Chapter Text
The first few times I woke, everything felt heavy—my body, my head, even my eyelashes. I drifted in and out of feverish dreams, caught between the sound of waves and the touch of warm hands against my face.
Voices called out my name in worry—Lily, Jeanette, Daddy, and even Uncle (but I'm sure that was just a dream). I remembered the fever I got after drowning in the lake when I was five, but this somehow felt even worse.
I woke again, expecting the same symptoms that made me feel like noodles being boiled, but as I sat up, I realized I was back to normal. My head didn't feel too heavy to lift, and I wasn't sweating buckets anymore.
I blinked up at the ceiling, then slowly turned my head. There, seated right beside my bed, was Daddy: arms crossed, head tilted slightly down. He was asleep, but he had a frown on his face. I chuckled softly because I couldn't help but think, What a big improvement from when I was five!
But breathing down my neck, I could feel something else. Someone else.
I turned my head slowly and nearly screamed.
Lucas was standing right next to the bed, his expression unreadable, arms crossed like he'd been looming over me forever. Again.
He moved fast, cupping my mouth with his hand and leaning down. "Shhh! Your dad's right there," he hissed. "I finally got the sleeping spell to work."
My eyes widened, but I didn't fight him. Once he was sure I wasn't going to scream, he pulled back slightly, only to immediately squish my cheeks and tilt my face left, right, up, and down while I just sat there like a mildly offended ragdoll.
"What are you—" I started to whisper, but he pressed his palm to my forehead, probably just to check my temperature, but the eye contact made me blush.
I yanked my head back and whisper-yelled, "What are you doing?!"
He ignored me completely. "Hmm. Your fever's gone. Good."
Then, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, he added, "Drained the water from your lungs, cooled your body, stabilized your mana. You should be fine now. I'm really surprised your dad didn't do it before."
I stared at him for a moment, trying to find something in his face, then reluctantly muttered, "Thanks."
I should have felt grateful (he had saved me, again) but the look on his face just annoyed me.
He was acting like everything was normal. Like he hadn't vanished after almost kissing me. Like he hadn't left behind nothing but a stupid box of chocolates.
And I was mad at myself for being so hung up on it. Why did it matter so much? It wasn't even a big deal.
It would've been a big deal if he had kissed me and just left.
Lucas raised a brow, clearly catching the frost in my voice. "What's this?" he asked, smirking. "What's with the aggression? I saved your life again."
That did it.
He was acting like nothing happened because to him, it felt like nothing.
Without thinking, I barked out (quietly), "Why did you just leave like that?! Huh?! Were you playing with me—just trying to embarrass me?!"
He blinked, stepping back before I could yank his hair. "Wait... you're mad about that?"
I clutched the blanket tightly. "Of course I am! What did you expect?!"
Lucas looked genuinely confused for a second, then shrugged. "I thought it was best. Lily walked in and you looked ready to combust."
"I—!" I started, but he cut me off.
"I didn't leave to make you embarrassed. I left because you looked like you were about to be."
"...oh"
The rage in my chest crackled with sudden confusion.
'So he left because he thought I'd be embarrassed, and he...'
I had to really scratch my head for this one.
"You were giving me space," I realized.
"Yeah, and I was also bracing myself for impact. You always get aggressive when you're flustered, and my poor hair has to pay the price."
I laughed when he flinched as I reached for that silky black hair—it really was soft—and started braiding it out of instinct.
Seeing the anger drain from my face, Lucas pounced.
Metaphorically, of course.
"Were you mad I didn't kiss you?" he asked too casually. "Did you want it that badly?"
My eyes widened. "Excuse me?!"
"You've been glaring at me like I owe you money," he said with a grin. "I'm just putting the pieces together."
"I'm going to strangle you," I whisper-growled, cheeks burning.
"See? Aggression," he snickered, pleased.
He leaned closer, a dangerous glint in his eye. "You almost drowned again, you know. Once when you were five, then again when you were sixteen, and now this. I think the water's trying to send you a message: stay away."
"Shut up," I muttered, smacking his arm weakly.
"I mean, next time you try to die so dramatically, pick something your dad and I can punch. I think he actually tried to punch the ocean."
A laugh escaped me as I imagined Daddy menacingly squaring off with a wave.
