Chapter 192 - 192: 6.3 - The Mythical Roc
╔═══ Author's note ════╗
Roc is a legendary bird from Middle Eastern and Persian mythology, described as so majestic and enormous that it could carry elephants, create storms with its wings and darken the sky when flying.
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Lucian had sent a message through Togo to Celine. She didn't recover yet, but the news of her son's departure made her transfer her location to Honeywell street, where their buildings shared a wall, waiting for him to arrive.
Lucian took a quick shower, then changed into a more luxurious suit, one that would make him look like a wealthy merchant on his way to a business meeting.
Compared to his teacher's light attire, this one was darker, with a black vest and a white shirt underneath it, a pair of gray pants, and a long black coat. His hair was slicked back, making him look more serious and less friendly.
He then packed an extra bag for his son's journey, baby supplies to the brim, to be sure that the child wouldn't lack anything.
Fresh breast milk would be difficult to provide, but nothing money couldn't solve in this place.
Lucian got himself two courtesans.
It was normal for a man of his standing to do, and nobody batted an eye at it, except Jax, who found the whole thing absurd.
"I told you I'm not made of stone, didn't I?" Lucian explained himself to Jax after he saw a female figure entering his carriage.
Jax couldn't see the child through Lucian's carriage window, only his boss' perfect side profile, "I thought you didn't like to waste money."
"Who said I'm wasting money? They're doing the job I'm paying them for. You might as well say I'm wasting money on you."
"..." Jax didn't comment further on the matter. He had a feeling it was better to leave his boss to his own devices, and leave the carriage alone, "I'm going to check on the cargo, before we depart."
Lady Lily and the breast milk provider courtesan sat next to each other, while Lucian and the child took the side across from them.
A child's cry sounded from the milk provider's bosom, which made Lucian look away from her as she started feeding her own child, giving her some privacy.
Lady Lily began playing on her flute, a lullaby for the crying child, hoping to calm him down. It worked, her music was soothing, making Lucian notice the effect of her music on his men also, who were enthusiastic to have a beauty like her travel with them.
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The coachman held up an umbrella to protect Lucian as he arrived before the Glory's store.
Lucian carried his child in his arms and entered, making many passersby look his way.
The shop's bell rang, announcing the arrival of a guest, his manager bowed to him and then bowed to the two women behind him.
They both had different looks, but both were very beautiful, attracting the eyes of all the customers in the store, especially the courtesan with purple hair, The Queen Of The Night.
Someone could afford to hire the most sought-after courtesan in the kingdom?
The store's customers were curious to know who the mysterious man was that could afford such a luxury, and why he had brought a baby.
They then noticed another child in the arms of the courtesan, and their curiosity grew even more, thinking both the children belonged to the same father and mother.
"Take a short break," Lucian left the two courtesans in a private room, and walked to his office, locking the door behind him.
He looked out of his balcony window, waiting for a secret signal to tell him Celine had arrived at her destination and he was free to go to her.
Togo soon flew to his window and perched on the windowsill, rapping on the window with his beak, leaving a signal: a white stone.
Lucian opened the balcony doors, making sure nobody was around to see him, and then stepped out. Securing the child in the sling around his chest, he climbed up the wall and made his way over to the other side of the building.
He nervously peered into the window, then opened it and slipped inside.
His heart almost leaped out of his chest when he found himself face-to-face with a tip of a sword.
Celine had been waiting for him in the shadows, her eyes tired. She lowered her blade, clutching at her stomach where the incision had been made.
Lucian moved closer, "You shouldn't be moving around so much. The wound is still fresh."
Celine sheathed her weapon, her eyes glued to the bundle tied to his chest.
Lucian grabbed her shoulders and gently led her to her bed.
She didn't say a word, just watched, her eyes following his movements.
Lucian helped her get into a comfortable position, her back resting against pillows, then unwrapped his son and placed him in her arms.
Her fingers were hesitant as she reached out to touch the child.
Lucian noticed her reluctance and slowly pulled back the covers, revealing the small, vulnerable form of his son.
"Lucian Roc Arclight," Lucian introduced their son to her, "Meet your mother."
The child's lids slightly opened, but closed again.
"Help me feed him," Celine's voice was quiet, flinching when she tried to unbutton her gown to feed him, her body still in pain.
Lucian helped her unbutton her dress, his hands brushing against the softness of her skin, and the swell of her breasts.
She guided their son to her exposed nipple, watching as his little lips latched onto it, his tiny hands grabbing her skin.
The taste of her milk seemed to have awakened the child, his tiny eyes opening at the new sensation.
Tears began to gather in her eyes as she caught the sight of them.
Lucian wiped them away before they could fall, his fingers lingering on her cheek longer than necessary.
"Thank you," Celine whispered.
"Thank you," he echoed at the same time.
"Thank you for making this possible for me," they both said the same thing again.
"..."
"..."
Despite sounding the same, both meant a different meaning.
Celine thanked him for saving the child and letting her see it despite what she had done to him, while Lucian thanked her for giving him the chance to have a family again, a feeling he once thought he would never be able to experience again.
Lucian shook his head, quickly dismissing her gratitude, "I took in two courtesans, one has a child of her own and will provide our son with breast milk. The other will serve as a distraction to anyone that wishes to pry."
If anyone asked, he was turning into a womanizer who had just hired two women for himself, a cover that would make the presence of a child, of suspicious origin suddenly appearing at his side, seem less alarming.
"Your image… is going to suffer," she said, not liking the idea, not after all the efforts she had put into keeping him away from other women.
"A person without a weakness is more likely to attract the attention of people I don't want to be bothered by," Lucian explained, "Instead of targeting my reputation and money, they will start targeting women I'm involved with. I'd rather have it that way."
"Gentleman, huh," Celine's smile faltered, her hands brushing over her son's head in a gentle caress.
"Just protecting what's mine," he replied, leaning closer to her when her focus remained on their child, "Are you not impressed by the new scapegoats I've acquired for us?"
╔═══ Author's note ════╗
So many second male leads seem to be womanizers, don't they?
Well, not Lucian just fabricating his own weaknesses (women) and becoming a womanizer himself. 😭 Celine hates it but still swoons inside, I bet.
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