Lucille stared blankly at the sparkling pond. Under the shade of a table patio umbrella, she sipped a cold tea and relaxed her back.
Meanwhile, Eros accompanies her while he arranges the flowers Anne asked her to replace the lady's vase with.
"Mister Lucas, have you heard of 'vampires'?" she monotonously asked.
Vampires are one of the mythical creatures described in many works of fiction. Alongside werewolves, mermaids, fairies, and many more entities that are known to man but have not yet been proven to exist.
"It's a prominent legend passed down to compel everyone to stay at home during the peak of the night," he deliberately answered.
"Yes, that's one famous story. What do you think about it now?" Her gaze shifted to him, who then paused for a moment to greet her curious eyes.
"Do you identify yourself as one, my lady?"
Lucille was taken aback. "I . . I want to know as well. I still want to go back to the life promised to me."
The life promised to her is not synonymous with the life she personally wants. However, her unyielding obedience to her father's plans made her forget about the latter. Now, she no longer knew what life she desired for herself.
As a child, did she ever dare to dream of something like that?
"Miss Anne told me you are engaged to the crown prince," Eros started.
Lucille stared down at the empty teacup. "I don't know if I still am. Perhaps not. It's been a month, and I haven't heard any news from my family about it."
"They haven't visited you?"
No one did. It's a fact her heart could not dare accept. It keeps on fighting off the thought and feeling of abandonment, and like a brave yet reckless soldier, it's been scarred all over.
"My mother sends me letters, but she never mentioned anything about the status of my engagement. Would I be able to go back? Am I still wanted? Have they found a replacement yet? I don't have the slightest idea."
Her words were like dull blades slowly puncturing into Eros' heart. He knows the answer to those questions quite well, but he cannot simply reveal himself now, for he still has so much to know.
But at the end of the day, the thought of facing it in the near future keeps him awake at night.
Will she ever accept him, then?
If he ever succeeds in making her fall for him as Lucas, would she feel the same way for him as the Crown Prince?
"You seem to look forward to this marriage, my lady."
"I . . I can't tell. The crown prince . . he'd give me so much to hope for, just to later crush them with his own hand."
Another direct hit.
He admits doing all these things as revenge for her rumored affair; he was furious and distraught. But now, why does it seem like he's the one being tortured?
"Do you . . love him?" Those words escaped his mouth without any warning.
'Do you love him? Or is there anyone else who's won your heart? Was it that mysterious man? Who is he even to you? Those questions left him hanging.
"I have to. I want to. So that's what I've been trying to do . . but he's giving me a hard time to do so," she said as if she's about to cry.
"Forgive my insolence, but I don't think you should be stressing yourself out with those matters for now."
He could not bear it anymore, his heart admits.
"What do you mean?"
"You've been living your life being honed into being a good wife for him. Don't you think it's the perfect time to think about putting yourself first?"
He cut the stem of a purple carnation and left a short stem attached to it.
"Mister Lucas . . " she left her at a loss for words; her heart was pounding heavily.
Eros held the flower between his index finger and thumb. He closed his eye and positioned the flower against the side of her face, imagining it being placed on her hair.
"This flower matches the color of your eyes, my lady. Would you let me place this on your hair?"
Lucille was astonished by his words but was quick to calm herself down.
"Sure."
Earning her approval, Eros gently swept the fringes off her face and let the flower sit atop her ear.
"Beautiful," he commented, hiding his mesmerization. "Miss Anne has also said that you used to smile a lot before."
Lucille blushed and turned her face away.
"It'd cheer her up to see it again," Eros added.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Does it, perhaps, make you uncomfortable, my lady?"
"It simply feels . . strangely warm."
No, there's more to it than that.
She felt special and cherished.
"I'm glad," he said, softly smiling at her.
Although shyness still lingers in her, Lucille dared to look into his eyes and ask, "Aren't you afraid of me?" Her eyes were demanding the truth.
"I'm more afraid of people who are not capable of hurting me but desire to. Those people would calculate and plan everything to bring you down. I came here despite the risks, after all."
