Chapter 191 Chapter 0191

Chapter 191 Chapter 0191
AERITH'S POV

"Do you think war is coming?" The question left my lips before I could stop it, and my eyes were still fixed on Nana's book. Its last words rang in my head; my heart was pounding, especially when I remembered this wasn't the first time they had appeared in the book. The last time they appeared, I was able to read something from the book, and I had seen something like a vision where Lucien was in the middle of a fire. I didn't want that; I didn't want him hurt. Lucien didn't answer. Instead, he reached across the table and pulled the drawer, I blinked twice

"Lucien," he picked up the book and moved it away from me before he threw it into the drawer and slammed it shut. "Time to eat." I stared at him.

"What are you doing?"

"No more magic." I frowned.

"You can't just lock the book there and pretended like nothing happened."

"I can."

"Lucien." He turned toward me.

"No more magic tonight." His voice wasn't angry, but there was something firm about it that made me realize he wasn't going to change his mind.

"But the book..."

"Will still be there tomorrow," he interrupted me, I crossed my arms.

"What if it isn't?"

"Then I will find another." I smiled at him.

"You are impossible."

"And you are exhausting yourself with that annoying book." I parted my lips to argue, but he suddenly stared at me. His eyes traveled from my face down to my body. I looked down; I was still on the towel that had wrapped around my body, and I was dripping wet. Lucien sighed. "Oh, mine,"

"What?" I asked innocently, even though I knew what he was talking about.

"This magic didn't even let my queen dry up." I narrowed my eyes,

"Don't call me that " he tilted his gaze to mine.

"Why?"

"Because you sound too pleased with yourself." He laughed. Before I could protest, he disappeared for a moment and returned with another towel. I watched him approach me with all seriousness. "What are you doing?"

"Saving my queen from catching a cold."

"You know I don't get cold, I burn."

"There is always a first time for everything." He placed the towel over my head; I squealed.

"Lucien!"

"Hold still." His hands began drying my hair with the towel. I stared at him.

"What are you now?" He paused.

"Hmm?"

"You are acting strange." He chuckled.

"I'm your handmaid." A loud sound of laughter erupted from my throat.

"You, a handmaid?" He nodded

"Of course," I shook my head.

"Nah! You don't look like a handmaid."

"What does a handmaid look like?"

"A lot of things, but certainly not like you." He frowned.

"So you think I am not good enough to be your handmaid?" I smiled. .

"Maybe I want you to be just one thing for me." I tilted my head to him. 

"What is that?" He asked curiously while my smile widened. I gestured for him to come closer; he leaned closer, still holding the towel.

"Just mine." He laughed when I said that.

"I am already yours." He whispered, pulling away from me before grabbing a clean shirt and holding it out to me. "Put this on."

"Why don't you help me?"

"You are becoming demanding."

"Are you complaining?" I frowned; he smiled, walking closer to me.

"Why should I complain? Your handmaid is always at your service." My smile widened while I rolled my eyes, but I let him help me get into it, the shirt was far too big for me, the sleeves covered part of my hands, and the bottom reached almost to my thighs, Lucien was way too big for a twenty-year-old boy, I looked down at myself. I look ridiculous, but I love being in it, because somehow his smell wrapped around me.

"I look ridiculous in this," he shook his head, stifling his laughter.

"No, you don't."

"You are laughing."

"I wasn't, I think you look cute in it." My cheeks warmed.

"I hate you,"

"No, you don't." I looked away because, unfortunately, he was right. I didn't hate him, not even close. He guided me towards the table. "Sit." I hit his hand playfully.

"I can walk."

"I know."

"Then why are you holding me?"

"Because I want to and I love to." I gave him a look, and he simply smiled. When I finally sat, he pushed a plate toward me. "Eat." I looked at the food, and my stomach growled again. Lucien raised an eyebrow. I glared at him.

"Don't."

"I didn't say anything."

"You were about to." He laughed, I picked up the food and began eating. At first, I tried to eat slowly, but then I couldn't because hunger took over my entire being. I barely realized how quickly I had finished the food until I looked up and found Lucien staring at me. "What?" He smiled.

"Nothing."

"You were staring."

"I just remembered something." I swallowed hard.

"What is that?" I asked reaching for more food.

"Do you remember the first time I brought food to you in the dungeon?" I froze, then laughed, as the memories flooded me.

"How could I forget?" I remember that day so clearly, it was the second time we had met, I had been so weak barely able to sit upright, and I wanted just one thing which was to go back to my nana, to give her, her last rite but no, Lucien was asking me to eat and I didn't even have much appetite, "I could barely eat," I whisper, he nodded.

"You could barely swallow." I smiled faintly, apart from worrying about my nana, I wasn't used to much food.

"That was because I wasn't used to food." His smile disappeared. We didn't talk much about my personal life, but Lucien knew my life had never been smooth. I looked down at my plate. "My nana and I barely had enough." The memory came rushing back, there had been days when we had nothing, not even a piece of bread, not a bowl of soup, beef were expensive, we practically have nothing and our survival depends on water and sometimes nana would pretend she wasn't hungry just so I could have the little food we had, I hated those days, hated watching her smile at me while her stomach growled, she would always tell me things would get better. "she always say, one day, we will have enough," I swallowed hard "I always thought things would get better, that I could give her the world," my voice cracked, "I just never thought I would lose her before things get better." A tear slipped down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away. Not that life is better now, but it is not as difficult as it was then. Lucien reached for my cheek; his fingers gently brushed beneath my eye, catching the tear that was about to escape again.

"Don't." I looked at him; his expression had changed.

"I don't want to cry."

"You are allowed to." Another tear escaped.

"I miss her."

"I know."

"I keep thinking that if I turn around, she will be there." Lucien moved closer, then pulled me into his arms. I didn't resist; I rested my head against his chest. His heartbeat was steady beneath my ear.

"Some things we can't change, but others, we could make better." He whispered, then I closed my eyes, for years, I had learned how to survive, to depend on no one, how to go hungry without complaining, how to hide pain, how to pretend I wasn't scared but somehow, being held by Lucien made it feel safe to finally let some of the bottled feeling out, he pulled back slightly and looked at me. "From now on, I'm in charge of your meals." I blinked

"What?"

"You heard me."

"You are serious?"

"Very," he wiped another tear from my cheek. "You will never go hungry again." My heart tightened.

"Lucien..."

He interrupted me. "I mean it." A small smile touched my lips.

"Even if we are no longer in this chamber?"

"Of course,"

"Even if I am annoying?"

"Especially then." I laughed softly.

"And if I want dessert?"

"You will get dessert."

"Two?"

"Three." I laughed at his words.

"You are spoiling me."

"That is the plan." I chuckled, then returned to my food. This time, I ate without worrying about whether there would be enough left for tomorrow. The plates were empty. I looked at Lucien, then averted my gaze. He was already looking at me. "What is it?" I hesitated.

"Can I..." He raised an eyebrow.

"Can you what?" I glanced at the empty plate.

"Can I get some more?" He parted his lips as they curved into a smile. I immediately became embarrassed. "Sorry..." I muttered for a moment he simply looked at me

"Are you sure?"