Celine touched Lucian's forehead with her cold hand, "How did you end up here?"

Lucian leaned into it with a smile, "Love sick. What about you?"

She thought for a moment. "Hay-fever," she said, making him chuckle.

Lucian grabbed the back of her head and pulled her towards him, kissing her lips. What would people think if they saw the girl with a hay head allergy kissing a hay head?

She was taken aback by his actions. He rarely initiated anything between them in a public space. She quickly kissed him back, tasting him as well, her lips moving in sync with his.

It was always her who took the first step forward, and him who was cautious about everything and everyone.

He parted her lips open with his, exploring the inside of her mouth. He felt her shudder as he moved his tongue further, trying to feel her deeper.

Her hands wandered, touching as much of him as they could, his chest, shoulders, neck, and arms, like she wanted to have him in her grasp and never let go.

She didn't care about where they were, getting bolder and bolder, her mind focused only on him.

You can't fake this, not this kind of desperation. Her body was too honest for him to think she didn't desire him, at least not right now.

He pulled away, and she had to catch a breath, her face flushed and lips wet.

She blinked at him curiously, wondering what brought that on, then frowned at the realization, "Don't be afraid. I won't let him look at you like that again."

"..." Who? His ears rang with her declaration, "Who is afraid?"

"Why else would you leave so quickly?" she asked. "You can't protect yourself from a Duremont heir. He will target your business, halt your progress and isolate you...isn't this what went through your head at that time?"

"No? I was afraid you would accuse me of flirting again if I didn't leave," Lucian replied with a wronged expression, "I didn't want you to stress about it."

"Oh? Really?" She looked at him for a few seconds before attacking his lips again, "You did? For me?" She smiled, kissing him over and over again, "I love you, I love you, I love you."

Lucian grabbed her shoulders, stopping her assault. He was getting drunk from her again and his heart would give out, "Easy there," he smiled, "Don't leave visible marks. I'm still a teacher and you are a student."

She gave him a look that said: I don't give a damn.

"You can't stop me," she threatened him.

Lucian sighed, not having any strength to resist her when she acted this cute, offering her his collarbone, "Only a little."

She grinned triumphantly, diving in for a treat. Lucian's body was more honest than his mouth and it responded to her every touch, making her feel giddy and proud.

She loved to watch him react to her touches. The way he tensed at first, trying to resist her, then slowly melting into a puddle, and the way he breathed, trying to keep quiet.

She pulled away to appreciate her artwork. He was a mess, red all over and out of breath, a hot mess. She leaned towards his ear, whispering, "If anyone dares to touch you, kill them. If you can't, call my name and I will go to you and kill them."

"Celine, those are lines that should be coming from a man's mouth," Lucian protested playfully, "Not that I don't love to hear you being possessive of me, but it makes me question my own masculinity."

"Then say it," she dared him.

"Doesn't suit my style, I'm a softie," he said, making her raise a brow. "What? I am. My middle name is Tender from tender heart, haven't you heard?"

"I think it's Darcy from dark and twisted," she replied.

"I'm not dark and twisted. I am bright and shiny," Lucian couldn't believe she didn't see him as a ray of sunshine, "I'm a delight to have around. Everyone says that."

She cupped his cheeks with her hands, squishing them, "Then cover your shady transactions better and I won't question your innocence."

His heart thumped against his chest. Was she talking about his loan sharks and the way he had been collecting the money? Or the poison sales? Or was she just teasing him again?

She grabbed the walking cane that was resting against his bed, pressing a mechanism that made a needle pop out of its end.

Lucian followed her movements, gulping, "My subordinates are very protective of me, so they added that in case I needed it."

"Not concealed enough, order them to change it," she said, pressing the tip against the plant next to the bed. Its leaves began to wither.

She figured out the whole mechanism of the cane within a few seconds of inspecting it.

"Yes ma'am." What subordinates? Lucian wanted to cry internally. He crafted his cane himself and was quite proud of the design.

Compared to the lighter she made herself, his cane looked like an expensive toy. He carefully took back his cane from her grip, and put it in its resting place.

Celine probably realized what she had done a moment later and her face fell, "I'm sorry. It's a good weapon to have, and very practical. Whoever made it must have been a genius to craft it this way. Your subordinates are very talented…you are amazing for gathering such people."

"It's alright. Any tips on how to improve are always welcomed," Lucian smiled at her.

She smiled back and he could see her shoulders relaxing. The gap in their status was one thing, but now a gap in their capabilities was starting to show too.

She knew he wanted to catch up to her one day, feel worthy of her, and not just become a pitiful creature that was being kept as a pet.

"I'm going to miss you," she said. After today, they won't be able to meet at the academy for a long while. Their time together would be more limited.

"Me too, I will try to visit more often when I'm in the capital," he promised.

"Don't, not until I deal with that worm," she said, moving to the bed furthest away from his bed to lie down, "I'm going to think, no distributions allowed."

Lucian turned to lie on his side, so that he could watch her think, "How can I help?"

"Be quiet."

"..."

Ignored. He got ignored.

It was funny how his own trait was being used against him and how annoying it was to be at the receiving end. Efficiency and productivity at its best.

Just a moment ago she was all over him, and now that her priority has switched, she became as cold as an iceberg, trying to come up with a way to destroy whoever stood in their way.

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