☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆♤☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Lucian stepped into a small room. The only light came from a narrow window set high along the wall. An old man sat behind an oak desk that separated them.
His silver hair, neatly combed back and his posture relaxed, too relaxed for someone who was meeting a duke.
"Please," the man said, gesturing towards the chair opposite him. "Take a seat, lord Iksander."
Lucian paused, intrigued.
"You know who I am?" He asked, his voice calm and unreadable.
A warm smile curved on the man's lips. "Not many wear that crest anymore," he replied, nodding towards the silver dragon pinned neatly against Lucian's chest. He pulled out the chair and sat.
"I hear from my boys that your man was looking for me," the man continued, folding his hands atop the desk. "I am Vinrick. And how may I be of service to you, my lord?"
Lucian had no interest in pleasantries. He slipped a hand into his coat and withdrew a folded handkerchief, placing it carefully on the desk between them.
"Did you design this?" He asked.
Vinrick's smile faded slightly. He leaned forward, pushing his spectacles higher on his nose as he examined the fabric. His finger hovered over it, but did not touch.
"Well…," he murmured. "That is a splendid piece." He tilted his head studying the stitching. "The pattern, the thread choice…it does resemble my method."
Lucian's gaze sharpened.
"But?" He prompted. Vinrick lifted his eyes, a gentle grin returned. Slower this time.
"Why is this of such importance to you, lord Iksander?"
Lucian paused, his eyes studying Vinrick closely. "because it doesn't belong to me." His tone steady, he continued "l need to return it to its owner."
Vinrick was silent for a moment, then nodded in understanding. "I may not have been the one who designed it," he said slowly, "but it could have been the work of one of my students."
Lucian's eyes glinted with interest. "who?" He shifted forward.
Vinrick exhaled softly. "I have had many students over the years, my lord. You cannot expect me to remember them all."
"So you are of no help," Lucian said flatly.
The old man did not respond at once, then he spoke. "The beauty of this handkerchief is not in the design," Vinrick explained, his voice calm, "it's in the fabric."
Then he leaned back slightly. "It's old. Very old. In my younger years, acquiring such fabric would have cost a fortune." A faint smile touched his lips. "Far beyond the means of any ordinary student."
Lucian's gaze sharpened. He drew the handkerchief closer, rubbing the fabric between his fingers. Vinrick was right. It was unmistakably expensive.
"Do not focus on the embroidery," Vinrick continued gently. "Focus on the cloth."
Slowly he rose from his chair. "Now, if you will excuse me, I must return to my work. It was a pleasure meeting you, Lord Iksander."
Lucian did not reply. His attention remained fixed on the handkerchief. And then he saw it. Something he had never noticed before.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆♤☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Ray was exhausted, she had tried every tactic she knew to distract the young man guarding the door—small talk, polite requests and even feigned curiosity, but each attempt ended the same way. A failure.
"My lady," Gaia murmured carefully, stepping closer. "Let us give up."
Ray stared at her in disbelief. Give up?
Her gaze drifted past Gaia to the young man once more. His expression was dull, as though nothing she did could reach him.
No. She couldn't let him win. Just then, Jane approached with several noble ladies in tow.
"We are finished here," Jane said pleasantly.
"We should prepare to leave."
No. Not now. Ray's fingers curled slightly at her side. I still haven't seen what Lucian is up to. She thought, her face dejected.
"Did you not find anything you liked, Lady Celestine?" The merchant's daughter asked gently.
Ray hesitated, then shook her head. "No." The word came out softer than intended. Causing a few ladies to exchange glances, sympathy briefly flickering across their faces.
"It's alright," a timid voice said. "There's always next time."
All eyes turned.
Mary Anne, the Baron's daughter, lowered her gaze immediately after speaking. A murmur rippled through the group. Looks of disgust, then silence followed, louder than any insult.
How dare someone so lowly, speak unrequested.
Ray had noticed at once. She turned towards Maryanne, offering a small smile. "You're right," she said calmly. "We can come back another time."
Mary Anne's head slowly lifted. Her cheeks slightly flushed and eyes glinted with recognition.
Jane's voice cut in smoothly dissolving the tension. "Isn't Lady Mary Anne thoughtful," she said with a gentle smile. "Still, we really should be going now, Lady Celestine."
