Chapter 17
As time ticked on and the drinks flowed like a river, Callum and Dorian found themselves with cheeks as red as Rudolph's nose. Lucian, sensing the impending disaster of a vomit-filled shop, declared, "that is enough, we're outta here!"
With a second beer down the hatch, Lucian stood up, ready to put an end to the boozy shenanigans. Callum, barely able to keep his eyes open, protested, "Lucy, what's the rush? We're just getting started!"
Dorian, in a drunken stupor, chimed in, "Yeah, Mr Lucian, I'm the one footing the bill here, so let's keep the party going!"
"Sorry guys, can't keep the party going; gotta do some boring stuff at home. Plus, if you drink any more, you'll be crawling home instead of walking. Party's over, deal with it." Lucian thought about giving them a reality check with a face slap, but they surprisingly chugged their drinks and obeyed like good little followers.
"Hey Lucy, don't forget about our training session tomorrow! And good luck with your work at home," Callum said with a wink, before putting his hand on Dorian's shoulder. Despite their earlier tension, they both ended up leaving the tavern together after Dorian paid for the drinks.
As his friends walked off towards their house, Lucien couldn't help but sigh, watching the sky turn crimson as night approached. It was funny how a few drinks could turn enemies into friends.
Heading home, Lucien pulled out the address Miss Effie had given him for their training session. He tried to keep a straight face in the bustling crowd, but couldn't help but smile at the thought of improving his swordsmanship. Tearing up the paper and tossing it in a puddle, he made his way home, excited for the progress he would make tonight.
...
The evening that Lucien had been eagerly anticipating arrived sooner than he had anticipated; thus, he donned his formal attire and strapped his sword to his waist before stepping out of his modest home, pondering how Miss Effie would justify her absence to her husband, Adam.
Nonetheless, as this was a dilemma for her to handle, until Adam threatened to put a sword to his neck to make him wear a green hat, Lucien chose to sweep this issue under the carpet and stealthily made his way to the rendezvous point, a location he never imagined he would be able to access.
However, thanks to the precise directions given by Miss Effie, he found himself, half an hour later, beneath the shimmering moonlight in the mistress's garden, located just behind Crowfield Palace. Initially puzzled by the name, Lucien questioned whether someone like Miss Effie had the right to enter a place like this. Yet, recalling how close she appeared to that young lady of the Crowfield family, he dismissed the notion that obtaining entry would pose much of a challenge for her.
"Oh! You're finally here! For a moment, I thought you had backed out, worried about getting caught training with me?" Just as Lucien leaped over the small fence into the garden, a shadowy figure emerged behind him, placing a sword against his neck.
In any other situation, Lucien might have panicked at the cold steel pressing against him, capable of ending his life at the holder's whim. However, feeling the soft curves of breasts against his rigid back, his anxiety vanished instantly, and he turned around, despite the sword still at his throat, replying, "How could I possibly refuse? Learning swordsmanship from a master who is also a beauty—how could I let such a chance slip away?"
Upon hearing Lucien's words, Effie—who was eager to test his bravery—couldn't help but smile as she sheathed her sword and removed her hooded robe. "How bold of you; I didn't realize my pupil was so forthright; but I must admit, I admire this approach of yours."
What unfolded before Lucien was nothing short of jaw-dropping: a dazzling woman dressed in silver chainmail that seemed more like a sly suggestion than actual armor. With nothing but this almost-invisible getup adorning her creamy skin, Lucien found his focus slipping faster than a bar of soap in a cartoon.
"Feeling a bit flustered?" Effie teased, her walk more of a sway as she flaunted her assets like she was a contestant on a reality show.
"Oh no, it's not like that at all! I just thought we were going to practice, but this armor caught me off guard!" Lucien stumbled through his embarrassment, desperately trying to sound cool while his brain was clearly malfunctioning from the surprise.
If his attention kept bouncing around like a pinball, there was no way he'd level up his sword skills. Yet, there was a certain part of him that was enjoying this unexpected twist—so much so that it was becoming a challenge to conceal that enjoyment beneath his somewhat formal attire.
Effie, of course, was quick to notice Lucien's little physical reaction. But instead of anger, she responded like the classic succubus who just hit the jackpot.
"Haha, your shocked face is priceless! But let's save the distractions for later—first, you have to show me some improvement in your swordplay. We're starting from the ground up because, honestly, your basics need some serious TLC. Remember, without a solid foundation, even the fanciest castle can crumble!" Effie said, her gaze playfully flicking to his predicament, but when she got serious, there wasn't a hint of mischief left; it was all business.
Lucien swallowed hard as he took in Effie's creamy white figure encased in that teasing silver armor, feeling a strong urge to rescue her from that armor prison. But deep down, he knew that improving his strength and keeping his mind on the task at hand was the true mission. Priorities, right?
"I'm all set to absorb whatever wisdom Master Effie has in her treasure trove of teachings!" Lucien declared with an intensity that could rival a cat watching a laser pointer. Sure, there were distractions galore prancing about in front of him like a parade of squirrels, but if he could wrestle this obstacle into submission and actually uncover some newfound power, he might just be able to dash after the dreams he was currently only able to chase in his sleep.
"Now that's the spirit! We'll kick things off with your stance and sword strikes today, and on everything else, we'll tackle it as you level up," Effie said, noticing Lucien nodding with such enthusiasm that he looked ready to take off like a rocket. She was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement herself, because let's be real—she was more invested in getting him swole than a gym bro during peak season!
Author Note :
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