Lucas chuckled too. "So? Want me to kiss you now?" he asked lightly. "Right here, next to your dad? Is that really how you want your first kiss to go?"
I let out a horrified squeak and punched his shoulder.
He laughed silently, clearly enjoying himself way too much.
"Thought so."
I grumbled, "Like I'd give you my first kiss."
"You should sleep," he said, pointing to a clock that read way too early in the morning. "I cured the problem, but you still need to rest."
"Wow, how thoughtful of you, doctor... but I don't think I can sleep." After resting so long, it felt like a waste of time. Plus, I was now picturing him in a doctor outfit. Ugh.
I sulked a little. I really didn't want to go back to bed.
"Want to go steal treats from the kitchen?" he offered. "I scoped out the situation while I was waiting for your dad to knock out. I even know where the chimera hides them."
"I don't know... I'm a guest here, and all those treats are treats Jeanette made..."
He groaned and rolled his eyes.
"Come on. Are you really going to say no to a double chocolate fudge éclair?"
…
We rushed through the house, snickering, well, he was snickering and I was telling him to shut up.
I don't know how long he'd been in the manor before I woke up, but he really had scoped everything out: where not to step so the wood didn't creak, where everyone's rooms were, and where Jeanette hid the key to her pastry cabinet.
He unlocked it with a soft click and, like a raccoon, hugged all the treats out onto the counter.
"Wow, Jeanette made these?!" My eyes sparkled at the beautiful, beautiful sight—and just like that, my hunger came roaring back. Growl.
"Jeanette told me she baked when she was stressed or bored, but I didn't know she was this good!"
The cannolis were delicious—creamy and somehow still warm, only Jeanette could manage to do that.
"Then you probably stressed her out a lot, because she made a month's worth," he muffled through a mouthful of strawberry cream puff. Then suddenly: "Can dogs eat chocolate?"
"Obviously not. Everyone knows that," I said, raising a finger matter-of-factly.
We kept eating and bickering, fighting over our favorites.
"Father? Is that you?" Jeanette's voice rang behind us.
We turned around like startled meerkats.
"J-Jeanette! I..." I stammered, guilt washing over me like a tidal wave. But she didn't care—she rushed over and wrapped me in a big hug.
"Princess, you're awake! I—everyone was so worried. Your fever was really bad. I'm sorry—I should have told you not to get in the water after dark." She sniffled, barely stopping the tears spilling down her face. Her eyes were red and puffy, she must've cried for hours.
"No, it's not your fault, Jeanette. I didn't listen. I'm sorry for worrying everyone." I patted her back gently, and she seemed to calm a little.
When she wiped her eyes, she finally noticed Lucas. "L-Lord Magician!"
He looked at her with a blank expression, but I knew how he felt about her.
He just raised a finger to his lips. "Shhh."
"Yes, right." Jeanette nodded quickly. "Either way, I'm so glad you're better, Princess."
"Thank you, Jeanette... Lucas drained the water from my lungs and cooled down my fever, so now I just need to rest a bit."
I smiled, hoping it would ease her worry.
"I think we should all go to sleep now," I said. "Why don't you head to bed, Jeanette? Lucas and I will clean up down here. Sorry for eating your treats..."
She gave a soft laugh. "It's okay, Princess. I made them with you in mind...good night, Princess... Lord Magician."
"Good night, Jeanette," I hugged her one last time before letting her go back to sleep.
Once she was gone, I quickly turned to Lucas. "...You could've at least smiled or something."
"I didn't insult her."
I looked at him, annoyed. "You said you didn't like nobles. Jeanette isn't a noble, and she doesn't think like the ones you hate. She doesn't even have mixed black magic anymore."
"...I didn't say I like commoners. I just especially hate nobles," he replied, like it was the most obvious and normal thing in the world.
A cold sweat ran down my back. It was honestly a little creepy how casually non-human he could be sometimes.
"Seriously...do you just hate everyone?"
"No, I like you."
My face instantly burned, and thank the stars it was too dark for him to see it.
"..."
'I like you too,' I screamed silently at myself 'Say it, say it, say it—'
But nothing came out. All I could do was awkwardly stare down at my feet.
When I finally looked up, he was really close to my face, wide-eyed and expectant.
"Haha! D-Did you hear that? I think Daddy woke up! G-good night, Lucas!"
"Hey!!"