Ray nodded. "Of course."
She stepped aside, allowing the others to settle their purchase. And then, her eyes found him.
Lucian stood across the room, his gaze steady and focused elsewhere.
Her breath hitched.
Quickly, Ray turned away, slipping behind one of the noble ladies and using her as cover.
Oh no, he can't see me. She thought, trying as much to hide within the gathered.
Jane's head turned just in time to see Celestine hunched slightly forward, her back stiff and her expression tight with nerves.
She followed the direction of her gaze. And to her surprise it was a man.
Her gaze scanned him deeply, then fell on the dragon crest on his coat. "Could that be…. The Duke of Northhil?" she mumbled, her eyes falling back on Celestine.
Jane's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Is she avoiding him? She wondered. Then suddenly an idea sparked. "Isn't that the Duke Iksander?" Jane said aloud.
At once, several noble ladies turned their heads towards him. Observing his pleasant features.
Ray froze. She couldn't afford to be seen… not now, and coincidentally in the same place as him. Jane was then about to suggest they go over, after observing Celestine's now nervous look. But then her gaze shifted and stopped.
The handsome man she had met. Was currently standing beside Lucian.
Jane halted mid-step, her heels pressing into the floor. As the thought circled sharply in her mind. Do they know each other?
Before she could speak again, another lady's voice rang out. "Lady Celestine must be thrilled to see her fiance," the woman said sweetly. "Isn't that right, Lady Celestine?". Her head turned toward her, only to realize the lady had vanished. Along with her maid— Gaia.
"She's gone," another voice echoed. Panic rippled through the group as they looked around, in search of Lady Celestine.
"Lady Celestine?" They called out. "Where could she have gone?" They said,
Her name was called again and again, drawing the attention of people around them.
Ray, meanwhile, was nearly at the exit when she heard it. Her name.
She paused for a second and collided with someone. The other twin. The young man stumbled, artifacts slipping from his hands and clattering to the floor.
"Damn it," Ray muttered under her breath. Deep down, she prayed Lucian had not heard her name been called. Or mistook it for another person.
But she was wrong.
Slowly she turned her head, and just her luck, Lucian was already looking her way.
Their eyes met, and her breathing stopped.
She snapped her gaze forward instantly. "Shoot." She said, But it was too late. One of the ladies had spotted her.
"There she is!" Lady Clarice cried. Ray's heart slammed against her ribs. She turned to Gaia and whispered urgently. "Gaia, Run!"
Immediately, Ray bolted through the door, with Gaia racing after her. "Wait for me, my lady!" She shouted.
Ray ran straight into the road. And in that instant, a horse pulling a wagon reared violently, suddenly agitated by the noise and movement. The reins slipped loose. And the horse charged forward.
Ray froze, her head snapped towards Gaia beside her, then pushed her out the way.
The wagon broke free completely, and the horse thundered past her, leaping over her fallen form as she collapsed onto the ground in shock, barely escaping its hooves.
The noble ladies rushed out, screams filling the air and relief flickering in their eyes when the horse passed.
But it was too soon, because the wagon came loose, rolling downhill at full speed. Straight toward Ray.
She tried to move, but her body wouldn't respond.
It was stuck.
"Lady Celestine!" Gaia screamed, slapping up her feet to run towards her.
But Ray couldn't speak. Could not move out the way or tell her to stay back. She could only watch as death rushed toward her.
Just then, a figure burst into her vision.
Lucian.
He tore off his coat as he ran, grabbed her without hesitation and rolled with her out of the wagon's path, just as it thundered past. They hit the ground hard.
Ray laid still, her eyes squeezed shut, as Lucian shielded her completely. One arm cradling her head, his body braced over hers.
His gaze lingered on her for a moment, before he finally spoke. "It's alright," he said softly. "You're safe." His hand instinctively parted loose stands of hair off her face.
Ray slowly opened her eyes. Her brows knotted in shock. Not at the near death she had just escaped, but at the man above her.
And then, the words glowing before her eyes.
NEW MISSION:
Re-engage with the Duke of Northhill.
FAILURE TO COMPLY:
Death.
D-21.