[color=lightgray] [center][h1][color=slategray]Lucian & Mina: A Touching Moment[/color][/h1]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/TjRDPFr.png[/img]

[h2]Part 2[/h2][/center]

[color=#758173]Time:[/color] 3pm, Ignis 4
[color=slategray]Location:[/color] Sorian Guesthouse
[color=#758173]Outfits:[/color] [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b1/e5/80/b1e580b4e5ba78abc64a84214a81b73c.jpg]Lucian’s Outfit[/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/6CwXUbD.png]Mina Outfit[/url]

[hr]

He wasn’t sure what he should have expected. Of course she would be hurt, he knew that deep down but had pushed for the kiss all the same and he was kicking himself for it now. He felt her words cut him like a hot knife. It was beneath him. His jaw tightened as he clenched. He hated the weight of that damned crown. More often, it felt more like a crown of thorns than anything else. In his eyes, there was no beneath or above.

[color=slategray]”Feelings are lost on royalty, hm?”[/color] He remarked, admittedly much more coldly than he intended. [color=slategray]”I’ll try to stop, but not because it is beneath me but because you are deserving of much more.”[/color] He explained. His tone was firm, but gentle. 

[color=slategray]”Who called you that?”[/color] He asked, snapping to look at her again. He’d heard the rest of her words, yes, and they shocked him as well, but he was still stuck on the title she had used for herself. [color=slategray]”Mina, stop. I asked who called you that?”[/color] He asked again, reaching for her arm to stop her. There was a scowl on his face, an anger he couldn’t quite place. 

Mina flinched as his fingers tightened around her arm, not because it hurt, but because the heat of his anger startled her. She looked up at him, seeing that the sorrow in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a scowl. It struck her as almost laughable—after all the time she had spent feeling cast aside, now he was acting as though her honor was something precious he needed to protect. That it was something worth defending.

[color=758173]"Does it matter?"[/color] she asked, her voice airy and brittle. She tried to pull away, but she could feel herself crumbling bit by bit under his gaze. [color=758173]"I imagine the list of people who haven't used that title would be shorter, Lucie. It would be a very small piece of paper."[/color]

She let out a short, brittle laugh that caught in her throat. Mina tried to pretend the name meant nothing, but she could feel the mask slipping. Each time she forced herself to say it, the ache in her chest grew heavier, as if she were collecting stones one by one.

[color=758173]"But if you are truly looking for the architect,"[/color] she continued, her tone dropping even as her eyes grew glassy, [color=758173]"you need look no further than the 'charming' King Edin. He was the first to realize that a woman who cannot be controlled is best dismantled with a few choice whispers."[/color]

She met his eyes, and for a moment she let him see the cracks in her composure. Only then did she realize he truly hadn’t heard. He had been gone when the whispers first began, safe in the comfort of his marriage while she had been left behind, picked apart by the court’s gossip.

[color=758173]"He planted the seed, and the rest were only too happy to water it,"[/color] she whispered, her fingers ghosting over the hand he held her with. [color=758173]"Don't play the hero tonight, Lucian. It’s far too late for that, for me. I’m fine. Just... just walk me back."[/color]

As the last word slipped from her lips, Mina felt her composure crumble. A single tear slid down her cheek, silent and warm, before falling onto the back of his hand where his grip still held her in place.

 [color=slategray]”Yes, yes it does matter.”[/color] He replied simply, unable to quell the anger he felt. He felt her tug away but refused to allow her. His grip tightened, not enough to hurt but enough to show her that he meant what he said. Hearing her words only angered him more. How long had she endured this alone? How long had she suffered this weight in silence? 

When she told him who had coined her title, he felt his stomach twist. Surely he had not. Surely the king had more grace and tact than to resort to baseless rumors. And that besides, why Mina? What benefit would he have in doing this to her? Control? It was clear to him that he had been holed away in his grief for far too long. The Sophia in his dream flashed before him briefly before Kilian’s words about the King resurfaced. It made his blood boil again. Fool of a King.... 

[color=slategray]”Why? Should I go back to my sorrow? Drown myself in drink again?”[/color] He asked, his tone a bit more accusatory than he meant it. [color=slategray]”I’ve no illusions of playing the hero or making all of this go away for you. My power only reaches so far and I’ve never been very good at protecting those close to me…”[/color] His voice cracked just slightly. 

