Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 298: The Price He Actually Wanted

Chapter 297: The Price He Actually Wanted

Lyria’s POV

I stared at him for a long moment, his words settling over me like a weight I could not quite lift. The moonlight caught the edges of his face, softening his features, and I found myself searching his expression for any sign of mockery. The lake lapped gently against the shore behind him, and the night air was cool against my skin.

"B-but you just told me s-some minutes ago that I w-would pay you for the p-pencils," I argued.

Lucian nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"I did," he said. "But I only said that so that I could get something in return. More time with you. Or perhaps to get you to speak with me like we are currently doing, or to have something of yours that you would give me—like a drawing."

I just stared at him.

Surely this wasn’t real.

"I did not truly mean that you should pay me back in coin," he continued. "I would never take payment from you, especially not in coin. That would make me seem cheap, and to be honest, I do not wish to appear that way to you. I would rather have your company than your coin."

My mind, which had been functioning adequately moments earlier, suddenly seemed to cease operating entirely.

He did not wish to appear cheap to me?

I opened my mouth to speak, then I closed it, then I opened it again.

"I..." I began, then I cleared my throat.

"I d-do not think—"

I was unable to finish my words because, as luck would have it, I stumbled.

My foot caught on an uneven patch of grass, and I lurched forward. Lucian’s hand steadied me immediately, his grip firm and sure, his fingers warm against my arm.

"Perhaps," he said, his voice gentle, "we should take a break. We have been dancing for a while now."

A break?

Yes, that would do me some good before I embarrassed myself further in his presence.

"Besides," he continued, "if we just continue dancing, I would not be able to watch you enjoy the snacks I have prepared for you."

I had no idea what to say to him, and so I simply nodded.

He led me to a corner of the lakeside, where a blanket had been laid out on the grass. The fabric was soft and woven, a deep shade of blue that matched the night sky above. A basket sat in the centre, its woven lid closed, the handle tied with a simple ribbon.

I sat down, the blanket soft beneath me, and Lucian settled across from me. He reached for the basket and opened it, revealing the contents within.

There was considerably more food than I had expected.

There were small savoury pastries, golden and flaky, their surfaces glistening with butter. Tiny sandwiches with their crusts removed, filled with cucumber and cream cheese, arranged in neat rows. Little meat pies, still warm, their aroma rising in the cool night air. A selection of cheeses and crackers arranged neatly on a small wooden board. There were also small tarts filled with mushrooms and herbs, their edges perfectly crimped.

There were even candied nuts.

I stared.

"You b-brought all of t-this?" I asked.

He looked almost offended.

"Of course."

"This is e-enough food for s-several p-people."

He considered that and then nodded.

"Perhaps."

I looked back at the basket, then I shook my head.

I reached in and took one of the small pastries and bit into it, and the flavour burst across my tongue.

A soft sigh escaped me before I could stop it.

"T-this is g-good," I said, my voice soft.

Lucian chuckled, watching me with an expression I could not quite read. His eyes were warm, and there was a certain softness to his features.

I took another snack and extended it toward him, but he shook his head.

"I would rather watch you eat," he said.

I paused, then I returned the snack to the basket.

"If you are n-not eating," I said, "then I am n-not eating either. And besides, eating this l-late will make me add w-weight. I do not wish to appear u-unseemly i-in the presence of o-others."

Lucian stared at me with wide eyes.

"Are you serious?" he asked.

I nodded.

"V-very much s-so."

He blinked, clearly taken aback.

"I s-suppose we s-should continue t-the lessons," I said as I stood up. "Perhaps we c-could move to a d-different dance. It s-seems I am getting t-the waltz well enough."

Lucian shook his head.

"I did not say that," he said.

"You said I was b-better than b-before," I argued, a hint of defiance creeping into my voice.

He sighed, the sound... fond.

"Though I said that," he said, "it does not mean that you are quite good at it. There is still much to improve. Your footwork is better, but your posture could be more refined. Your turns are still hesitant."

I opened my mouth to respond, but he continued.

"Sit back down, please," he said. "I will eat with you and get fat with you. But you are only just recovering, so get some rest, please."

He paused, then added,

"And I must admit—even if you do add weight, I would still find you attractive."

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. The warmth spread from my neck to my ears, and I could feel the flush of colour on my face.

"I-I... y-you... t-t-that is n-not—y-you d-do not f-find me a-attractive," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.

He tilted his head, a smile on his lips. His eyes held mine, steady and unwavering.

"Is that what you think?" he asked.

I blinked rapidly, trying to form coherent thoughts, trying to string words together. I was almost certain he was messing with me, but my heart reacted differently, as though it believed he was being honest.

It couldn’t be, though.

He was... he was Lucian.

There was no reason for him to find me attractive.

This was all a—

Lucian spoke again, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Do you think that perhaps I am messing with you?" he asked.