He's merely doing his job; that's all there is to it.
But why does it feel disappointing?
"Yes, you're right."
***
Later that afternoon, Lucille played the piano as part of her usual routine. Eros watched as he stood beside her.
"Do you play the violin as well, my lady?" he asked as his eyes landed on a violin leaning against the wall.
"Just a little," she answered, her fingers still busy playing.
"Would you mind if I accompanied your piano with it?"
Lucille's took a halt and slowly withdrew her fingers from the keys.
"Can you?" Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"I learned it from a traveling musician when I was a kid."
Anyone who knows of his real upbringing would tell you it's a lie, but it's actually true.
Eros understands the necessity of his education and etiquette but is not the type to hole up in the palace all day. Nonetheless, he'd often sneak out of the palace to spend time with regular people. He'd bring George, who does not approve of it at all but would still end up enjoying their venture.
"Are you familiar with this piece?" she asked, flipping the page and pointing to it.
Her heart skipped a beat when Eros leaned towards it; their faces were only inches apart.
Her turning her flushed face away did not go unnoticed by him. Realizing it, he chuckled and pulled away.
"Quite a little," he answered.
"A-Alright."
Behind the doors, Anne noticed the sound of the violin being played simultaneously with the piano. Her curiosity led her to open the door a little to take a peek without being noticed.
She was surprised to see them harmoniously following the melody of the beautiful piece. It was as if they were serenading her.
The young maid was overwhelmed with joy. "They seem to get along well. . ."
***
It has been a week since Anne noticed that the two have grown more comfortable with each other. No, being comfortable is an understatement; they obviously enjoy each other's company.
Although she felt that the time the lady spent with her had become less frequent, she could not ask for anything more than to see her smile again.
He would accompany her throughout the day, playing the violin as she played the piano, and they even taught each other their respective skills.
One time, he heard the broken sound of a piano and violin and saw them swap their instruments. Upon realizing how terrible it was, they burst into a loud laughter and went on.
Sometime that week, the lady handed her a sketch of two designs for brooches. One of which is an eagle, and the other is an alstroemeria. She asked her to take them to a jeweler to be custom-made.
Anne took home the finished brooches today and was taken by surprise when Lucille attached the alstroemeria to her collar. She teared up with joy and tightly embraced her.
That time, she thanked her for two things: the brooch and her smile.
The same night, Eros met Lucille on the veranda at the end of the hallway.
He was captivated upon seeing her bare shoulder bathing under the moonlight. Her hair was tied in a one-sided braid, leaving her nape exposed.
Recognizing his presence behind her, Lucille lifted the scarf to cover herself.
Eros pressed her eyes close to brush off the inappropriate thoughts that had been flashing through his head. "You're still awake, my lady. Does anything bother you?"
She took a step forward. "I'd like to give you something."
His gaze lowered when she held his hand and placed something cold on it.
"A brooch?"
It was an intricately sculpted brooch with an eagle design.
"You made me realize that I must not confine myself into thinking that I'm being imprisoned here. Rather, make use of this opportunity to break free from the pressure of being engaged to a royalty. I do appreciate your kind words. Also, it helped."
Her lips stretched into a bright, genuine smile.
"This," she said, referring to her smile. "Anne said she felt more alive since I started smiling again."
Taken aback by her actions, he unconsciously uttered, "Me too."
"Hm?"
She undoubtedly heard it properly.
"Lady Lucille, will you lend me your hand?"
Eros extended his hand, showing off his palm.
"H-here."
He reached for the hand she was offering freely.
He sat on one knee, closed his eyes, and kissed the back of her hand.
"Mi-Mister Lucas?"
It was not the first time someone had done that to her.
But it certainly felt . . different.
"It must've been tough for you. Please rely more on me from now on."
'Just why. . .'
"I-If you insist."
'. . . how. . .'
'. . . are you making me feel this way?'
Their minds and hearts definitely shared the same sentiments.
***