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During the following sixty minutes, Katerina vents all her twenty years of suffering into words. Telling of since she was born, how she was repudiated and sent to an old manor within the Erdevel Mansion, one that not even her servants would dare to live in, how she had to struggle to eat, drink, and survive in general, while enduring the treatment of her "family" as well as that of the servants, who saw her as a murderer. Even how, despite the Duchy being wealthy, they did not give her a single cent, and all the clothes she wore were what no one else wanted anymore.
Also, how starting from age 5 she used to escape the Ducal Mansion to where the Commoners lived, posing as one of them, experimenting, meeting people, learning, even helping.
At the same time, how, when she was 15, everything changed. Her deteriorated life improved greatly when the Crown Prince, Calix, chose her as his Fiancée, which raised her status. How she went from Cinderella to a princess with power, consolidating it in front of others, only to begin losing it at 17, with the appearance of the Saint Miriam, and how she began to steal Calix away, even manipulating her to make her seem guilty of everything, so that the whole world would consider her a Villainess who only knew how to do evil.
—And so, after much suffering, and where I thought I would finally be happy, is how I ended up demoted from Heiress of the Duchy of this country, to a commoner, without the possibility of my descendants being able to access Noble Titles. Furthermore, I was also blocked from the Imperial Palace, which will probably bring me problems if I try to look for a job… –A bitter smile forms on Katerina's face, while her eyes turn red once more–
Silence emerges in the place again, but this time like a poison that consumes a person's life in a slow and painful way. Katerina, at first, only wanted someone to vent to, but as she told more and more, her priorities began to change. That is why she not only omitted parts that could be considered of bad omen, but also, upon hearing no sound at all from the person beside her, she could not help but feel bitterness. And in fact, more than what she felt when she was expelled.
—Tap–
Then, she suddenly feels something warm upon her hair, something that transmits words of comfort without saying them. And she, looking up, notices how that something is Lucien's hand, resting on her head with minimal force, just enough to transmit his words.
However, what surprises her the most is not that, but the man's gaze. It does not show her pity, condescension, or mercy, but pride, respect, and admiration. His gaze basically told her that he felt pride in her for having survived that without breaking, respect for achieving something that many, in her case, would have never done, and admiration for her resilience despite all the suffering.
And upon understanding this, for she had never received anything like it, the tears in her scarlet eyes, which had previously disappeared, begin to flow again.
—I'm sorry –She says after a few seconds, while moving her head not to pull away from the hand, but to concentrate it in a more pleasant spot– I know I shouldn't keep crying, but…–
—There is no need to apologize –Lucien shakes his head and interrupts her. His soft voice along with his touch envelops Katerina, making her lower her guard significantly–
Suddenly, Lucien moves closer to her, and with his free hand pulls her back to his chest. A movement so gentle that Katerina did not even realize it had happened. When she knew, it was when his firm chest was once again in front of her cheeks. However, unlike the previous time, there was no force. She could leave whenever she wanted.
—Crying is not something negative. On the contrary, it is positive, as it implies letting out all the felt pain. –The soft voice of the man beside her floods her ears like fresh honey– So, while I am here, you will have a chest to cry on and vent, without fear of them stopping you and scolding you for something natural–
Katerina smiles, a more genuine smile than before, and lets herself be carried away by the soft tone and the words of the man who is practically still a stranger. So, in a moment of bravery, she decides to verify if his words are true, and so she buries her face in his chest once more, and lets out all those tears and sobs she was previously holding back.
________________ >> 30 minutes >> _________________
—Oh, by the Goddess…–
After many minutes of crying, the pain repressed for 20 years is finally released, let go, and all thanks to a firm chest where Katerina could cry, allowing her to regain her sanity.
And when she does, she realizes what she has done, so, immediately and with force she pulls away from him, moving a few centimeters away to the other side of the bench, and finally hides her face in her hands, completely embarrassed.
