back in time for the ball, or Lady Velcourt will—
Skylar didn't let Lucian finish. She turned and walked away. "You always take their side." Skylar swallowed, not wanting her emotions to get the better of her. "You are supposed to be my best friend! We called each other allies, once. I bet you don't even remember the day we met—
Lucian rushed in front of her, holding his hands out. "If you'd just let me speak—
Skylar laughed without any of the humour. "Well, do you have anything worth saying, Lord Sunborne?"
"Why, yes, Lady Velcourt. If you would just give me the chance, maybe I can tell you." Lucian's voice was just as hollow and unamused as Skylar's was. The edge to their voices struck one another, and though Skylar was tempted to continue the battle, she said nothing, allowing him to speak.
"You accuse me of forgetting. But you said day." Sarcasm dripped from Lucian's words. He was being childish. "We met in the darkness of night, my Lady."
"You know that's not what I—
"You had snuck away to enter this very maze." Lucian raised his voice, still mocking. "And if I hadn't stopped you..." he glanced around with a feigned worry, "This place might have been haunted today."
Skylar tried to walk past again. She had heard enough. But Lucian stepped sideways and blocked her path.
"Very well, I apologise. I…" He spoke softly. "My point is that I saved you. I did my best to look out for you. And that is what I am trying to do now."
"Are you? It does not feel like it. And I don't need you to save me, Lucian. I just need you to..." Her words left her, crumbling on her tongue. She was unsure of what she wanted to say because she did not know what she needed from him.
He had no power to stop this marriage. Yes, he was a noble, just like her. He was her father's Ward, but he had no say in the matter. The union involved House Velcourt and House Everus. It even involved the King and Queen of Darcia, themselves. They had been sent word of the union before anyone else, as it was Queen Kaya who oversaw the marriages of nobles and anyone with status. Her blessing was permission, which Her Majesty had kindly given both Houses. To speak against the union would be no less than treason, and it would only make everything worse.
What Skylar needed was a miracle. And with the day of her wedding looming closer and closer, she feared it may never come. Skylar suddenly felt all the fight she had, drain from her body.
"You need me to be on your side," Lucian said quietly, finishing her thoughts. "That is what I am trying to do."
"And how does dragging me back to my mother do that?"
She spoke quietly. Solemnly. She knew she'd end up in that dress, and at that ball one way or another. But she was always open to suggestions.
"You still have time. You are not married nor are you set to leave Astros just yet. That means there is still time for things to change. And if they don't..." Lucian paused, clearly troubled as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "If they don't, and you still have to marry him, why are you wasting your time running away and getting yourself punished?"
Skylar had no answer to give. She was speechless. She looked into Lucian's eyes and saw no sign of amusement. She had known him long enough to know when he was taunting her, and when he was being completely genuine.
"You love attending these balls and banquets. Far more than I do. You make a point to never miss one because you are afraid you might miss something worth talking about. You dance and eat and talk all night. Tomorrow, after your lessons, you could go riding. You could go to the markets. You could even choose to speak to your father again, spend time with him." Lucian nodded encouragingly, and his voice rose like it usually did when he spoke about something he was serious about. "Whether there is a chance of change or not, wouldn't you rather spend your last moments in Astros, doing what you love? With the people you love?"
Skylar hadn't thought of it like that. She wondered why she had never considered such a perspective.
If her marriage to Caspian Everus was truly inevitable, was this how she wanted to spend her last moments in Astros? If her fate has already been decided, did she want to leave home, carrying the weight of her regrets for the rest of her life?
"So, yes. I believe I am trying to save you. I am saving you from yourself, Skylar. I know regret very well, and I do not want that for you."
The breeze rustled the leaves around them. Lucian was observing her, keeping an eye on every line of her face. His words were resolute, blunt, but his intentions were good and true. He looked concerned, worried that he might have offended her. The softness with which he looked at her bothered her. It made her feel weak.
Skylar was turning his words over in her mind. She didn't like it, but she knew Lucian was right. This couldn't be the way to change things.
She walked past him without a word, to the very end of the path.
"Skylar. I didn't mean to—
She turned back to face him. Her smile gave him pause.
"You have made your point. You are right; I can't keep running away." Skylar couldn't believe she was admitting such a thing to Lucian, but thankfully, he showed no sign of being smug about it. "I will return to my chambers for now. Then you may escort me to the ball, oh, Ward of Astros."
Lucian's face brightened with relief, then amusement. He hurried towards her and they began to make their way to the exit. Lucian used his glaive like a walking stick, a habit from childhood, and Skylar's fingers brushed against the leaves. For the moment, the two walked together in silence, side by side in the maze where they first met.