[color=slategray]”But can you at least let me try? It might be selfish of me, but…”[/color] He felt his throat tighten. [color=slategray]”I can’t keep burying my head in the sand, pretending the world isn’t moving on without me, pretending like I don’t care if it does.”[/color] He turned his head down to look at her hand, thumb brushing over the back of it. 

He felt the tears before he saw them and felt a tug, like a gravitation to protect her. His eyes scanned the room briefly to ensure none were around before he pulled her into an isolated hallway. Lucian tugged her into his arms, wrapping them around her small frame. [color=slategray]”Let it out if you want to. I’ll hide you…[/color] He whispered, a hand reaching up to pat at her hair. [color=slategray]”Orrr punch me if it’ll make you feel better. I can take it… I think. Probably.”[/color] He lightly joked, trying to lift the mood even if just a little. 

Mina flinched, the raw honesty in his voice stripping away her final layer of defense. He wasn't just reaching for warmth; he was reaching for a reason to stop drowning. [color=758173]"You're an idiot, Lucian,"[/color] she choked out, her voice cracking as he pulled her into the shadows. [color=758173]"A royal, selfless, thick-headed idiot."[/color]

The idea of him trying to protect her now, after the world had already done its worst, made something inside her snap. It was a terrifying, suffocating kind of hope. [color=758173]"You think I want you to drown? You think I read those letters and learning of your devastation, just waiting for the day you’d finally decide to come up for air?"[/color] She balled her fist and struck his shoulder hard. It wasn't a lady’s tap, but a strike fueled by over a decade of silence and the agony of knowing he had been wasting away, broken by the death of someone they both cared about, and Mina not being able to do anything to help. [color=758173]"I have spent years being the person everyone else needs me to be! I’ve stepped aside again and again, throwing away my own happiness so others could be happy! I have fought every vulture in this court alone while you were away!"[/color] It wasn’t actually his fault, she knew that, and she wasn’t actually mad at him. She was angry with herself.

She hit him again, the strike landing weaker as her voice broke. [color=758173]"How dare you offer me safety now? How dare you make me want it?"[/color]

[color=758173]"Damn you, Lucian! Damn you for being so blind! And damn you for coming back and making me feel something again when I had finally learned how to be cold. I was safe when I was numb!"[/color]

Her hands uncurled, her fingers clutching desperately at the fabric of his shirt as her knees finally gave way. She collapsed into him, her forehead dropping against his chest as the first true sob racked her frame. It was an ugly, broken sound as the dam finally burst. She clung to him with a white-knuckled grip, letting the 'Whore of Varian' wither away in the darkness of the hallway, leaving nothing behind but a girl who was simply, devastatingly tired.

After a long moment, she pulled back just enough to look at him, her face tear-stained and her expression deadly serious.

[color=758173]"Listen to me,"[/color] she whispered, her voice firm despite the tremors. [color=758173]"If you ever decide to spiral back into a bottle, I will find you. I’ll drag you out myself, or I’ll dive right into the wreckage with you just to make sure you don't have a moment's peace. I won't let you disappear again. You and I both know Sophia wouldn't want that for you... and neither do I. Do you understand?"[/color]

He smiled faintly as she called him an idiot, though if asked he probably couldn’t have told you why. Perhaps because he agreed with her. He was many of those things, selfless though, he’d have to disagree on. The fragility in her voice made his heart ache, his mind once again thinking of Mina dealing with all of this on her own for so long. Perhaps they could both benefit from sharing their anguish and pain. Perhaps some of her burden could be lifted if he shared it with her. Perhaps.

The faint smile faded the moment she started talking more. He kept his arms wrapped around her, her scent filling his lungs, intoxicatingly soft. A rather frustrating juxtaposition to the current mood. Her words stung, a thousand little needles in his heart, but he needed her to say them. He needed to hear them, take that weight and that blame. He winced as she hit him, a small part of him taken aback by the force of it. That was going to smart for a little while… 

Each strike against him was weaker than the last, but damn if it didn’t still hurt his shoulder. He made a mental note to never piss this woman off. Ever. He listened quietly as she spoke, cursing him. He would take it all, shoulder that blame. What was just a little more self loathing after all? He couldn’t begin to understand what it was she was feeling, the emotions coursing through her. He could, on some levels, understand the pain of coming out of a numbing stupor, of raising your head above the dirt you had buried it under. He understood all too well how painful it was to pull yourself out of your comfort. For him, that had been his grief. Oddly enough, his grief had been his armor, a way to protect himself. He could hole himself away and not face the world. It took a wake up call from the ghost of his late wife to jog him into the realization that he couldn’t do that any longer.

