TRAPPED BY THE SECOND MALE LEAD
CHAPTRE 31
Lucien pulled out a blanket to cover the bodies of the two of them, not forgetting he hugged Meridia's waist so that the girl could not run away. Lucien did not give Meridia any pause to breathe a sigh of relief. “When she sleeps, Meridia.” Lucien's voice turns heavier, she keeps rubbing her cheeks against Meridia's head, hugging the girl like a doll, then asking, “Are you not sleepy yet?”.
Meridia was still trying to give a little distance by holding Lucien's shoulder, “I had a hard time breathing, I could die. Step away a little,” Meridia's nagging no longer seemed to hesitate to say what she felt in front of Lucien.
Meridia's words actually made Lucien tighten his arms. “I don't want.” reject it in a subtle tone. Meridia sighed in annoyance and let Lucien do as he pleased.
The girl's mind was split in two and the two were quite opposite. There is a side in Meridia that feels happy during being with Lucien, whether it is sincere or not, he can get the attention he never got before while still in the same house with his own biological family. Undeniably, Meridia realized she had a fond feeling of being a friend to this mysterious young man.
But on the other hand, Meridia is also afraid of having to live with an unpredictable person like Lucien. Meridia more often feel anxious like wanting to end this bond forever than her pleasure when with the head of the Navarro family. It would be better if the two of them walked a different path, that was what Merida thought.
“Meridia,” whispered Lucien softly. The exhilaration that hit the ears made the girl shudder amusedly. “You've slept?” the man thought that the girl in his arms had fallen asleep because she had not moved at all.
“What's up? Why are you whispering so?”
“Oh turns out you haven't slept,” Lucien is looking for an opportunity to hear Meridia's soft voice "Hey, Meridia. Can you tell me a story for me?”
Meridia glanced at him stifledly. Lucien is just adding to his job. “You're too big to listen to a fairy tale as a bedtime,” he said ketus, he managed to loosen Lucien's embrace on his waist, “Sleep. I'll sleep too.”
“Ah This Meridia is very unpleasant,” Lucien pursed his lips, imitating the habit Meridia did when the girl was upset “Then, hug me to sleep.”
“Tck. You're so fussy, anyway. You ‘kan are used to sleeping alone.”
“Now I will not get used to it anymore,” Lucien lowered his sleeping position slightly until his head was level with Meridia's head, staring at the face of ayu girl who was staring blankly at the ceiling of the room “I hope you will do it, just once, at least before my age runs out.”
Meridia looked at Lucien with a deep frown. “Suddenly you're so gloomy. Is this a trick to lure me to you?”
The young man gave an ambiguous smile. “Not really, but whatever it is we must prepare for the worst first, ‘kan?” Lucien then brought his face closer to Meridia's. The beautiful girl wanted to dodge but Lucien had already held the back of his head and now the tip of their noses touched each other “So you really don't want ya, how about we do something else?”
“What do you mean? Hey stay. I couldn't breathe,” both corners of Lucien's lips lifted when he got an idea that was interesting to him. “Let's play a quiz to test how far you know your partner.”
“How about I win?” meridia asked confidently when she knew nothing about Lucien other than his strangeness. "Yes that's up to you. You can choose any punishment for me.”
Lucien shifted a little to put some distance between them, “If I win then I will give you the punishment of every wrong answer you give. And if my final points are more, I will give you a heavy penalty.” There was always a reciprocal relationship in every single thing Lucien did.
“Punishment?” if Meridia wins she will be free but the chances are very small, she becomes nervous instead of playing. “How? Excitement ‘kan? From now on,” Meridia was surprised to see a light forming writing appear above their heads.
[Hobby]
“Well that's the first question. Want to answer first?” Lucien seemed very enthusiastic about playing a game that benefited him. He invited Meridia to answer first because she was waiting for him.
Meridia then took a good look at Lucien's face, starting to guess what hobby that match with the handsome face of the young man “Um...hunting possible?” meridia hesitated.
“Yes, I love hunting and now I have got my prey but unfortunately it is not my hobby so your answer is not right,” Lucien smiled “My turn. Your hobby is gardening, yes ‘kan?”
“Not.”
“Really? What is your hobby?”
