Chapter 109: Do not make him ask twice next time.
Alaric was sitting inside the security lounge, reading a report. Clara was standing beside him, speaking quietly about tomorrow’s route.
Knock Knock Knock
Lucian knocked on the door even though the door was already open, both Alaric and Clara looked at him. Lucian smiled like he always did and the two ignored that smile like they always did.
Lucian shrugged, he walked in and stopped in front of Alaric—
"I need the night off."
"No."
Alaric answered almost instantly.
"I did not even explain."
Lucian blinked.
"It is not needed."
"I could have a very good reason."
"You do not."
"That is hurtful."
Lucian looked offended.
Alaric returned to the report.
"You do not leave the protected area unless I approve it and I do not approve it."
"You are very strict, Commander."
Lucian pouted, it was almost as if he enjoyed provoking Alaric.
"That is why this mission still functions."
Though Alaric rarely reacted to his provocations.
"I only need to return to the Enclave for a few hours."
"No."
"I will be back before morning."
"No."
"I can send flowers as compensation."
Alaric finally looked at him again.
"Cross."
"Fine."
Lucian sighed.
Clara looked at him, expecting him to leave, Alaric was no different, but...
Lucian just took out his phone, tapped the screen and held it toward Alaric and that made the Commander frown.
"What is this?"
"Someone wants to speak with you."
"I do not take orders from outside this command."
"Oh?"
Lucian’s smile widened. Alaric did not react, he didn’t even move to take the phone.
"No one has the authority to make me grant you leave during an active protection mission."
Lucian didn’t say anything, he just let the silence settle in the room with an amused smile on his face. A smile that Clara found... very suspicious.
For a second, nothing happened, Lucian only grinned while Clara wondered what was wrong with this man.
But then—
[Is that so, Ashcroft?]
A voice came from the phone and the next second—
Alaric froze.
Clara’s face turned somewhat pale. She glared at Lucian in anger. No wonder the bastard had that repulsive smile on his face. Clara was thanking all the powers in the world that she didn’t say anything.
At the same time...
She pitied Alaric as she saw him slowly take the phone.
"Lady Vivienne."
He called, the authority in his voice vanished in an instant.
[Lucian will leave for the Enclave tonight.]
"This is an active mission, Lady Vivienne."
Alaric’s jaw tightened.
[I am aware.]
"He is assigned close-contact support."
[I am aware.]
"The protected subject requested him personally."
[Ashcroft.]
Vivienne called out, Alaric’s hand that was holding the phone flinched for a moment, then—
[If you believe a few hours without him will collapse your protection line, then I might need to personally visit the Ashcroft Family and question their heir’s competence.]
"T-There is no need, Lady Vivienne. He can leave."
Alaric gave in and Clara didn’t blame him, not for a single second. As someone from the Voss Family, she understood what Vivienne visiting their families meant.
Heck if she found out Vivienne visited the Voss Family, she wouldn’t return for a good few weeks, and if she found out Vivienne visited the Voss Family because of her...
She would directly cut her name from the family line and start living in the city’s outskirts.
The heir to Ashcroft would be no different.
The last thing he would want was for Vivienne to visit the Ashcroft Family because of him.
[He will return by morning.]
Vivienne spoke in her usual voice.
"Yes."
Alaric nodded respectfully.
[And Ashcroft.]
Alaric gulped at that.
"Yes?"
[Do not make him ask twice next time.]
"Yes."
With those words, the call ended. For two full seconds, no one spoke. Lucian then gently took his phone back and looked at Alaric.
"So?"
He asked.
"You can leave."
"How generous~"
"Return before dawn."
"As my commander orders."
Alaric narrowed his eyes.
"And Cross."
He called out.
"Yes?"
"Do not look that pleased."
And Lucian’s grin only widened at those words.
"I will work on it."
"Leave."
Alaric ordered as he returned to reading the report, Lucian simply walked away. The moment he left the office, his eyes fell on Sarah, who was listening to their conversation from outside.
He grinned.
"That was Vivienne Everhart?"
"My dear teacher."
Lucian grinned.
"She made even the Alaric Ashcroft fold."
"Fold is such a strong word."
"He folded."
Lucian laughed at that, then he nodded.
"He folded."
Sarah looked at the lounge Alaric was sitting in and—
"I thought Ashcrofts were terrifying."
"They are."
"Then what is... she?"
Lucian thought about that question.
What was Vivienne Everhart? Why were even the Ashcrofts so afraid of her and he—
He had no idea.
He just knew Vivienne was scary, everyone in the Enclave feared her.
Why? What did she do to invoke that fear? Who was she to command such authority?
He had no answers to any of these questions.
He just... enjoyed the show from the sidelines.
"She is... phenomenal."
He chuckled.
Sarah stared at him and—
"You need help."
"I am going to get some."
He nodded.
And Sarah didn’t know what to say. Lucian didn’t explain anything either, he only winked at her then playfully waved his hand before walking towards the elevator.
That night, Lucian left the hotel.
And just as Vivienne said, by morning, he was back.
Sarah, who was sitting in the lounge with coffee, stared at him.
"Good morning, Street Girl."
Lucian smiled brightly.
She looked him up and down and—
"You look disgustingly refreshed."
She commented.
The exhaustion that was building under his smile for the last few days was gone, his skin looked healthier, his eyes were clearer, even the small slowness that had appeared in his movements was gone.
He looked... new.
Like Vivienne had reset him to factory settings and sent him back.
"Thank you."
Lucian grinned.
Sarah’s face only twitched at that, for some reason, he seemed even more annoying now. Just then, at the end of the hallway, Evelyn’s suite’s door opened and she stepped out.
Just like always, her eyes looked for him and when they found him, she instantly noticed the change.
"You look better."
"Everyone keeps saying that."
Lucian shook his head dramatically.
"I fear my tragic beauty was appreciated more when I looked tired."
"I prefer this."
Evelyn laughed lightly.
"So how was yo—"
Before Lucian could continue the conversation—
"Miss Starling."
Clara called out.
Both Lucian and Evelyn turned towards her.
"Your residence has been prepared.
We will shift today."
Prepared.
Lucian noticed that word.
Obviously, Clara didn’t mean they cleaned the place or something like that, to the Enclave, prepared meant something else.
Evelyn was being targeted by a man who clearly had some link with the supernatural world, so obviously, normal preparations and security measures wouldn’t be enough.
They needed to do more.
So for the past few days, that was exactly what the Enclave was doing, Enclave witches had turned Evelyn’s residence into a fortress, making it as safe as this hotel was.
That, combined with the team led by an Ashcroft, the Enclave truly was spending quite a bit of resources on this particular mission.
"That is good."
Evelyn nodded at those words.
"I missed my home."
She smiled.
Lucian looked at her.
Home.
He wondered what that word meant to someone like her.
Then however, he stopped wondering and just smiled—
"Then let us bring you home, Miss Starling."
"Yes."
Evelyn smiled back.
