Who is the Villain?

Chapter-45

Ajex stares down at the half-awake person who was still rubbing her eyes and yawning at the same time. "My lady, did I disturb your sleep?" Ajax questioned in a little concerned voice.

"Ah, no...no...not at all." Lucien stretches her arms along with her body making a little moaning sound. "You were late though."

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing, everything is alright now," Lucien was still yawning, not even bothering to close her wide stretched leg.

Ajex was hoping she would stand up but Lucien wasn't planning to stand up any minute. So, he sat down beside her but not too close.

"Did something occur, my lady?"

"Ah, no. Not really, it–" Lucien paused when she noticed Ajex hair was damped. There were some noticeable droplets of water at the tip of his hair and even some on his skin.

"Were you taking a bath?" She curiously questioned as she lifts her hand towards his cheeks. "...or were you crying?" Her finger gently wipes a droplet of water right across his rubicund eyes.

Ajex widens his eyes, quickly turning his face to the other side, both the tip of his ears and cheeks turn flush. "I...I was taking a bath." He mumbled under the back of his palm.

"I wasn't finished," he continued, still not willing to face her. "Nevertheless, my subordinate came running to my chamber and wouldn't stop banging on my washroom door."

"Eh?"

"He keeps on mumbling I need to be there right now or he would be seeing hell or something." He finally turned toward her in a complicated manner.

*sigh*

"I was looking for somebody to save Lady Renee from drowning."

"Pardon? But–"

"I cannot swim as well." Lucien cuts in who was glancing at the gleaming lake. Ajex closed his lips when he was about to question. "But do not trouble about it, Sebastian appeared and saved her."

"Sebastian? That magician?" He questions with a wide eye.

"Mmm," she nodded her head. The drowsiness was coming back again. The view and the cold air brushing against her cheeks were making her eyelids heavy. "~he was amazing~" Lucien yawns again as she continued to speak. "~ truly an amazing sorcerer~ *yawn* I wish he could teach me..~~"

The next thing Ajex felt was something heavy at the tip of his shoulder. Lucien couldn't continue when her mind went blank and her body as well gave up.

Ajex was frozen still unable to do anything. Didn't even have the heart to wake her up again to let her go back to her chamber.  Nor does he think it was appropriate to carry her in.

'I am going crazy for doing this.'

Ajex carefully raise her head, shifting a little closer towards her, and carefully placed her head on his shoulder again.

It was so close that the side of Lucien was warm, even he could hear the gentle breathing sound from her. Unable to face her, he turns to the other side with a flushed face. He lift his knee so his elbow could rest while his palm covered his lips.

Several hours later, Lucien woke up laying on the grass alone. The sky was no more blue but had turned yellow-orange.

"You are finally awake, my lady."

Lucien sits up stretching her body. "Rosetta, when did you arrive?"

Rosetta was sitting right beside her reading a book. "An hour ago," she responded and closed the book. "You wouldn't wake up. So, I had to stay until you woke up."

"You should have tried harder," Lucien stretches her arms again. She felt as though she had slept for too long and dreamt about something but she couldn't remember.

"Oh, I was somewhere near tossing you to the lake however, I recall that you couldn't swim." Rosetta monotonously responded.

"You're jesting, right?"

Lucien asked in cackling. However, Rosetta doesn't seem to show any movement or action that speaks it was a lie.

"Never," Lucien let out in a warning tone. "Don't even think about that." If Lucien were to order Rosetta to wake her up in any method, she was sure Rosetta would definitely do that.

"You've my word." Rosetta finally stood up with a bow, carefully patting away dry grass stuck on her gown. "We better leave, my lady."

"Yeah, I need to– where did Sir Ajex go?" Lucien just realized she was sitting with Ajex until she fell asleep.

"Sir Knight left long back when I came to look for you," Rosetta responded helping Lucien to stand up.

"Oh,"

"I assume my lady has slept very well. I notice you were drooling all over his clothes." Rosetta wasn't bothered as to why Lucien was with him the whole day.