He felt the weight of her as she collapsed against him, arms tightening as he held her up. For her, his expression was probably one of pity, but to him it felt like looking into a mirror somehow. His pain reflected by hers. 

[color=slategray]”Hey, hey.. I’ve got you…”[/color] He spoke softly, his grip on her tightening again as he felt the force of her tears. For such a strong fist, she felt so small and frail in his arms, like he could envelope her whole. He rested his head against hers, letting her cry as long as she needed to. He would have stood there holding her until his legs collapsed if she needed it. Though, he was thankful he didn’t have to. 

His gaze was soft as she turned to look at him, his brows furrowed ever so slightly in concern. A smile grew as she spoke, turning into a soft, light laughter. It faded just briefly as she mentioned Sophia. He took a moment to look at her, truly look at her. The Mina he knew in youth was still there, just behind her eyes, but the woman standing before him was almost poetically beautiful. There was a tragic sort of beauty in her eyes sore from her tears and in the raw, unfiltered emotions she had allowed herself. His heart twinged, twisting ever so slightly in conflict. 

[color=slategray]”I’m not going anywhere.”[/color] He promised. He knew what Ambrose thought of his promises and his abilities to keep them. He knew his own damned shame about it, but he had every intention of keeping his promises now. He’d keep them even if it killed him.

Mina studied his face, searching for any sign of uncertainty, but instead she found only a quiet, unwavering resolve. The weight of his promise settled over her, unexpected and almost overwhelming. She realized, in that moment, that she had been longing for this very thing, a simple vow to stay, without ever daring to hope for it.

She let out a long, shaky breath, her fingers finally relaxing their death-grip on the damp linen of his shirt. [color=758173]"See that you don't,"[/color] she murmured, her voice thick and gravelly. [color=758173]"Because I wasn't there to pull you out the first time, Lucian... and I don't think I could live with myself if I let it happen again."[/color]

She drew back, just enough to try and gather what little dignity she could muster, pressing the heels of her hands firmly against her eyes. A small, irritated huff escaped her lips, a sound that betrayed her sudden, keen awareness of how unraveled she must appear.

[color=758173]“Wonderful,”[/color] she muttered, her voice thick with the remnants of tears and a touch of frustration. [color=758173]“Just look at me. My eyes must be swollen, and—”[/color] she paused, noticing the vivid streak of color on his shoulder, [color=758173]“—judging by that mark of lip rouge, I’ve managed to ruin your shirt as well. I must look wretched. Crying is such a dreadful, undignified thing, and now I’ve gone and left the evidence all over you.”[/color]

She fussed over herself for a moment, hands moving with a desperate sort of energy as she tried to smooth her hair and dab away the last traces of tears, as if she could somehow erase the evidence of her unraveling. Gradually, her movements slowed, and as she glanced up at him, the sheer absurdity of it all struck her. A soft, genuine laugh slipped out between the remnants of her hiccups. It was a sound that felt more like her old self than anything she had managed all evening. [color=758173]“I’m sorry,”[/color] she said, shaking her head as she met his gaze. [color=758173]“I’m being utterly ridiculous. Thank you, Lucian. Truly.”[/color]

He nodded. He had no plans to run from this now. He needed to protect those that mattered the most to him. He couldn't afford to let more time slip by him. 

He pressed his lips together to contain his laughter at her little huff. He'd laughed before and knew better, but he couldn't help but find it oddly endearing. He turned his head back down to look at her as she pulled away. He felt his breath hitch in his throat for just a moment, his stomach doing a small flip. He couldn't be sure what flip had switched and he knew how absolutely mad he would sound if he voiced this out loud. 

She looked beautiful. 

Even just thinking it broke his brain. How? Her eyes were a swollen mess, her lipstick smudged and everywhere. There were tears stains where her makeup had been washed away and he could hear how sniffly she was in her voice. But damned himself if he didn't find her absolutely attractive right now. It left him with a confused and stunned expression on his face that he just could not mask.  

