The wagon had a narrow corridor with shelves on both sides. Thick canvas curtains were rolled down, meant for the plants that needed sunlight. They were not enough to block the four boys' chatter.
The guards seemed to be using Lucian's absence to question his employees, though he was currently having another predicament to worry about.
'What should I do?' Lucian thought to the voice, 'Should I tell her how I feel or not?'
The voice was silent for a moment before it spoke up, 'That would be stupid. She just said she hates you, didn't she?'
"What's wrong?" Celine asked, trying to see through his hands covering his face.
"You…you just said you hate me," Lucian stated, pointing at her with an accusing finger, "So why are you here, bothering me?"
"..." Celine's left eye twitched, "I don't…hate you," she said, her voice low, "I hate your mouth."
Here it went as usual. The poor attempts at pushing each other away. It worked when they were kids, but now? It only made them more aware of each other's feelings.
"So, you're saying that you like the rest of me?" Lucian asked, slapping himself on the inside at the same time. He wanted her to feel as flustered as he was feeling, but not through flirting! Mean! He was supposed to be mean!
"...No…I…" Celine's face turned a darker shade of pink. She grabbed a small package from inside her cloak and threw it at Lucian's face to switch the subject, "Here, to keep your mouth occupied from spouting nonsense."
Lucian caught it before it could fall to the ground. He opened it carefully to reveal beef jerky sticks.
"...Thank you…" he said, taking one of the sticks and biting into it, sealing his lips.
"..." Celine continued to scan his goods, refusing to make eye contact.
'I can't do it.'
Lucian didn't want to drag Celine down with him, no matter how much he wanted her for himself. It wasn't only about her status as the Duke's daughter.
Voice could take away his health anytime it wanted. With the strain he was putting on his body, there was only so much medicine he could take before it lost its effect completely.
He had already decided to pass on his legacy through Voice just like his parents passed on theirs through him.
"Why can't you leave me alone?" Lucian mumbled between his bites, "I'm not going to marry anymore, so there's no need for you to stalk me like this. You should focus on getting a good husband, not on trying to ruin my life."
He should push her away, even if that meant breaking her heart.
See? He could separate his fantasies from reality and act according to the circumstances.
"..." Celine didn't say anything at first. She just stood there, looking at him with a hurt expression on her face.
"..." Lucian felt terrible. It was like kicking a puppy or something equally cruel.
Celine's lips moved, but no sound came out of them for a moment. When she finally spoke again, her voice sounded strange.
"Why do you look like you are about to cry?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.
"Didn't you just hear what I said? Leave me alone," Lucian hissed, turning his back to her.
"And miss an apology hug? Not in a thousand years," she said, "It seems like you've been holding in a lot of pent-up frustration because of your good boy act, eh? And now you are taking it out on me."
"I…!"
The hug came from behind. Lucian's face was hot, and his eyes stung. He could feel her breath on his neck and ear, and her chest pressed against his back.
"You must be very stressed." She hugged him from behind, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her cheek on his shoulder. It was gentle, yet firm. Like she wasn't planning on letting go any time soon.
Lucian's lips trembled, trying to keep his composure.
"Let go," he whispered, unable to raise his voice above the softness of her touch, "Stop it..."
"Why?" she murmured, tightening her grip, "I'm comforting you like you always comfort me when I'm upset."
He tried to pull away, but she held him close to her, refusing to release him.
"Don't," he whispered, closing his eyes tightly. "Please, stop."
"No," she refused, "You said it yourself that sometimes people hurt others because they are in pain themselves, and we need to help them get better. You helped me; now it's my turn."
"..." Lucian couldn't help but chuckle at her reasoning, remembering the time she would act mean toward him, "I guess I did say something like that."
"See? It is true," she exclaimed, hugging him harder, "I've been learning from you, and I'm a great pupil."
He turned to face her, and she loosened her grip to allow him to do so.
Then, they hugged properly, arms wrapped around each other's backs and shoulders, their heads resting on each other's necks.
They stayed like this for a while, until Lucian finally managed to push her away.
"I'm feeling better," he said, wiping his nose, "Thank you."
She smiled, outstretching her palm, "Two gold coins."
Lucian's eye twitched. "You are charging me now?"
"Hey, it's not easy to cheer up a friend," she said, "And I'm a great hugger. My hugs are worth a fortune."
He took out the coins from his pocket, trying to suppress another chuckle, "Here, two gold coins."
She stuffed them down her shirt. "It was worth it," she said, "You're smiling now."
"Only because you're being ridiculous," he said, shaking his head.
Lucian didn't have the heart to tell her that her hug was worth more than just two gold coins to him. It was worth the world.
He pulled her into another hug, but this time he was the one embracing her, "It's your turn to be upset now. Come on, cry on my shoulder."