[The term “hypnotic gaze” was probably invented for people like him.]
Adaline knew who Lucian was and did not fall for his charms. [But for most, it doesn’t matter whether you are a man or a woman, it was almost impossible to resist.]
[Falling in love with him is like stepping into a bottomless pit. The best solution is not to contact him at all.]
[Lucian rated people according to their level of interestingness. His calculations were precise, almost mathematical.]
[In his world there were only two criteria: entertainment and profit.]
[And that’s why I felt…comfortable with him.]
[Without unnecessary expectations, without sentimentality, and at the same time he managed to give a feeling of comfort even in complete absurdity.]
[Conversation with him is like a dialogue with AI. Just as cold...and just as effective.]
Lucian chuckled:
“Okay. I’ll write this down as a loan to you.”
“Brrr, how creepy that sounded...”
“Given the circumstances, you can consider that this debt will atone for the incident when a boot hit me in the face. And the fact that you tell me things that you don’t even trust in your own family causes a strange... belching inside.”
“And what did I tell you? Curses?
“Did you curse me?”
“...Only in my thoughts.”
[Well, he also reads minds.]
---Lloyd volunteered to escort Lucian. Adaline tried to follow them, but was stopped.
“If you want everyone - parents and brothers - to know that you called me, I won’t hold you.”
“Oh, bye-bye. I’ll stand nearby.”
[Both Lucian and Lloyd were the type who could disappear into a crowd as if they didn't exist at all. Hiding from any surveillance for them is like just breathing.]
“Give what I asked for through Lloyd. Better soon. Thank you."
With these words, Adaline retreated to the bedroom.
And Lucian, remaining on the threshold, muttered quietly:
“Still, she’s...dishonest.”
“The lady really has such manifestations, but she does not deserve your reproach, Mr. Lucian.”
“Look... he spoke like a devoted dog.”
Lloyd frowned as if Lucian had just spat on his soul. And Lucian laughed heartily.
[If Adaline had seen this, she would probably have shuddered.]
“Is she planning to run away again? It would be funny."
“Would you help then?”
“Who knows... Just the thought gives me goosebumps. Funny."
But for Lucian, fun is a dangerous thing. He often put his life on the line simply because he was bored.
“You are too generous to my lady. This is not like you."
“Since when do you think you know me?”
“I have eyes and ears. This is enough to understand something."
“Well delivered speech. You know, I should have raised you myself.”
He looked at Lloyd with an appraising glance, that same predatory fox light flashing in his eyes.
“You were the one who abandoned me first, Lucian.”
“Correction. I threw you off a cliff, I wanted to see if you could get out. But Adaline picked you up too quickly.”
"..."
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone that you were mine. There is no need to be afraid."
Lloyd remained silent, but in his sharp, piercing brown eyes everything was read without words.
Lucian did not press. He knew that Lloyd's past was a touchy subject. [Adaline was not supposed to find out that he learned to kill from Lucian.]
[Although, most likely, she already knows everything...]
Lucian shrugged. He did not suffer from unnecessary emotions, especially if the situation did not make sense.
But still...curiosity did not subside.
[How could the marquis's beloved youngest daughter know the dark side of this world so well?]
[It's like she grew up there.]
[How did she end up in that alley, right on time, like clockwork? As if she knew in advance that he would be there.]
[She seemed to know everything, and at the same time nothing.]
The girl who that day extended her pale, trembling palm to him did not understand at all who she was reaching out to. And that’s why she kept pushing on.
[What's going on in her head?]
Lucian loved everything that aroused interest. [He hated boredom and was willing to risk his life for a spark of unpredictability.]
[He still hasn't figured out Adaline.]
[And that’s why he stayed close.]
He wove into the shadows, disappearing into the darkness, humming to himself. The same day five years ago came to mind...