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"Why are you trying to seduce me?" Lucian asked. His voice cut through the air, calm but sharp.
Ray instantly stiffened. Her fingers tightened around the box in her lap. She knew it wasn't going to be easy to seduce Lucian. But, he seemed to have caught on.
Damn it, he knows. I'm doomed.
"What is your plan?" he asked, leaning forward slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips but it didn't reach his eyes. His burning, unreadable eyes.
He was one to believe everyone around him had an ulterior motive. It just depended on how severe it was.
Typical male lead analyzing everything like a puzzle he's been waiting decades to solve, Ray thought.
She gulped hard. Then met his gaze.
She wasn't going to be scared of him.
He may be the male lead— Duke, and Grand General of Saenia. But she was the author who had created his fate.
A light scoff left her lips, followed by a full giggle before she could stop it.
Why was I even giggling? Relax ray, you've got this.
"Do you really think I would want that?" she said, wiping a stray tear from her eye. Not from the laughter, but from the fact that fear had slightly pushed it out.
"Honestly… it's not my fault men mistake a kind gesture from a beautiful lady for…..seduction." she said.
The corner of Lucian's mouth twitched. He couldn't help it, but he found her rather amusing.
Ray's pulse hammered in her ears. "Would you… maybe consider an evening stroll? She asked, trying to sound as calm as possible.
He leaned back slightly, the smirk still in place, then said. "I've heard you're someone who always got what she wanted."
"You've done your research well, I see," Ray replied, keeping her voice level cool.
"Let's see, if this time you would," he said, rising. He inclined his head. "Please excuse me, my lady. I have official matters to attend to."
Then he left.
Ray's stomach sank as he walked away, leaving her blinking at the empty space.
What was that supposed to mean? Her mind was deep in panic and shambles.
Lucian wasn't one to say words without meaning. The statement he made was definitely a challenge. And Ray was not a person to back down from one, especially when her life was on the line.
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The council chamber buzzes with low voices. Ministers sat stiffly in their seats, brows arched and voices overlapping as frustration seeped through the air.
"No word from the city guard," one of the council members said sharply. "None from the viscount's estate either," another added. "It's as though the trail vanished entirely."
The crown prince sat at the head of the table, his fingers steeped beneath his chin and his expression pale. "We cannot allow this to continue," he said, a voice slowly rising. "A noble woman vanished within the capital, and now there are whispers of unrest. What are we to tell the nobles? That we are helpless?"
Murmurs rippled through the room. Lucian, who had remained silent, observing the situation, finally spoke. "Your highness'" he said. His voice was calm and rising from his seat.
"If I may." He requested. The room went still.
Lucian rarely attended council meetings, even as the Grand General who had to be at them. Due to the fact he was at war, he was rarely sought after. But after his return, many eyes fell on him.
"There have been reports," he continued, "of commoners disappearing from their places of dwelling. Families left unanswered. No worthiness and no leads."
Several heads turned. The crown prince frowned. "You believe this is connected?"
Lucian paused. "I cannot say for certain," he replied. "But when two incidents of similar nature occur within the same borders, different classes, different districts, it is rarely a coincidence."
A scoff among the council broke the silence.
The minister of defense leaned back in his chair, a small smile curling on his lips. "How convenient," he said lightly "The Duke returns after years at the border, only to enlighten us on matters we have been handling long before his arrival."
A few men released quiet chuckles. Lucian turned his gaze to him, slowly and unhurried. "If your handling had yielded results," he said evenly, "we would not still be discussing missing people."
The smile on the minister's face instantly vanished.
Silence filled the air, thick and suffocating.
The crown prince let out a small breath, a faint hint of amusement flickered across his eyes before it disappeared. He straightened, returning to his troubled composure.
"What do you propose?" He asked. Lucian did not hesitate. "Allow me to handle the investigation." He spoke quickly.
Several ministers stiffened, they cleared their throat, adjusting right in their seated position.
The crown prince studied him. "And if you fail?" He asked coolly. Lucian inclined his head slightly. "Then I will bear full responsibility." He responded.
The crown prince paused. He studied his gaze but not a single expression slipped.
"Very well," crown prince Erik said at last.
"You will be granted authority over the case. But if there is no progress, no leads, you will answer it.
Lucian lips faintly curved. "That will not be necessary." He said.
The crown prince smirked at his response then rose. "This council is adjourned."
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Ray stood outside the palace gates, pacing back and forth, staring up at the towering walls.
This is insane, she thought. Absolutely insane.
What was she even doing here? Her heath pounded between her ribs, Loud enough to be mistaken as drum beats. She should go home. Turn around. Pretend she never followed Lucian here in the first place.
But what If there isn't another chance? If she left now there was no guarantee she'd ever get this close to him again.
"My life is literally on the line," she reminded herself. "I don't have the choice to be a coward." She muttered.
Ray glanced around the main gate. Guards stood watch, spears held in hand. Their expressions, sharp and alert.
There was no way they would let her in without an official summons. She sighed, then circled the perimeter.
When she reached the side fence, she paused. "That's it?" She muttered.
Although, the walls at the front were huge. The side fences were about five apples high.
For a palace this huge, one would think they had high lever security. Ray took quick glances around, then lifted herself up and slipped over the fence.
She landed lightly on the other side, the straightened, brushing dust from her yellow floral dress.
"Now, where would Lucian be?" She mumbled to herself, whilst scanning the palace grounds.
Probably the court room?, she thought. But how would she find her way there?
Asking for directions was not an option. But what exactly would she do when she found him?.
She paused, the question formed in her mind.
"Wow," she said, rubbing her head. "I really didn't think this through, before following Lucian, huh"
Then, about to continue in her search. "Hey! You there!"
Two guards had spotted her over by the outdoor corridor. Ray ignored, maintaining a calm pace, to avoid coming as suspicious. But there persisted.
"Hey! Yellow…" one of the guards said.
Causing Ray to halt a stop. Damn it, I knew I shouldn't had listened to Elara on wearing this dress. She cursed.
"You don't seem from around here," he said.
His steps slowly closed the gap between them.
"Let me see your pass." The other requested, then stretched out his arm. Ray's blood ran cold.
Quickly she bolted. Sprinting across the corridor and into the courtyard. Footsteps thundered behind her.
She darted through an archway and into the palace garden, hedges towering around her, as the guards chased after her.
Think ray, think. Her eyes scanned across the garden and finally landed on a Bush by the side.
Quickly, she dove behind it, just as the voice grew even closer.
"She couldn't have gone far, check over there!" They said, while they looked around.
Ray froze. Not because they were close to the thick bush she hid, but someone was already there.
A boy.
Without thinking, she covered his mouth, her eyes wide in panic. "Please don't scream." She said to him, As he stared back in confusion.
Shortly, the guards left toward another location in search, their footsteps fading as they moved farther away from the garden.
Ray held still until the voices disappeared. Only then did she slowly lower her hand off his mouth.
She met the boy's eyes. A scar lined across his left eye, while a faint blue in the other. His hair was as bright as the midday sun, slightly reaching his neck. His features were soft, almost feminine. If he was dressed in a gown he could have easily been mistaken for one.
But she had also noticed something else in his gaze. Disgust.
"Who are you?" he asked. His nose crunched into a sneer.