Ch 28: Trembling Fingers
Lucien was walking steadily down the hallway toward his classroom, having already told Connor Finlay to prepare everything in advance.
Melissa trailed behind him, keeping a careful distance of two or three steps. Her eyes darted around with the curious energy of a squirrel. She seemed almost too happy, but there was a slight nervousness in her steps that did not escape his notice.
Most of the students had already left the auditorium, so the hallway was not crowded, just as he had hoped. Lucien had waited to leave late so he could walk to class in peace. Still, a few students walked ahead of him, but none dared to walk beside him.
The students ahead of him would glance over their shoulders, then quickly hurry forward or step aside to let him pass.
Lucien found himself nodding at their reaction, at how respectfully they stepped aside for him. Their eyes never met his, most of them too nervous or afraid, even though he had never seen most of them before and they were probably seeing him in person for the first time. Still, they must have seen his picture or heard the rumors and stories that spread far and wide—there was no way they did not know who he was.
Most faces were unfamiliar, though now and then he spotted a second-year student. Some of the braver ones even greeted him with a quiet "Good morning," and he would acknowledge them with a slight nod.
Among the second-years, a few nobles even bowed deeply, almost ninety degrees, as he passed. Lucien responded with only a nod. Anything more was beyond what he felt comfortable with.
Second-year students needed a final, third star to graduate from the academy, and if the professors were pleased with their performance, they could even recommend them for early graduation. The ones who bowed to Lucien wore opportunistic expressions, eager to make sure he noticed them. They wanted to leave a good impression, hoping that if his eyes ever fell on them, they might pass early or even receive a recommendation from Lucien—the only person to become a professor at the academy at the young age of eighteen, the same age most students began their academy life.
.
But Lucien did not care why they bowed to him—whether for a recommendation or hoping he would help them graduate early—it made no difference to him. He had no desire to do any of that for them, even if they fell at his feet.
Still, the fact that they bowed did make him feel a little pleased, as if he truly was above others, someone to be respected. He was glad they seemed to know their place was below his.
Hah, what am I even thinking?
Lucien could not help but sigh inwardly. The conflicting memories from Evan made him feel strange, seeing himself act so cocky.
Lucien took a right turn in the hallway and suddenly stopped, causing Melissa, who had been following close behind, to halt just inches from bumping into him.
"W-Why did you sto—" Melissa began, but before she could finish, Lucien pressed a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet.
Melissa nodded and turned to stand beside him. The hallway they had turned into was even quieter, with only a few students passing through.
Soon, just as he expected, Lucien saw them turning the corner. But as if a cat had its tail trapped, they froze, eyes wide, their faces ghostly and afraid when they realized they had been caught following him.
Lucien had noticed them since he entered the auditorium. Even after leaving, he kept feeling their stares, sharp as daggers, following him at a careful distance so as not to be noticed. But Lucien had already released his magic senses after exiting the hall, so he knew they were tailing him, moving discreetly and keeping just far enough away.
"Student Amber, Student Eleena, to what do I owe the pleasure of being followed?" Lucien asked, casually adjusting his hair with his right hand. He placed his left hand on the hallway wall, leaning forward just enough to intimidate them. They needed to know their place, even if in the original story, both of them were supposed to be heroines. These two had teamed up with the hero to kill him in the original, but he wouldn't let that happen here.
Amber stepped in front of Eleena, shielding her. "What do you mean, 'following you'? Can't we walk in the hallway?" Her lie was delivered so perfectly, without a single tremor in her voice, that if Lucien hadn't used his magic senses earlier, he might have doubted himself.
"Oh? So am I wrong, then?" Lucien raised his voice, a touch of indignation coloring his words at the idea he might be wrongly accusing someone.
Amber's pupils widened just a bit, but Lucien had to admire how her beautiful face—so perfectly sculpted it seemed the gods themselves had made her—gave away nothing, not fear, not guilt, not even the tiniest hint she was lying.
Amber bit her lip, started to speak, then closed her mouth, opening and closing it again. Before she could say anything, Eleena—his ex-fiancée—stepped out from behind her, stopping just a head away from Lucien. Her eyes burned with an emotion he couldn't quite name, and she clutched the hem of her red skirt tightly. "We were just curious about the golden-haired girl walking around the academy without even attending the entrance exam," she said, her voice a sound he hadn't heard in so long.
As her voice reached his ears, Lucien felt his heart quicken at the sound, at the sight of Eleena's beautiful face and her confident bearing. Her azure eyes were lovely to look at, and her blue hair, braided imperfectly, made him want to fix it for her.
Lucien leaned back a little, his heart beating faster than usual. Even now, after their engagement had been broken, he still held a slight likeness toward her.
Lucien had once cared for her deeply, but he had hardened his resolve and refused to go back to the person he once was. He had no desire to get caught up in love with one of the story's heroines. It was better for them to stay apart, especially after that time when he lost control and nearly killed her with his own hands. His fingers trembled slightly at the memory of gripping her neck so tightly.
Lucien quickly shoved his hands into his pockets. "You’ll find out about her soon enough," he said coldly, trying to mask the trembling in his fingers by hiding them away.
Lucien left the hallway and returned to his original path, with Melissa quickly following behind. The hall he had turned into earlier led to the second-year classrooms. He had made sure they were following him, and as he had expected from his senses, they were following him just because they were curious about Melissa.
Lucien shook the thoughts away from his head and tried to calm himself, taking long, steady breaths. The memories he had buried were threatening to resurface with a force that could destroy everything he had built so far.
***
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