Lucian was able to track down Edmund, at the same time as the Rocheforts. He was hiding within the academy grounds, making it harder for any of them to get to him.
Any sign of violence against their own heir could cause an uproar and further decline the Rocheforts' reputation.
Rumors were fine if they remained just rumors, but when they became proven facts, it was a different matter.
The Academy's defenses and many eyes were the perfect cover for Edmund.
'It's not a place for pregnant women to stay,' Lucian packed his bags and prepared to leave for the academy.
Celine was supposed to drop out, stay under house "arrest" for her behavior and focus on giving birth, not get entangled in the mess her brother had caused.
'I'm burning that place to the ground, I swear,' Lucian fumed in his head, trying not to pull out his hair in frustration.
Celine couldn't trust any academy staff to help her during her pregnancy, all were a possible threat to her. He had to be with her. She had to stay within his sight.
He also wasn't sure about what the deal was with the shackled Edmund and whether he posed a danger to Celine.
Lucian threw his bag over his shoulder and was on his way.
It took him about three days to arrive at the Academy, and he was already feeling restless.
The security measures were much stricter than the last time, with guards and patrols all around the perimeter.
They inspected the carriages and the visitors thoroughly before allowing them inside.
Lucian went through the usual checks, and then was escorted to the guest quarters.
They didn't treat him like a criminal, but rather a liability. The dispute with the church and merchant guild still wasn't resolved, but news of him obtaining a gold mine traveled fast.
He was a guest that brought money to the table, so they were forced to treat him with respect.
Lucian didn't even unpack his things and went outside for a "walk" to clear his head.
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The sun was shining through the leaves in the Academy's forest, casting shadows on the ground.
The heroine's shoes were getting dirty as she ran through the bushes, her long hair flowing behind her. She was running away from her bullies, trying to find a safe place to hide.
She spotted a tree with a thick trunk, and decided to climb it, hoping the nobles wouldn't find her there. Her fingers gripped the bark, and her feet stepped on the branches, lifting her up higher and higher.
She reached a sturdy branch, and sat on it, catching her breath. She looked down, and saw the nobles walking below, looking for her.
"Where did she go? I swear I saw her running this way," one of the boys said, scanning the area with his eyes, "Lady Celine told us to make sure she won't make it to class today."
They were still searching for her, unaware of her presence above them.
Then, she heard a faint meow coming from a small cat, trapped on a branch, too high for it to jump down from. The cat was scared, and it was clinging to the wood for dear life.
"You poor thing," she whispered, feeling sorry for the cat. "Don't worry, I'll get you down."
She climbed further up, reaching for the cat, her hand outstretched. The cat saw her, and tried to move towards her, but it lost its balance, and slipped.
"No!" she gasped, and lunged forward, trying to catch the cat. But her foot slipped too, and she felt herself falling.
She closed her eyes, bracing for impact, when she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her, stopping her fall.
She opened her eyes, and saw a coldly handsome face looking at her with a mixture of annoyance and amusement.
It was the crown prince, Aldric. He had noticed her, and had caught her before she hit the ground.
"What are you doing up there?" he asked, his voice low.
She blushed, feeling embarrassed, and grateful. "I...I was trying to help the cat. Put me down!"
Prince Aldric frowned and dropped her on her feet, "You don't know who I am, do you?"
The heroine shook her head, confused, "No, I don't. I'm sorry, but I have to go. Thank you for catching me."
She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm, stopping her.
"Wait," he said, his eyes narrowing, as if he was studying her, his grip firm on her wrist. "You're the new commoner, aren't you?"
She felt a bit offended by his tone, and pulled her arm away from him. "Yes, I am. Is there a problem with that?"
He looked at her as if she was a curious creature, his curiosity piqued. "No, there's no problem."
He was not used to commoners acting so boldly around him, or having no manners. Most of them would bow and scrape, and agree with everything he said.
But this girl was different. She was not afraid of him, or intimidated by him. She was defiant, and challenging, and somehow, he found that...interesting.
She left him behind, and ran away, not caring about his royal status. She had to get to class before she was marked as absent.
Celine, on the other hand, watched the whole scene from a thick tree, snacking on the treat Lucian gave her.
A head leaned over her shoulder, taking a bite of the treat, making her turn to the side.
"Boo." Lucian wrapped his arm around her belly, taking another bite of the pastry from her hand she lifted to his mouth. "Surprise."
"..." She knew he was there, but didn't react to him, letting him hug her from behind. "Why is this child so obsessed with sugar?"
"Must have a sweet tooth, just like me." Lucian's lips brushed against her ear, "What are the rumors about the engagement between you and the Crown Prince lately? I hope they're not true."
He kissed the sensitive skin beneath her ear, his hand caressing her baby bump, his chest pressed against her back.
Celine leaned against him, closing her eyes, savoring the moment. "You came."
"Did you expect me not to?"
She didn't answer, and took another bite of the pastry, chewing it slowly.
"Why are you bullying that girl?" he asked when she remained silent, his tone casual, as if he was asking about the weather.
"An eyesore," Celine replied, her voice cold, but not in a hateful way. More like a dismissive way. "This one better last until the end. Too many crumble too soon, it's getting repetitive. No wonder men seek novelty, it gets boring when you've seen it all."
"Should I start worrying about you getting bored of me?" Lucian teased her, his fingers playing with the edge of her dress.
"I pray for the day you bore me to death, so I can live in peace."
He chuckled, and kissed her cheek, "Do you need help with her?"
"What can you do besides saving her from every situation like the gentleman you are?"
"Competition and rivalry between men exist, My Lady. And I'm quite good at making other men jealous of me, and envious of what I have."
Celine slowly looked up at him, a lovely smile spreading on her face.
It was a smile that said: I love it when you do that.
Lucian's heart skipped a beat at the sight. It was a dangerous smile, a smitten one, meant to lure him to his doom.
'I will burn the school a bit later,' he thought, hugging her closer.