Who is the Villain?

Chapter -44

It has been a week and Lucien was still unable to forget about her incident of trying to escape. She didn't think anyone would be watching and now, she was paranoid thinking about what she had done. Those innocent sunny smiles of Benjamin who assure her that they saw nothing were more terrifying.

'I wish I could erase my memories.'

She wished she had never heard those or Benjamin never told her about it.

To distract her mind, she made herself busy by reading the papers she had written about the novel, especially some special plots where the female protagonist and her harem meet. She wanted to make sure that it will follow according to the novel. Lucien doubted half of it for the plot started 5 years earlier. She wasn't sure if other characters would be appearing.

'Ajex, Ivan, and Sebastian have appeared including the emperor.'  Her quill tapped against the paper. 'Come to think of it, I've hardly met Sebastian except for that incident in front of Dorothy.'

*sigh*

'I need to learn teleportation skills but who would teach me? It's kind of handy to learn that skill.'

She sighs again. The only person she could think of was Sebastian, a magician from the Royal family.

Lucien leans back letting both hands wave down the air. Just then she noticed Renee in the garden through her open window. She was alone and was holding an empty basket hung in her arms. She held no parasol but a hat decorated with tiny flowers and ribbon.

This might be the first time she had seen Renee out of her chamber. She was always busy working on the medicine and by her expression, she had noticed, that Renee was smiling and humming. Her progress was going smoothly.

If Lucien was to describe Renee, she was like a breath of fresh air that can make any atmosphere light and warm. Her nature was gentle and kind, however, a little airhead. If she was in her world, she would gladly befriend her.

Just then she realized something, there was a plot where Renee held a basket and walked towards the garden.

'Is it really happening?'

Out of curiosity, she walk out of her chamber and followed where Renee had walked through. However, there was no sight of her. She looked everywhere, walking deeper into the garden where there was a lake with a bridge.

It was then she noticed a basket floating on the water but there was no sight of her. She didn't like the sensation she was feeling right now. Only when she turned around, did she noticed a bubble floating above and there was Renee under the water, drowning.

"Oh s**t!! Oh, my gush!! Oh, my gush!! Oh my gosh!!"

She was in a panic looking around frantically. She didn't know how to swim nor there was anyone to help her out.

'Where is the side lead who should be appearing around here?'

In this scene, Ajex appears and saves her from drowning. She could not mess up the plot but someone's life was more important than that.

"IS THERE ANYONE?? HELP!!"

She had to call out for help screaming at the top of her lungs and walla, a guard appeared rushing towards her.

"Oh good lord! Somebody is drowning." He exclaims when he notices Renee under the water struggling to breathe. He was about to jump in but Lucien quickly held his collar.

"What the–"

"What the hell are you thinking about right now?" Lucien questioned in a murderous glare, looking down at the guard.

"I-I am trying to save...save her.."

He frighteningly points his fingers to the water.

"What the hell were you thinking? You are not the main character or the side character. Get the hell out of here before I drown you in. Run and call your Knight in commander."

The guard ran as though somebody from hell popped right up to drag his soul away.

This wasn't the time to be picky about choosing whom to save Renee but Lucien was stubborn. She regretted the moment when she noticed Renee finally giving up. She didn't have a choice but to jump herself and save her. 'If I die, I die.'

As she prepared herself to make a dive, her eyes sparkled by a passerby who was no other than Sebastian. He was on the other side with one hand in his pocket while his other hand was spinning a wooden stick which looks like a wand.

He hasn't noticed Lucien who was running her way toward him at lightning speed. Without any greeting, she quickly held his wrist.

"Wha–"

"Do you know how to swim?" Lucien interrupts and questions.

"Yes?? But why–"

Even before Sebastian questioned any further, he was yanked away by Lucien, and the next thing he remembered was being pushed to the lake. 

"Then go and save her."

This was the last thing he heard before plunging underwater.

Sebastian finally notices Renee who was almost on the edge of giving up. She quickly swam over and found that her ankle was tied to a root of an underwater plant.

Just a single touch of the root with a spell, broke free. Sebastian held her and swam towards the surface.

Lucien was in delight when she sees Sebastian was finally able to save her. However, Renee hasn't moved nor was she breathing. She was lying on the grass while he was trying to catch his breath.

"S-she isn't breathing, Sebastian," Lucien spoke in a panicked voice, turning her head towards him. She has as well kneeled on the ground. "You have to–"

"I know," he responded interrupting her. He as well sat on the grass, leaning his body back with both hands supporting his weight on the ground. "You don't need to be alarmed. She isn't going to die yet. At least, let me breathe first."

It sounded rude to Lucien. Here someone was about to die and he was casually speaking about being dead or not. She was about to argue back however, Sebastian moved his forefinger toward Renee. At that moment the water that Renee swallowed was out of her mouth.

Amazed, Lucien widen her eyes. She had never seen magic happening in front of her eyes. Watching movies or dramas was different.

Sebastian crawl forward and sat beside Renee. And as before, he puts his forefinger on her forehead with a slight touch. Lucien noticed a tiny twinkling across her forehead and when he removed his finger, Renee finally began to breathe.

All this time Lucien had her jaw dropped. Her body felt goosebumps traveling from her scalp to her toes. It was amazing. And in a flick of his fingers, Renee's clothes went dry along with his. Lucien will never get tired of watching this scene happening in front of her.

"Are you okay, my lady?"

Sebastian asked when Renee finally opens her eyes. He helps her sit up who was confused by what had happened.

"Thank you," Renee uttered. "My head feels dizzy."

"Let me take you to the physician's room." Sebastian stood up and he as well helps her to stand up. "I hope you'll forgive my action to what I am about to do." And as he said, he carried her up in a bridal style.

Lucien silently sat as she observes things around her. She expected Sebastian to give mouth-to-mouth respiration but instead, he ends up using his magic. However, seeing him being gentlemanly towards Renee as he carries her to the physician's chamber, she was in awe.

Without interrupting this moment, she only watches until she could no longer see the back of them.

Lucien sighs and laid down on the grass, stretching both of her arms and leg wide. Her gaze was on the small dotted clouds which were moving slowly along with the wind. No matter how much she thinks, there was nothing different from this world to her world, though the only difference was the existence of magic.

Similar blue sky, cotton clouds, fresh cool air, soft grass, bushy trees, and more. It only felt like she was still in her world and was going for a walk in the garden.

When she was almost about to close her eyes, ready to dive into her dreamland, a familiar voice interrupted.

"My lady, you called?"

Lucien pushed her eyelids up to see the person who was standing and blocking the ray of the sun.

Reluctantly, she sits up rubbing her eyes with the back of her palm. When she finally saw clear who it was, she called the person's name. "Oh, sir Ajex."