"Where did you go?"
Lia's voice was soft, but her eyes were sharp.
They were sitting at a small dining table, eating, with Lia sitting right next to him, their knees touching.
Lucian had no issues with the closeness.
Akasha had many.
[She's practically glued to you. Why even have two chairs? Just sit on one lap at this point.]
Her annoyed voice rang in his head.
Lucian ignored her and took another bite.
Lia was interrogating Lucian since he had come late.
"Just… to meet someone." Lucian honestly answered.
He could've lied, but he didn't feel like lying to her, so he told her the truth, just not entirely.
"Who?"
Lia wasn't convinced. She wanted more details on whom he went to meet.
No, it wasn't because she wasn't trusting him, but rather his decision to meet someone when he knew next to nobody for years wasn't too convincing.
"You don't know her."
His words were calm, yet they had a profound impact on Lia.
'Her' That word repeated in her mind.
Her expression shifted, irritation creeping in.
"Is it a woman?"
"Yes?" Lucian answered, completely oblivious to why she was reacting this way.
She just stared at him for a while,
"Hmm," She focused on her food, trying to ignore the gnawing feeling she felt.
"Do you like her?" She blurted out unknowingly.
"What?" Lucian tilted his head.
'Why is she asking that?'
Lia came to her senses, and her face flushed. She couldn't believe she just said it without thinking.
But still she looked at him and asked again, hoping for the answer she wanted.
"Yes."
She froze.
"I–I see."
'What is wrong with her?'
Just then, Lucian realised.
'No, she's not thinking that, right?'
[She is, you dumb idiot.]
Lucian put the spoon down and gently held her trembling hands.
"Lia, it isn't like that. She's over forty."
'I think.'
But Lia's tension didn't disappear. Instead, she looked up at him in shock.
"You like older women?"
[Sigh]
Listening to her, Lucian internally groaned.
'Why is her imagination so wild?'
He flicked her forehead lightly.
"Ow—!"
"What kind of image do you have about me. She is like a mother figure to me."
[More like that figure is your actual mother.]
"Oh."
Lia's cheeks puffed up again, still tinted pink—but the storm inside her eased a little.
She picked up her spoon with a small pout.
"…You should have said that earlier."
Lucian exhaled softly.
"I didn't think my sister would have such thoughts about me."
Her ears reddened.
"Hmph."
Lucian looked at her for a while,
"Don't worry… I won't leave you."
She froze.
"…How… how did you know?" she whispered.
He smiled faintly.
"Well, I know my sister too well. Even though I didn't know she'd imagine something like that about me."
"You should've clarified sooner," she huffed.
"And—I won't let you leave me even if you try."
Lucian leaned closer, his gaze deep, voice low.
"And I won't let you get away from me. Ever."
His hand rose and ruffled her hair gently—warmly—yet with a strange, unexplainable possessiveness.
Lia trembled.
Just for a second.
But she didn't pull away.