Her laughter broke his utter stupor as a flush of heat rose to his cheeks. The thoughts in his head right now were not the kind you had about friends. And he internally cursed himself for being such a hound when she'd literally just cried her heart out on him.  He was a beast. 

[color=slategray]”You do look a little ridiculous.”[/color] He lied, poking at her side playfully. His gaze softened again as he looked back at her. [color=slategray]”Any time, Mini.”[/color] He returned, offering her a gentle smile. 

[color=slategray]”Let's get you to your room, shall we? Can't have anyone seeing you like this.”[/color] He asked, offering her his arm. Nevermind the fact that there was a small unspoken part of him that didn't want anyone to see her like this for very, very different reasons. Selfish, possessive reasons. Nothing he would ever openly admit to himself right now, anyway. 

Mina caught the subtle shift in his expression, the dazed, almost stunned look that sent her heart stumbling in her chest. When he reached out to poke her side, the unexpected touch startled her just enough to bring her back to herself, though the heat that had curled in her chest refused to fade.

[color=758173]"A little?"[/color] she repeated, her voice carrying a weary edge as she managed a faint, crooked smile despite the redness around her eyes. [color=758173]"You’re a terrible liar, Lucian. I must look like a drowned cat."[/color] Without thinking, she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow, leaning into him as if drawn by instinct. The warmth of his arm against her shoulder was a comfort she found herself needing more than she wished to admit. She glanced up at him through her lashes, allowing a spark of mischief to flicker in her gaze, determined to make light of the absurdity that surrounded them.

[color=758173]"You're right, we should move,"[/color] she said softly, her voice dropping into a low, teasing silkiness. [color=758173]"Imagine the scandal if we were caught like this. The Varian Crown Prince and Lady Mina Blackwood, tucked so deep in the shadows it looks like they couldn't even make it back to her door without devouring one another."[/color]

A quiet, self-mocking laugh escaped her, though the words felt hollow even as she spoke them. She found herself searching his face, wondering what thoughts lingered behind his eyes, her mind drifting back to the way he had kissed her—the need in it, the heat. Her heart broke quietly at the thought that he might regret it, or worse, expect them to simply return to the way things had been, settled heavily in her chest. She tried to convince herself that they could go back, that nothing had changed, but as they walked, she doubted she would ever find her way back to what had once been normal.

[color=758173]"It's better than the truth,"[/color] she murmured, drawing a little nearer to his side as they walked. [color=758173]"That I was standing here blubbering like a child and making a mess of your shirt. It makes for a far more interesting story, don’t you think? Certainly more on-brand for me."[/color] She pointed at a door now coming into view. [color=758173]“That’s my room.”[/color]

[color=slategray]”Liar? Are you calling a crown prince a liar?”[/color] He asked, a playful tone to his voice. He wanted to prove her wrong but also didn’t want to admit how wrong she was. If this is what a drowned cat looked like, Lucian had some issues to work through. He stiffened just briefly as he felt her hand slip around his arm. It was the sort of thing a school aged boy would do when faced with his crush, though Lucian still hadn’t quite made that realization yet himself. 

And then she looked up at him and the unholy thoughts raced back. He was going to need to do a lot of thinking later… He couldn’t know the way his eyes darkened just slightly as these thoughts came to him or what she would think when he averted his gaze. All at once he couldn’t remember how he had treated her before this. How close had he been before? Did he hug her casually before? Could he do it again now? His mind raced. 

He very nearly choked as she spoke about possible scandal, not because it was shocking in and of itself but because it had been so similar to the thoughts racing through his head just moments ago. He needed a cold shower… and maybe a priest…

He only turned to look at her again when he heard her soft whisper. He shook his head, his throat making a soft sound in disagreement. [color=slategray]”Miss Mina Blackwood, I think it’s time for a rebrand. The [i]Rose[/i] of Varian.”[/color] He started, looking her over. [color=slategray]”I can’t control what others say anymore than I can keep the sun from shining, but I can control the space between you and I. When you are with me, you are just Mina.”[/color] He explained, lifting his hand to her hair now, tussling it playfully. 

[color=slategray]”So frankly, I don’t give a damn what’s on-brand for you.”[/color] He shrugged, smiling at her. He turned to open the door for her before leaning against the wall beside it to wait for her to step inside. [color=slategray]”Go rest up and get refreshed. I’m sure you’ll feel better once you’ve cleaned yourself up a bit. I’m upstairs in room 21 if you need me, okay?”[/color] He told her. [color=slategray]”Knock loudly though, I might be passed out.[/color] He laughed.

