"Are you sure you didn't read too many romance novels before sleep?" Lucian returned to his tent.
It did look like everything Mathieu saw in his prophecy was mostly from the female's point of view.
"You don't believe me? Of course you don't," Mathieu said, trying to sit up. He placed his head in his palms, "I don't blame you. I'm in disbelief too."
"The story sounds interesting enough," Lucian said, "And I would like to hear more."
It didn't matter whether it was a real prophecy or not; Mathieu seemed to be acting on it, and it was a good chance for Lucian to use it to his advantage.
The easiest way to make a man talk was to make him think you were on his side...or torture him into talking. But why risk your reputation when there were easier ways?
Adapting to the situation was a life skill Lucian had to learn to survive. It wasn't about the rule of the jungle, or the strong always wins, it was about being able to change yourself in order to fit in with the new environment.
You acted ruthlessly in the presence of the ruthless, a victim to the righteous ones, a friend to the lost and vulnerable, and a leader to the hopeless.
Lucian listened to Mathieu intently, nodding every now and then to show that he was following along and interested in the prophecy.
Mathieu didn't seem to have an idea what business Lucian dipped in, didn't know about the world's affairs or anything else besides the academy and the heroine's love interests. He didn't remember the heroine's name either, only her looks.
The more Lucian questioned him, the more he became convinced that he was not the Mathieu he met at the cafeteria.
"How did I fall in love with the heroine?" Lucian asked, curious.
The person in Mathieu's memory didn't sound like anything he would ever fall in love with. She sounded disloyal and indecisive.
"She was kind and caring," Mathieu answered, "She reminded you of your deceased mother, who was warm and loving..."
"What about the villainess?"
Mathieu's eyes suddenly shone with admiration, making Lucian feel a little uncomfortable, "From the most hated woman in the kingdom, she slowly rose to become one of the most feared people in the whole world. No one could stop her and her ambitions. All the love interests had to work together to take her down. She was unstoppable until the end."
"End?" Lucian asked.
"She died," Mathieu said.
"And her ambitions?"
"Unfulfilled. She didn't succeed in obtaining what her heart desired the most," Mathieu said, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "It was her unfulfilled love that brought her down, and everyone else around her with her. If she could have just...if she had only chosen someone who could reciprocate her love, she wouldn't have turned into a villainess."
"You...care about her?" Lucian asked, feeling uneasy, "Despite everything she did?"
"Of course, I do," Mathieu replied, "What would I do for such a devoted and faithful person to love me? So many people are unfilial to each other, but not her. Not the villainess. She loved the man of her life with her whole being, and it was beautiful."
Lucian had to look away from Mathieu, having an urge to scoop Celine up in his arms and squeeze her until he heard her laugh and call his name, not the Crown Prince's, like the Celine from Mathieu's prophecy.
"She just shot you with an arrow," Lucian said, pointing to the wound on Mathieu's shoulder.
"She hates me, I know," Mathieu whispered and stood up from the bed, "My only chance to get on her good side is through her twin brother," he said, walking towards the door, "I will be leaving for today. Have a good night, Lord Arclight."
'Lord?' Lucian didn't have a noble title yet, but in the prophecy he did, and Mathieu spoke to him as if it were an actual reality.
There were plenty of crazy people who believed in prophecies and lived their lives based on them, so Lucian wasn't going to judge Mathieu too hard for it, but this one just happened to have a crush on his little wife...
He watched Mathieu's back as the other man left his tent and closed the flap behind him.
Lucian didn't have time to ponder over it for too long. He could predict Mathieu's moves in some parts now, so interrupting his steps shouldn't be too difficult.
He went to the cheaper camp, inquiring about Big Ray, and unintentionally dropped his access pass for the more luxurious camp.
Lorano shouldn't have a hard time picking it up. He was stressed enough as it was, and should have been looking out for an opportunity to get into the more exclusive area, so Lucian just handed him a good excuse on a silver platter.
Lorano didn't know that the pass belonged to Lucian, so he shouldn't be too nervous about being discovered. News of an injured blind noble heir from one of the richest houses had also spread fast, so it shouldn't take too much thinking to figure out the target.
The courtesans have also arrived, so Lucian halted Lady Lilly's horse, greeting her.
"..." Lady Lilly forced a smile, "Ah, Sir Arclight, I hope you've been well."
"Of course I have," Lucian replied, not at all bothered by the lack of enthusiasm in her tone.
He lost his access point, so he asked her if she could help him out. She didn't want to, but did she have a choice? She complied and let him tag by her side.
"I'm a bit occupied right now," she excused herself once they passed through the entrance.
"If you are on your way to young master Edmund, I'm going there as well," Lucian said, making her almost fall over the horse.
"Y...you can't," she stuttered, "I mean... it would be better if you didn't."
"Why?" he asked, tilting his head in confusion, "Do you have something against me seeing him?"
Lady Lilly's expression twisted in anguish, "Sir Arclight, please... I'm begging you. If you approach him now, you will only make matters worse for yourself."