Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 301: A Reluctance To Part

Lyria’s POV

”Y-you cannot fault them t-though, b-because it i-is the truth,” I told Lucian.

He blinked at me, clearly confused by my words.

”Pardon?” he asked.

”When t-they said n-no one did it like they did, t-they spoke the truth,” I said. ”N-no one played a-as badly as they did.”

For a moment, he simply stared at me.

Then he laughed and hearing it made me smile despite myself.

”I doubt that was what they meant when they boasted that no one did it like they did,” he said at last.

”I k-know,” I told him with a laugh of my own.

We continued moving across the grass, our footsteps slow and measured.

”I m-must admit, though,” I said after a while, ”i-it is q-quite nice to see y-you with friends. People y-you respect, too. I do n-not recall y-you having close relationships with others when you were younger, c-compared to now. I-it does seem q-quite refreshing.”

Lucian’s expression softened.

”It is quite refreshing for me as well,” he admitted. ”Though I confess I have never had friends who frustrate me as much as they do.”

I laughed quietly.

”But it is as you said,” he continued. ”I did not have people like this when I was younger, but I have them now. And, though I fear I may sound ridiculously sentimental, I rather enjoy their company. The palace would have been considerably less bearable without them.”

He paused before adding, with a small smile,

”Do not tell them I said any of that, however.”

I smiled.

”My m-mouth is sealed.”

”I should hope so.”

We danced quietly after that.

The conversation faded, replaced by the gentle sounds of the night—the whisper of the wind through the trees, the distant chirping of insects, the soft rustle of fabric as we moved together.

Lucian guided me through another turn.

Then another.

And another.

I scarcely noticed the passing of time until he twirled me once more, and we both bowed to one another.

And somehow, that was enough to tell me that the evening was over.

I did not wish for it to be over.

I wished to remain there for a little longer. To continue speaking with him as we had been doing. To continue laughing. To continue pretending, if only for a few hours, that I was merely a young woman spending time with a friend.

I shook my head.

What was I thinking?

What would happen if the Queen discovered that I was still taking dancing lessons from Lucian?

No.

It was better that we part ways now.

It was not as though we would never see one another again. The lessons were not yet over.

”I s-should get g-going,” I told him.

He exhaled heavily.

The sound was soft, but I heard the disappointment in it all the same.

”I understand,” he said quietly. ”It will be safer if you leave now after all.”

I nodded.

And yet, strangely enough, I remained standing exactly where I was.

I did not move.

Not even a little.

The silence stretched between us.

Then, feeling foolish for standing as long as I did, I shook my head.

”V-very well,” I said.

I turned toward my maids.

Pippa immediately approached with the cloak I had worn when we first arrived. She draped it carefully over my shoulders and adjusted the hood around my face.

As she did, I looked back at Lucian.

”I m-must thank y-you for a l-lovely evening,” I said. ”I now f-find myself r-reluctant to leave.”

His eyes widened.

”Really?” he asked.

I blinked.

”S-surely it is obvious,” I replied. ”I enjoyed t-the conversations we h-had. The time we spent together dancing. A-and even the snacks, which were absolutely e-exquisite.”

Something softened in his expression.

”You can stay longer, then,” he said quietly.

I almost laughed.

”You of a-all people know just how dangerous that is,” I replied. ”I must r-return to my c-chambers before anything happens that could result in e-even more brutal p-punishment than I am a-accustomed to.”

He looked away for a moment.

And to my surprise, he looked...sad.

Not merely disappointed.

I understood the feeling.

After spending pleasant time with someone, one often became reluctant to part from them.

I felt that same reluctance now.

The thought should have frightened me.

Instead, it merely made my chest ache.

Then he spoke again.

”I’m sorry I cannot stop the punishments from happening.”

I paused.

The words were so unexpected that for a moment I could only stare at him.

”W-why would you say something l-like that?” I asked.

He looked back at me.

”Because it is quite obvious just how much the punishments affect you,” he said, his voice calm.

”It is too much for your body to handle, and I...” He stopped for a moment before continuing. ”I hate that I am too weak to put a stop to it now. I hate that you cannot spend time outside as much as you wish for fear of receiving more punishment from my aunt. I hate that you are not as free as my cousin is within the palace.”

He drew a breath.

”I hate it so much—that you have to carry the mark of something that was never your fault in the first place and be treated like a criminal because of it.”

I stared at him.

The wind passed between us.

The leaves rustled softly overhead.

And for a brief moment, I could hear nothing else.

My heart beat strangely in my chest. He spoke as though he hated the punishments.

”W-why do you s-speak as though y-you h-hate it?” I asked softly.

He blinked.

”What?”

”It i-is not you who is b-being punished,” I said. ”But y-you sound m-more a-angered than me.”

His expression twisted into something wounded.

”Your Highness!” he called out. ”Why do you speak that way, like it is only okay for you to be angered just because you are the one who receives said punishment but it is not okay for me to be angered when I see what it does to you and how much it affects you?”