A quiet gasp escaped Mina as he tousled her hair, a small sound of protest that faded almost as soon as it began. She did not move away, choosing instead to linger at the threshold, her heart beating far too quickly in her chest. Turning to face him, she let her shoulder rest against the doorframe, delaying the inevitable return to her room. The thought of that silent space unsettled her; she knew it would be filled with the memory of his heartbeat and the lingering warmth of his touch.

[color=758173]"Careful,"[/color] she murmured, a crooked, bratty little smirk finally surfacing as she smoothed her hair. She felt a reckless urge to push him, to see if the man who had just kissed her with such hunger was still simmering beneath the princely facade. [color=758173]"Remember what happened the last time one of us tousled the other's hair?"[/color] She leaned an inch closer, her eyes searching his with a sudden spark of boldness. [color=758173]"Unless, of course, that was the goal all along."[/color]

Her words lingered between them, charged and unspoken, the memory of his lips on hers still painfully clear. For a fleeting moment, she wished he would reach for her again, to draw her back into that world where nothing else existed. Yet uncertainty pressed down on her, a heavy ache settling in her chest at the thought that perhaps she alone was left unsteady. The realization left her teetering on the edge, and she released a soft, uncertain laugh, hoping to dispel the tension that had gathered. [color=758173]"I'm joking. Mostly. Though I think I was calling a Crown Prince a liar earlier... and I'm still waiting to see what he's actually going to do about such an insult to his honor."[/color]

Her expression softened then, the playfulness receding just enough to show the raw girl underneath. She looked at him, really looked at him, wondering if he knew how much power he held over her in this moment. [color=758173]"And I’ll try,"[/color] she added quietly, her voice barely a whisper, a promise she wasn't sure she could keep but desperately wanted to. [color=758173]"To be just Mina. With you."[/color]

Mina hesitated, her eyes falling to the faint rouge mark on his shirt—a small, undeniable sign of her presence, a trace of the woman she was with him. A wave of possessive longing swept through her, unexpected and undeserved, and she found herself searching his gaze once more, a flicker of mischief returning to her expression.

[color=758173]"Room 21,"[/color] she repeated, her voice dropping into a playful, velvet hum that masked the tremor in her hands. [color=758173]"You’re far too trusting, Lucie. I can be a very loud knocker when needy, and I’m not sure I’m quite finished making a mess of your night just yet."[/color]

He watched her move, expecting her to start heading into her room. When she paused to lean against the doorway, he realized he’d been hoping she wouldn’t leave. He raised a brow when she told him to be careful. Careful of what, he wondered with mild amusement. 

She answered that before he had time to even consider it. He felt heat creep up to his cheeks again and he kicked himself for being so sensitive. His eyes went wide as she leaned in closer, close enough for him to get another breath of her scent. She.. certainly was not helping his… [i]mood[/i]. Though, he was beginning to think that was her plan. 

He felt a drop in his chest when she said she’d been joking, unable to stop the disappointment he felt. That, in and of itself, was something new, something he’d have to figure out on his own. [color=slategray]”What better way to combat an insult than to simply be the bigger person and continue to be a Prince who does not lie.[/color] He replied, conveniently forgetting the lie he’d told just a moment ago. 

His own expression softened and he seemed to relax a bit more in his posture. [color=slategray]”Good girl.”[/color] He offered softly, smiling at her. He knew it wouldn’t fix everything, couldn’t possibly. But, that shouldn’t stop him from doing what he [i]could[/i] do. 

The look on her face next had heat rushing back to his face. Didn’t she say she’d been kidding? Was she trying to give him whiplash? He swallowed hard, nodding his head as she repeated his room number. He was trying to ignore the way she sounded, the way her voice seemed to envelop him like velvet. 

[color=slategray]”M-Mess?”[/color] He stammered without thinking, his composure breaking for a moment. He coughed, trying to regain his composure. [color=slategray]”That’s… If… If you need me…”[/color] He added after a moment, his voice breaking slightly as his brain tried to reboot. 

Mina’s heart lurched in her chest. The words “good girl” echoed in her mind, leaving her flushed and unsteady on her feet. It was both a command and a compliment, and she felt herself unraveling under the weight of it.

