The sky turned pink with the sunset and Lucian's hands were becoming numb from holding the flowers for so long.
'Is she going to show up at all?'
When the last rays of light disappeared behind the horizon, he finally saw a familiar figure walking toward him.
Her hair was styled in a half-up, half-down fashion, decorated with diamonds that matched her dress. The dark blue gown hugged her figure, the skirt flowing behind her as she walked.
'Pretty.' Lucian smiled, his eyes following her every step. His impatience vanishing at the sight of her. She was breathtakingly beautiful.
"Who are you looking for, my lady?" he stood up from his seat, holding the flowers behind his back. A small bow to show his respect.
"For a man worth my time," she said, looking at anything but him.
"Should I apply for the position?"
She continued walking, picking up signs of his presence, and following them.
Lucian trailed after her, letting her have the illusion of freedom, "I feel like a cat, chasing after a butterfly. Do I have to catch you to earn a kiss? Or will you land on my nose and kiss me yourself?"
He caught up to her when she reached a certain tree. Her hand touched the carving on the bark that had a stick figure of a boy with a heart next to it and a stick figure of a girl, holding hands. Her fingers traced the 'L' and 'C' written below to the figures.
Something felt out of place to Lucian. Her behavior, her words, they were... off.
"My Lady, would you not spare a glance for your humble gardener?" He bent to see her face, which was turned away from him, her hand still on the tree. She seemed reluctant to face him.
"Your words have become so refined over the years," she said.
"It is the company I keep," he answered, controlling his smile just enough to appear aloof. After years of trying to belong, his words also came out composed, "Your grace has rubbed off on me."
"Is that so?" she laughed, "I have been trying to rub on you for years, but you've always refused to be worn down."
The thumping in his chest grew louder, the smile threatening to crack his face. It must've been his imagination. Nothing was wrong. They were flirting like usual.
"Please do not talk like that to a man who has been starved of your presence, my lady." He leaned against the tree, his shoulder brushing hers, "It makes me want to steal you away from the banquet."
She faced him, finally. Lucian's smile died, having a bad feeling about what she was about to say next.
"It's about time we end this charade, don't you think so? This is getting annoying... Your acting is great, but you should stop abusing your luck."
The warmth in his chest dropped straight into his stomach. Her eyes, the color, the hue, the shape, everything was Celine's. Her aura, her voice, even her mannerisms were similar.
But something was missing. There was no spark of recognition or affection. She looked at him like she would look at any other person. Or worse, like he was a bug she wanted to squash under her shoe.
"You're not actually supposed to believe there's anything between us. How delusional can you be, honestly." She tilted her head, giving him a better view of her face that showed pure disdain in every line of her expression. "My seduction techniques were too powerful for you to resist, weren't they? Even now, you can't take your eyes off me. After all I did, you still want me. Such a pathetic soul you are."
He blinked, unable to comprehend what he had just heard, "Pardon me?"
"You are not the only one with plans for the future." Her gaze dragged over him, "I can't let my father's power and connections go to waste, can I? I have a lot to gain if I marry the right man, and a lot to lose if I marry the wrong one."
"But you said─"
"I lied."
He stared at her, frozen in place, as the blood drained from his face. "You lied? About what?"
"What do you think? That I love you?" she snickered, mocking him for being a fool.
Announcement of the Crown Prince's arrival echoed in the distance.
'Don't turn. Don't you dare turn away from me.'
Her eyes flickered to the direction of the sound, "My future lies with someone wealthy and powerful, someone who can protect me. There are many other options for the future Queen, some that don't involve a lowly gardener. Though I admit that you were a good training ground, truly a perfect practice for my future plans."
Lucian could take her fists, her curses, even a stab to the guts, but this...the venom in her words, the disgust in her voice. It was the betrayal of the heart that he couldn't handle.
"This must be a joke," he dropped the bouquet, forcing a smile on his lips as he cupped her face, "Is someone threatening you? Is something forcing you to say these things?"
"Guards!" she slapped his hands away in disgust, "Guards! Help!"
"Celine!" Lucian raised his voice, catching her by the wrist and spinning her around to face him, "Are you out of your mind?! Please, stop scaring me," he begged, bringing her palm to his cheek, "What's wrong?"
"Touch me again, and I'll have you whipped!" she yanked her hand away, "Guards!" she called again. "Hurry and get this lowlife away from me!"
Sounds of hurried footsteps approached them. He would be hanged for touching a noble lady inappropriately, but at that moment, Lucian didn't care. He couldn't let her go away.
This was not his Celine. This was not his wife he had signed the marriage contract with. This woman hated him and he felt it in his bones.
Getting on his knees, he pleaded, "I'll marry you, Celine. Alright? Just come back to me. Whatever the problem is, we can solve it together. I promise to follow you to the end of the world. I'll never leave you. Please─"
A slap landed on the side of his face, and he fell to the ground. Her shoe came down on his head, her heel digging into his skull, "How dare you call me by my name, you lowly rat! Do you want to frame me for whoring around with a gardener?!"
Two guards hurried over, taking hold of his arms and yanking him up to his feet.
Lucian's golden eyes stared blankly at Celine, as if seeing her for the first time.
"Where is my wife?" he whispered, his voice shaking with rage as he pushed the guards away, "What did you do to her?!"
She laughed at his words, making him see red, "She never existed, you idiot. That's why. I decided to kill her off, and have the fun of watching you grieve over a lie!"
Lucian lunged at her, his hands going for her neck, and the guards tackled him to the ground before he could reach her.
"Crazy bastard!" One of the guards cursed, punching him in the face.
"Throw him in the dungeon!" she ordered.
The guards dragged Lucian away, kicking and punching him as he stared at her. "You better show up and bring my wife back, or I swear─"
"Or you will what?" She snatched the fallen bouquet and struck him with it as he escaped the guards' hold. The stem dug into his cheek, and the flowers' petals flew in his face, "Fall in love with her ghost, again?"
He stood there, stunned, as the guards restrained him once more. The bitterness in his mouth and the cracks in his heart made him feel nauseous. He had never known a day without loving her. He didn't know how to stop, and she was mocking him for it.
He even had to try and love her a little less, so he could breathe. That's how much she ruled his life. He had to make up all the reason to hate her, so he wouldn't lose himself in her, and she... she...
"She's dead. And there's nothing you can do about it." She threw the broken bouquet on the ground, stepping on the flowers. "You've lost her. Your dream is over."
╔═══ Author's note ════╗
End of Arc 7.
Share some gifts and reviews to give me motivation for the arc 8! The plot is set, I just need the energy to write it out. Thank you! 😭🙏
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