“...” Meridia does not know what activities make her happy and really enjoy when doing it. One that kept coming to his mind, he was happy to take care of the plants together with Samuel in the back garden. Park is the best escape that Meridia has when she is sad and tries for a moment to forget the bad luck that befell her.
“Good, I'll I'll win. We continue to the next question.”
“Lucien can we just take a break? I'm getting sleepy,” unfortunately Meridia's persuasion didn't work. “Cannot. We have to solve all the questions first.”
Meridia was already unsure she would survive the childish play Lucien had made. Furthermore, only Lucien was so looking forward to the final result. “I will save your punishment for at the end only.” whose heart is not restless to hear that remark.
[Favorite food]
“Meridia isn't the picky type of food but she just can't stand sugary foods. That's why I forbid.”
Meridia looked at Lucien curious about one thing. “How do you know so much about me? I myself did not know that I could not stand sweet food.” Strangers seemed to know better, Meridia was unconscious.
Previously Meridia could not confirm it because during her time at the Emerald mansion she never got a chance to eat a decent meal. Pure meridia only eat fruits that are naturally sweet to meet the needs of sugar in the body.
“I've always known about you and no one knows more about you than I do. All right, next question.”
“You haven't answered my question correctly,” said Meridia didn't accept. “And I have not answered his question either. Do you want to cheat?”
“Didn't I answer? And again, I think it's useless you guess,” Lucien showed a mocking smile that made Meridia scowl, “You underestimate me.” said the beautiful girl.
“Let's be more realistic, Meridia.”
“You mean by relented and received your dirty game?”
“Haha you're this cute se-“ suddenly Lucien's expression turned serious, his expression hardened in harmony with his smile that disappeared instantly. Lucien's eagle eyes sharpened and a few seconds after the change he rose from his sleeping position. “Meridia, wait for me here. I have to go take care of the important things,” Lucien rubbed Meridia's head then flicked the girl's bangs up and kissed her forehead then said, “I'll be right back.”
“Now is a good opportunity,” muttered Meridia while glancing at the passageway. Before opening the door to Lucien's room he makes sure no one else is around and after being convinced he immediately infiltrates Duke Navarro's room.
The first thing that greeted him was a pungent aroma like alcohol that was quite piercing to his sense of smell but strangely also smelled sweet. Lucien's room was so dark that even the owner of the room rarely used lighting. “Should I turn it on? But I can be caught.”
As a result Meridia only lit a candle for lighting and how surprised he was when he saw the contents of the room. Different from his shadow, Lucien's room was very simple and seemed empty. There's just a little stuff in there. When compared to the rooms that Meridia occupied, then the difference reached more than fifty percent.
Meridia walked up to a small closet as high as her waist. His heart seemed to tell Meridia that there was something Lucien had stored inside. Without further ado, Meridia immediately checked each drawer of the closet and at the bottom of the drawer there was an unframed photo in the condition. already half-burned lying in the inner corner of the drawer with the reverse position.
Meridia drew the candle close to the photo, a cute boy smiling was forced by two small fingers supporting the corners of his lips. the fingers did not belong to the boy but to the person next to him right on the burning piece of paper.
The part of the photo was burned so that Meridia could not see who took the picture with the boy Meridia believed was little Lucien. “I don't know that since childhood he has indeed been this handsome,” muttered while flipping the photo to find out if there is something behind the photo. “Why can this photo burn? Has there ever been a fire in this palace?”
Meridia put the photo back in the drawer and moved in search of another clue. “It seems impossible that Lucien has a diary. What other clues can I find here?”
“Your Majesty, I have brought a reply letter from the King to you,” Hugo handed over a small tray containing a neatly wrapped letter and marked the official seal of the royal family emblem.
Lucien reads the letter at a glance and his smile expands “Pfft hahahahaha” Lucien's terrible loud laughter gives Hugo goosebumps, he wondered what he was actually communicating with the King until his master who used to rarely smile now laughed with satisfaction.
“Good.” murmured Lucien then burned the paper to nothing “Hugo, tomorrow I will follow the meeting of nobles.”
“Good, Your Majesty. I'll prepare all your needs well.”
Lucien covered his smile with the palm of “I can't wait to see the expression of his defeat.” Hugo stared at Lucien's broad shoulder as he stared at the night sky, “Your Majesty, what about the Duchess? Can he come with you to that meeting?”