She watched him falter, his stammering giving her a brief sense of control before it was replaced by a sharp, restless longing. [color=758173]"Do you... do you want me, Lucian?"[/color] she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The words hung in the air, and she felt her cheeks burn as she realized what she had said. [color=758173]"T-to need you, that is. Because I think I..."[/color]

She didn't finish the sentence. She couldn't. Instead, she found herself leaning closer, her body acting on a primal instinct that overrode every bit of her common sense. She was moving into his space again, her gaze locked on his mouth, her mind screaming a silent, pathetic plea for him to just reach out and take her. She wanted him to bridge the gap, to pull her into her room and slam the door on the rest of the world.

Behind her, the cacophony in her head reached a fever pitch. The voices. The unseen, persistent weights that followed her everywhere swelled in a chaotic symphony. Some were laughing at her desperation, mocking her for thinking a Prince could ever truly want a ruined thing like her. Others were whispering foul, encouraging things, urging her to take what she wanted while the shadows were still deep enough to hide them.

The noise was deafening, a whirlwind of shame and desire that had her teetering on the edge of a complete breakdown. She was a heartbeat away from reaching for his shirt, from begging him to ruin her properly—

[color=792A31]"Mina? Is that you?"[/color]

The voice hit her like a physical strike. Mina didn't just startle; she recoiled, her entire body locking into a state of rigid, primal terror.

Sebastian.

A flicker of jagged anger and sharp frustration crossed her face, but it was instantly swallowed by a cold, paralyzing fear. It was the kind of fear reserved for a predator that has finally cornered its prey. Her uncle had become a shadow over her life, his behavior growing more erratic, more unpredictable, and more dangerous with every passing month.

She stared at Lucian, her eyes wide and glassy with a sudden, raw vulnerability. She looked hunted. For a split second, the "Rose of Varian" was gone, and in her place was a girl terrified for her very life, silently pleading with the man in front of her to see the danger, even as she turned to face it.

By the time Sebastian’s footsteps sounded behind her, Mina had forced her expression into a careful mask, though it threatened to slip.

[color=792A31]"Ah, Prince Lucian,"[/color] Sebastian said, his voice carrying a booming, jovial warmth that felt like a serrated blade against Mina's nerves. He stepped up behind her, his hand settling heavily on her shoulder. It was a gesture that looked affectionate to an outsider but felt like a shackle to her. [color=792A31]"I didn't realize you were here. I hope my niece hasn't been bending your ear too long with her nonsense. She does love to hear herself talk."[/color]

Mina kept her gaze fixed on the rouge stain on Lucian’s shirt, her breath coming in shallow, silent hitches.

Lucian froze, hearing the words from her lips. 

[i]"Do you... do you want me, Lucian?"[/i]

His brain short-circuited again. He half asked himself what she could have meant by that question, but he knew. It wasn’t hard to figure out. She’d said them so quietly, but it rang in his ears like a deafening chorus. He wasn’t even sure he knew how to answer that or if he should. The answer was yes, he couldn’t deny that even to himself on at least a physical level. But he knew that he needed to keep a level head. He needed to control himself and figure out his own feelings before he let his hormones take over. 

She started leaning towards him and he felt like there was a carriage car racing towards him and he couldn’t bring himself to jump out of the way. [color=slategray]”Mina..”[/color] He started, trying to work up the courage to stop her, even as his hands began to lift, just ever so slightly, to reach for her. 

He heard a familiar voice break the tension between them and all at once he felt like a boy having been caught by a parent doing something he shouldn’t. How long had Sebastian been there, he wondered as he turned to face the voice. 

Lucian turned to look at Mina for a moment as Sebastian walked closer. He saw the look on her face, noticed the distinct change in how she carried herself. It was like night and day. Gone was the warmth from her face. Her body had gone rigid and saw the wide, terrified look in her eyes. It was something he’d expect out of someone who’d just seen a ghost or a beast, not their unwell uncle. 

His gaze shifted back to Sebastian, who had closed the distance rather quickly, before returning to Mina. By the time he did, however, her expression had changed again. It was something more deliberate this time, but he could still see the fear in her eyes. Confusion furrowed his brow for a moment, but he quickly smoothed it to put a smile on his face for her uncle. 