—How is it possible that I have done something like this? –She asks herself in her mind, while feeling the heat in her face and the frantic beating in her heart– It is unworthy of me. Even if everyone thinks I am promiscuous because of Miriam's rumors, the truth is that I have never approached a man in this way. And now… wouldn't I be validating that woman's words?–
Such thoughts flutter here and there, up and down, like butterflies trapped inside a glass cage that want to escape at all costs.
However, no matter how much she tried to push them out, it was impossible. Even impure thoughts began to mix among the innocent ones, like the hardness of his chest, of his arms, his scent, or the defined lines that could only be seen up close.
—Enough~! –She scolds herself in her mind, for such thoughts completely unnecessary for the immediate context–
After one more sigh, where she makes sure to think about innocent things, like a cute teddy bear she had in her room, or the cotton candy she used to eat as a child, her blush and embarrassment begin to diminish.
—How lucky that it is still raining and therefore there is no one else here. That way no one can see how I was in the arms of a handsome but unknown man… –She smiles, with one last fleeting thought. However, soon all her thoughts stop– Wait. Is it raining?–
Slowly she removes her palms, so she can look beyond her view. And then, she realizes that, indeed, it was raining. However, there was something strange, and it wasn't the fact that she didn't know when the rain started: there was rain, yes, but only a few meters in front of her, but not where she was sitting.
—And the rain? –The girl with scarlet eyes slowly turns her head to look at the man beside her–
—There –Lucien looks at her with amusement, not only because of the question, but also because of her previous action which for him had been very adorable. He, leaning on the other side of the bench with total normalcy, points to the rain meters in front of them as an answer–
—I already know it's there. I have eyes. I can see. –Responds Katerina, feeling major frustration for the first time with the man– I am talking about why here, where we are, in this area, on this specific bench, there is no rain–
—Ahhh –A feigned innocence forms on the face of the young man with amber eyes– Well, if you get wet, you will get sick, so, I controlled the drops that were falling, moving them to another place, to prevent them from falling on you–
Katerina remains in shock for an instant, not only because of the words, but also because of the naturalness of them, for, after all, such water control was even above the Imperial Mages of the country, and it would require at least 5 of them to do something like that.
However, she soon sighs with resignation. At this point, she already knows that Lucien, the man beside her, is no ordinary person.
—Seriously, what are you? –Katerina smiles and shakes her head, amused by the resignation she feels at this point–
—I am just a Traveler –Lucien also smiles with amusement at the expression of resignation from the girl in front of him–
—Traveler? –Katerina, upon hearing the answer, asks in surprise. She had heard what he told her before, about going where the paths take him, but now she was more interested–
—That's right. I travel the world, offering my services to those who need them. Merchant, Physician, Engineer, Architect, Mason, Cleaner, Adventurer, Hunter –Lucien responds with a proud voice– Even, also, if there is a good foundation, I could be an Assassin, Thief, or other work considered from the underworld. It all depends on the type of mission, and the pay offered to me. Besides, I also take morality into account. If I see that it won't get me into real trouble, and that the party involved deserves it, then I do it–
—Upon hearing him, Katerina flashes a smile– And this? –She asks, pointing to the bench, then to where there should be rain, and finally to herself– Are you also this much of a good person to every woman you encounter, on the verge of a mental breakdown, or in general?–
Katerina stops immediately upon realizing the type of question, fearing the anger of the man whose opinion she had begun to value.