“Of course not.” reply Lucien with firm rejection. “Comeon bring him home as soon as you're done meeting the King,” his word to Hugo signifies that the man must also come to the palace as Lucien's aide and inevitably have to meet the terrible humans who gathered there.
“So here's our discussion,” Lucien then turned around. Mischievous grin printed on his thin lips, he also muttered “When playing hide umpet.” Lucien chuckled softly, he walked past Hugo while patting his shoulder “Go.”
“Good, Your Highness.”
Lucien rushed back upstairs. While Meridia who was still in Lucien's room just as vaguely had started to hear the sound of footsteps echoing on the floor of the quiet corridor “What is Lucien?” Meridia walking tote peeking through the hallway from the sidelines of the room door “Gosh!”
It was too late for Meridia to come out and re-enter her own room. “Wire. Where should I hide?” the girl could not find a safe place because there were not many items in there. There was a sound of the door opened and it turned out Lucien went into the room Meridia “Meridia, I've been kemba— loh? She's not here?”
Meridia was already terrified and could think of no other way but to hide under Lucien's bed and shut her mouth tightly hoping that Lucien would not be able to find her before she returned to her own room. “Hopefully he didn't find me here!”
“Any, where did she go these nights?” Lucien came out of Meridia's room and saw her door slightly open, “Meridia, are you here?” the girl's breath was blocked.
He held his breath firmly as he looked at the two legs of Lucien walking into the room. He knew the chances of escaping the young man were very small.
Meridia's eyes can't see where Lucien's feet are stepping “Is she hiding in my room?” Meridia saw from under the bed, Lucien's feet moved closer to her wardrobe “Meridia, ready or not I came.”
Lucien opens his wardrobe that remains neat “Not here, yes.” Meridia closed her eyes tightly, her heart felt like it had moved to her ears considering that her heartbeat sounded very loud. Lucien sighed, “Did he go to the kitchen?” ask yourself “It's time to sleep, I'd better ask others to help look for it,” when opening your eyes, please, the dark blue Netra Meridia saw Lucien's feet stepping away from the room and closed the door from the outside.
Before coming out of her hiding place Meridia made sure Lucien's footsteps were far away so she could have time to return to her own room “Huft,” Meridia shrieks started crawling out from under the bed.
“Your meeting, apparently here you are hiding.”
“What?!” Meridia jumped in shock when she saw Lucien already sitting on the edge of the bed, laying his left foot on his right foot while looking at Meridia with a horrible grin “What are you doing down there? in hiding, hm?” the girl was unable to answer due to the shock.
“As you can see, my room is nothing. You looking for something?” lucien's ambiguous smile made it difficult for Meridia to swallow. It was only a classic reason he thought of. “I was just curious about your room because I never saw it. That's it.”
“Hoo really?” Lucien smiled faintly, he raised his hand asking Meridia to grab it “Then let's spend the night here.”
Meridia shook her head as a rejection “Don't want. You are here, I will go back to my own room,” Meridia went to the door of Lucien's room but he could not open it, he also did not see any door keys there.
“Since when is this door locked?” ask Meridia inwardly.
“Why not get out? Change of mind?” asked Lucien pretending not to know.
“Do not lock this door. Quickly open, I want to exit,” Lucien approached Meridia with a slow step “Hei, Meridia. Want me to tell you an interesting story no?”
Both eyebrows Meridia linked confused “What?”
“Not so deh,” Lucien squeezed Meridia body “Soal the game earlier, I won ‘kan?” unfortunately again, Meridia just remembered that they had played a silly game although short but indeed Lucien won “Now I have the right to punish you.”
Lucien's big hand held Meridia's cheeks together to keep looking at her “you should know one thing. You will never be able to run away from me,” Lucien said slowly but full of meaning and emphasis, his two gray eyeballs slowly turning bright red. “I already have you so you have no rights and no freedom whatsoever over your own body,” Lucien's cold smile makes the girl sculpt.
Whahuh? what did Lucien say just now?
“Alright, now what should I do to you huh?” the beautiful young man tilted his head slightly, looked at the pale face of Meridia's long-goal and said, “What should I do so that you do not forget that you are mine?”