[color=slategray]“Ahh, Sebastian! I hadn’t expected to see you here.”[/color] He started cordially. The reaction from Mina was a stark contrast to what he expected from her in regards to her uncle. Was she that scared that they had been caught? 

[color=slategray]”No, sir. She hasn’t.”[/color] He replied somewhat curtly, unable to mask the slight tilt of a brow raise. He did not like the way that sounded. It did not sound like the sort of thing you say about family. 

[color=slategray]”Actually, I was just about to invite her out to go eat dinner with my sisters. I know she hasn’t seen Marina in quite some time.”[/color] The lie came easily, but he wasn’t sure if it would matter. Still, he had to try. The look on her face was stamped in his mind and he felt like he couldn’t leave her alone now. [color=slategray]”Would you mind terribly if I took her to go see her? I fear my dear sisters would be truly distraught if they couldn’t see her soon.”[/color]

Somehow, he still felt powerless. He saw no way to easily drag her away from this, not without insulting the Count and not without creating problems for his parents. But he had been powerless one too many times. He [i]had[/i] to try. 

Sebastian’s hand settled on Mina’s shoulder, the weight of it making her tense beneath his touch. It was not just the pressure, but the way his fingers curled, possessive and unyielding, that made her want to shrink away. When Lucian lied, trying to intervene, Mina felt a flicker of hope, but her uncle’s grip only tightened, a silent warning that she could not ignore.

[color=792A31]"How thoughtful, your Highness,"[/color] Sebastian said, his voice a smooth, synthetic kindness. [color=792A31]"But I must decline. My niece and I have private family matters to discuss over dinner. Important ones. Family must come first."[/color]

Mina caught the confusion in Lucian’s eyes, the way he tried to shield her with his words. She understood what he was doing, and as much as she wanted to let him stay, she knew it would only make things worse. If he remained, her uncle’s temper would only grow, and he would be in danger just like all the others. She had to send Lucian away, even though every part of her longed for the safety he offered.

She slipped free from Sebastian’s grasp and stepped closer to Lucian, wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug that was far too familiar for the setting. For a moment, she let herself rest there, drawing strength from the contact. [color=758173]"It was wonderful to see you, Lucian,"[/color] she said, her words meant more for her uncle than for Lucian himself.

She pressed her cheek to his, lowering her voice so only he could hear. [color=758173]"Go. I’ll be alright. If I need you, I know where to find you. I promise."[/color] She knew he deserved more of an explanation, but she couldn’t give it. Not yet. But she would, she silently promised herself she would tell him everything eventually.

She pulled back, her fingers lingering on the rouge stain on his shirt before she retreated toward the shadow of her uncle. She gave him one last brittle, "Just Mina" smile, silently pleading with him to walk away before the mask shattered completely.

His heart sank a little as his ploy fizzled before his eyes. There was no getting her out of this right now. It stung all the more that there was nothing he could do. The look on her face stayed with him, haunting him and he knew it would stay with him the rest of the day. His jaw muscles flexed as he took in a controlled breath, a practice his father had taught him for controlling his emotions.

When she hugged him, he couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of guilt. Just moments ago, he’d mistaken her for his late wife, kissed her, and was actually debating whisking her away to somewhere private to do much, [i]much[/i] more. And now, here she was pleading as if a monster was about to take her away from him, and he couldn’t do a damned thing to stop it. He intentionally did not meet Sebastian’s gaze as his hands gently rested against her back for the time she had embraced him. Stupid weak idiot, he thought to himself.

[color=slategray]”The pleasure was all mine, Mina. I’ll let Marina know that you’d like to meet with her for dinner when you’re both available.”[/color] He replied cooly, not trusting a response to her whispered comment, not trusting that Sebastian wouldn’t hear it, and not trusting his resolve to keep this civil. He didn’t know what was going on, but if Mina was pleading for his protection, he wanted to find a way to give it to her. Even if it meant returning her to him for the moment. 

He nodded briefly to Sebastian, a silent gesture meant to show the older male his respects. [color=slategray]”Good day to you both.”[/color] He addressed them, his gaze lingering on Mina for a moment before he spun on his heels. Every movement took effort, and the moment he knew they couldn’t see his face, he allowed it to shift into the expression of anger he’d wished he could have shown before. He was too weak. Far too fucking weak. His fist clenched as he ascended the stairs towards his room and he resisted the urge to punch a wall.

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