—Hmm –However, to her surprise, instead of responding with anger, or with the irony that Katerina already knows, he makes a gesture of being deep in thought– No. In fact, no. I do help women, but normally I always charge, whether monetarily or with another type of payment that is not immoral or illegal. However, at this moment I haven't looked for a monetary value, and I don't even care about receiving it –He adds in murmurs that Katerina can hear– Could it be that what my Master said, that if I came to this specific spot, that is, the outskirts of the Imperial Palace, at 11 at night, I would finally find my perfect match, was real? That dirty old man wasn't lying to me just because he didn't want competition while looking for beautiful women?... And if he wasn't lying, that means what he said, about how he came to this world because he was resting in his search for his Destined Mate, and that as a way to not get bored he started hunting demons, culminating in becoming that Hero of old who cleansed this planet… was totally true? Wow… I thought he was just crazy, and that the story about how he rescued me when my Parents abandoned me in a basket, at the door of the hotel where he was staying, because he wanted a Successor to pass on his knowledge since he was going to continue the search for his Destined Mate, because the Creator Goddess Eleanne had finally grown bored of him and had let him leave, were just the nonsense of a senile old man of billions of years who looks like a 28-year-old man… Interesting–
—Luc? –Katerina's mind is unable to process his strange murmurs. However, seeing him lost in a string of thoughts, she decides to intervene so he doesn't get more lost–
—Eh? Ah? –Lucien, after hearing her voice, looks up– Ah. I'm sorry. I got lost in my thoughts. My apologies –He responds with an embarrassed smile–
Katerina tries to decipher the murmurs of the man in front of her. However, seeing his embarrassment, she decides not to continue. Something inside her tells her that they will have more time and that he will be able to tell her everything in a natural way.
—What time could it be? –She asks herself, while looking toward the moon, the starry sky, trying to calculate the current time–
—It must be midnight by now –Lucien points to the natural satellite above them– The moon is at its highest point, so it should be one o'clock at night. In other words, it is already a new day–
—Oh –She responds, grateful for the information, and curious about how he knows this– It is already late…–
Both once again remain in silence, enjoying the fresh night air (a product of the heater, which minimizes the cold), and the sky full of bright stars above them.
—Kat, you don't have anywhere to go, right? –After about 15 seconds, Lucien breaks the silence–
—Katerina, upon hearing him, frowns– Of course I do. I have… –Then, she remembers what happened– Ah… –And afterward, she begins to search the tiny pockets of her princess-cut clothing, trying to find money to at least stay somewhere tonight. However, aside from her necklace inherited from her biological Mother, she finds absolutely nothing. Not even a coin of the lowest denomination– No… –An expression of resigned sadness forms on her face–
—In that case, why don't you come with me to where I am staying at the moment? –He asks, his tone completely natural and innocent, like that of someone offering help to someone helpless–
—However, despite the innocence in the offer, for Katerina, who barely knew him, this was different– To… your house?–
—Lucien, seeing the caution in her gaze and words, immediately understands his own words. Afterward, he straightens up– Not a house. A hotel. Since I am a Traveler, at the moment I am staying at a hotel over in the center.–
—This… –The black-haired woman hesitates, thinking about the pros and cons of the offer–
—Don't worry. I won't take you to my room. I'm not that kind of person –Lucien responds with a smile– Besides, I couldn't even do that, because that dirty old man of a Master of mine put a restriction on me, which only the perfect match, as he called her, can remove. –An expression of frustration is drawn on his face– So don't worry about me being able to do something like that to you. And like I said, I won't take you to my room. I will use money to rent you an adjoining and nearby room, where you can rest privately and relax after this whole day–
Upon hearing him, and seeing that her fears had been resolved, now more confident than before, she decides to nod without further hesitation.
—In that case, let's go –Lucien then stands up, turns around to look at her, and takes off his jacket– It's already late. Your health is very important, so you must sleep your respective eight hours if you don't want to end up with bodily problems –While Lucien speaks, he places the garment on the girl sitting in front of him, wrapping her in a warm piece of clothing–
—Fine –The girl, grateful, tightens the garment, while she smiles and stands up from the seat where she had shared her problems with a stranger who had not judged her–
—Let's head out! –Lucien exclaims with joy, beginning to walk like a marching soldier–
—How silly –Katerina laughs lightly, seeing the animated theatrical way of her now unexpected protector–