Celine and Lucian never walked in the open like this. With people trailing behind them, watching their every move. For a moment, it felt like they were a couple, a couple no one dared to question.
It wasn't how they'd pictured it in their heads back then. Lucian couldn't confront her with so many ears around, and Celine couldn't talk to him without feeling like she was being pushy.
"Are we going to wander around until the sun goes down?" Lucian asked.
"Why? Do you have more important things to do?"
"I thought you would," Lucian said, causing her to stop walking and look up at him.
"How could I be more busy than Lord Arclight?" she asked, covering her cheeks with her palm, pretending to be moved, "You must think so highly of me, I'm flattered. That's the first real compliment I've received from someone in years."
"..." Lucian noticed how her aides' eyes bulged slightly, shocked by her shift in behavior. She always put on a show as if being genuine was a foreign concept, and she rarely approached a man she already dissed once, "Then you won't mind me stealing more of your time? Since I'm already a bother and a headache, what's a little more, hm?"
"Oh," Celine looked away, her tone turning shy, "You are being so bold, Lord Arclight. We hardly know each other, and here you are, asking to steal my time and keep me by your side."
Lucian coughed into his fist, "Let's not cause a misunderstanding here, Lady Rochefort. You were the one who asked for my company, not the other way around."
"Ah," Celine covered her lips, and pretended to look shocked, "You kept glancing my way and looked so lonely, so I thought you wanted me to cheer you up. Was I wrong?"
She wasn't exactly wrong, and he had nothing to refute her with. So instead, he leaned in slightly and asked, "How far are we taking this, Lady Rochefort? Are you just here to lift my spirits, or should I expect a kiss by the end of the day, too?"
"Huh?" Celine blinked, going through his words one more time, which caused a soft pink to dust her cheeks. She hadn't expected him to play along, let alone act like a real suitor.
"That's a nice shade of pink," Lucian noted, ignoring the heat creeping up his own ears. He'd sweet-talked dozens of ladies while selling his goods, flattery wad his second nature. But with her, it came out awkward. "It brings out your eyes, too."
Celine quickly covered her face, shaking away the sudden image of them kissing, "Where did you learn to be so brazen, Lord Arclight? Or is this how you normally behave when you have a woman in front of you?"
"Does it matter?" he asked, "No matter what I say, you won't take it to heart, right? After all, you've already made up your mind about me and my intentions, haven't you?"
"..." Celine sat down on a nearby tree trunk, hiding her face in her palms. She didn't know whether to match his flirting with something clever or just sit there like a stone and wait for it to pass. She was called a slut so many times that she was afraid Lucian might start thinking she was one if she didn't act appropriately.
Lucian's shoulders trembled; his laughter hidden behind a fake cough. She seemed even more flustered then ha was. He crouched in front of her, trying to get a look at her expression. "Are you alright?"
"..." Celine slowly moved her fingers, her eyes peeking between them, meeting his amused ones. 'Ughh! No, you are making it worse!' She smacked away the dirty images, but they returned tenfold. Messier, more intense, more vivid. "I'm not alright," she shook her head, "Don't bring up such vulgar topics into our conversation again, Lord Arclight. I'm a noblewoman, and my virtue is the most precious thing I can offer to my future husband."
"I see. Forgive me for overstepping," he smiled, "Can I at least compliment you without making you uncomfortable? You look really cute with that expression, and I'd hate for it to disappear."
"..."
"It's like looking at a tomato."
"..."
"A really red tomato."
"..."
"Maybe even a strawberry."
"..."
"Are you not going to help me up? You are supposed to," she stopped his blatant flattery, "It's the rule. If a lady of your favor happens to stumble, physically or emotionally, it's the gentleman's duty to help her. That's basic chivalry. How are you supposed to be a good lord if you can't even help a lady in distress?"
Lucian didn't move, "Chivalry?" he repeated, and then chuckled, "Do I look like a noble gentleman to you, Lady Rochefort?"
Celine felt the sudden hostility. She wasn't aware of it at first, but his body language changed, and so did his smile. He was just humoring her, and was not genuinely enjoying their little banter. The cold words which followed were proof of it.
"Had enough fun, my Lady? I wasn't sure what your goal is here, but if you want me to follow you around like a lapdog, and treat you as a queen, then, you will have to do a lot better. Your performance was passable, though, so congratulations. You did manage to get a reaction out of me, and I hope this satisfied you, because I am done entertaining you."
"..." Celine sat still, stunned.