"Akk!! I-I was?"  Lucien quickly wipes her lips which were stained with dry saliva now. 'I guess I was.' She laughs half-heartedly.

"I asked to give his clothes so the maid could wash and return them." Rosetta continues only making Lucien feel uncomfortable. "Nevertheless, he declined saying that he'll take care of it."

'WHY DOES THIS KEEP ON HAPPENING TO ME? IS THE UNIVERSE TELLING ME TO STAY FROM HIM BECAUSE HE BELONGS TO RENEE'S HAREM?' Her inner thoughts scream wanting to punch the air and the ground. 'HELL! I AM NOT INTERESTED IN HIM. UGGGG!!!'

"Rosetta, don't let anyone know what happened today." Her face flushed with embarrassment laying low.

"Understood, my lady,"

Rosetta obeyed without questioning further.  Soon enough they left but, they didn't walk their way to Lucien's chamber but to the physician's room.

Renee was resting on one of the beds with a mug in her hand. As soon she saw Lucien walking their way, she smiles brightly. "Lady Lucien..." She waves her hand.

"How are you feeling?"

Lucien asked with concern as she stood at the side of her bed. She looks around but there was no one around in a wide room. It didn't look like a normal physician's clinic but rather a VIP room.

"I feel more better now," Renee responded and gulped down the mug which was filled with the medicinal herb.  "Thanks to the magician."

Lucien smiles in reassurance with relief. "Where is everyone?"

"Oh, the magician and the physician are in the other room discussing something. Alina left to get some food for me but I think I'll be leaving now." As soon as Renee spoke, Sebastian appeared through the other door with a middle age man who was looking down at the paper in distress.

Sebastian noticed the arrival of a visitor and walks towards them. "My lady, have you noticed anyone near the lake when that incident happened?" He asked with a serious look.

'Did someone push her?' Lucien thought and responded, "no, there wasn't anyone except for that particular guard who came running after heeding my call for help."

"Why didn't you save her when you were there then?" Sebastian suspiciously doubted with a menacing gaze.

Lucien didn't like the gaze and boldly answers, "How would that be possible for me when I do not how know to swim or even wield magic?"

Sebastian was dumbstruck. "U-umm!! I-I apologize." He apologizes with a bow though a little confused at the same time.

He turned toward Renee, "you can leave after a few minutes of rest. The venom has been safely removed."

"Oh!" Renee exclaims brightly with relief. "Thank you, sir magician. I am deeply indebted to you." She bowed putting aside her mug.

"Wait- you were poisoned and not drowning?" Lucien shockingly questions Renee.

"Yes, I was poisoned by the plant that was growing on the river bank. I couldn't be drowned as I know how to swim." Renee answers as she explains what had happened to her when she went to pick up some plant that was growing near the lake.

"You know how to swim?"

Lucien was more stunned. She clearly remembers the female protagonist doesn't know how to swim. She was saved many times by the male lead and other side characters when she was pushed into the lake or river.

"Yes."

"Why?" Lucien couldn't think how it was possible.

"Is that even a question?" Sebastian interrupted with a doubting look. "Every noble lady could swim apart from you."

"I-I've learned how to when I was young?" Renee still answers even though she was confused. "And I am deeply grateful to you Lady Lucien for saving me."

"Ah, no...no...it was something anyone would do and you should be grateful to Sir Sebastian for saving you." Lucien ignores the negative response from Sebastian. 

"Oh!"

"Well then, I'll take my leave, Lady Renee. You should probably rest for now. I'll come and visit you later in your chamber." Lucien bowed. Before she left, she moved her attention to the little flower that was put beside the table.

Their little chattering caught her attention when she entered. They wouldn't stop saying one word.

*~poison~poison~ I smell Sky lily poison..~*

However, when she was about to leave she heard again.

*~that poison lady is coming back~ Sky Lily lady is coming back~*

Lucien could only do was listen as she made her way out to the door. Little does she know, Sebastian was staring at her the entire time who even noticed her action of glancing toward the flower pot.