Chapter 4
After receiving treatment for his injury, Lucian steps out of the apothecary.
Callum is waiting for him, so Lucian approaches and asks, "Auntie Diana, have you seen her? I can't find her anywhere. Has she left?"
Callum, deep in thought, barely hears the door open but is startled by Lucian's voice right next to him, exclaiming, "Oh, you surprised me!" He turns and sees the mischievous grin on Lucian's face and takes a breath before replying, "Yeah, she mentioned she didn't want to stand in the heat."
"That may be," Lucian laughs at Diana's excuse for leaving, adding, "But she might have left because of Angela."
"What do you think? Want to make a wager on that?" Callum suddenly proposes, wrapping an arm around Lucian's neck as they begin to move. A few minutes later, they arrive at a town intersection, with their homes diverging in different directions.
"Lucy, it might be best to rest tomorrow," Callum advises as Lucian prepares to walk down the road to his house. "The better shape you're in for the hunt three days later, the more successful you'll be. I'll try to speak to the battalion commander about this."
Lucian pauses, glancing back at Callum's earnest expression, devoid of mockery, and responds, "Got it, thanks for looking out for me."
Though he doubted Callum's ability to speak with a battalion commander who was well beyond their usual reach, he decided to trust him this time, encouraged by his determination.
After saying goodbye, Lucian heads home, thinking that a day of rest could help him accomplish many tasks. Although he possessed all his predecessor's memories, he was still unsure if his body would follow his thoughts and commands.
According to his predecessor's recollections, his house was located on the city's outskirts, where most residences belonged to farmers. His predecessor had considered renting a house near Callum's after they became inseparable but found the rental costs excessive, realizing how fortunate he was to have wealthy parents.
Callum, on the other hand, lived alone after the passing of his own parents and had invited Lucian's predecessor to share his larger home. However, for reasons unknown, his predecessor declined.
'What could have stopped him from living with a friend?' Lucian pondered as he approached his house, only to spot someone in a cloak standing outside, seemingly peering through a small corner window.
"Who is that?" Lucian asked, striding forward. The figure beneath the cloak felt female, and the allure was undeniable, though he couldn't recall a woman ever visiting his home before.
Drawing from his predecessor's memories, he gently inquired, "Are you looking for someone?"
At the sound of his voice, the cloaked figure turned abruptly and embraced him before he could respond. Although initially uncertain about the person's gender, Lucian soon realized it was a woman due to the unfamiliar yet enticing scent surrounding her.
"Excuse me, but you can't just do this to anyone," Lucian protested, attempting to pry her off him while glancing around for prying neighbors—wondering if this could be a setup.
Suddenly, a familiar voice broke through, erasing any suspicion of a trap.
"Honey Lucian, are you okay? I heard my pig-man husband hurt you while training. I'm so sorry this happened!" The woman tilted her head back from Lucian's chest to meet his gaze, revealing her beautiful, watery green eyes.
Recognizing her instantly, Lucian's perception shifted. It was Madame Effie, the very reason his predecessor had faced such brutality, and an overwhelming urge for payback surged within him.
"Madame Effie, what are you doing here?" Lucian's demeanor shifted once he recognized her. Despite her seemingly delicate appearance, he marveled at her surprising strength during their embrace.
After a moment of struggling against her hold, Lucian suggested, "Madame Effie, perhaps we should take this inside. If someone sees us like this, I might really be in trouble." He attempted to channel his predecessor's timid behavior around her but feared dire consequences if caught.
"I can't let my sweet Lucian face danger like that. You're right, I shouldn't cause you any trouble. Let's go inside and talk," she replied, her tone playful yet insistent.