ARC 1: The Abandoned Lover’s Salvation (3) Chapter 3: Lumiere, the Professional Actor

Shortly after his business in the company, Augustine hurried to his car when he heard footsteps rushing towards him. He looked behind and saw Jen trying to catch up so he stopped for a while.

"S-Sir!" Jen called before finally reaching him.

"What is it?" he asked kindly but with a hint of impatient in his tone.

Jen seem to notice it so he spoke, "Sir, about the partnership from before, maybe… maybe I can do something about? If you can trust me, I'll do my best to try and succeed. After all, we've spent a lot of effort on it… and I blame myself as well…" he said sincerely.

Augustine sighed and held his nose bridge in between of his eyes, "Though it'd be great if you can, you don't have to blame yourself…"

Jen's cheeks flushed red, even by only doing such action, his boss actually looks very handsome even where tired! He looked away for seconds and he looked back after he fixed his face.

"No… no need." Augustine declined, "They'll surely ask us for more. No need to go there and act like a beggar. Just let it fail, we're not the only ones losing anyway." He spoke and opened the door of his car.

Jen furrowed his brows and tried to persuade, "But sir, I can still—"

"I don't like repeating myself." Augustine said without stopping his actions. Shortly afterwards, his car engine started and he left the pouting Jen.

After opening the door to Eclaire's room in the hospital, he saw his lover looking on the roof above his head, looking so dumbfounded. His eyes swollen red. It's obvious that he cried again after waking up.

Augustine felt a stabbing pain on his chest. He was about to call him when he faced his way. He paused for a split second before sitting on the chair beside the bed. Eclaire's expression is complicated, it's as if he is thinking there's no way he would have the time to visit him but at the same time, there is a hint of relief in his eyes.

It only made Augustine feel guiltier. If he can only turn back the time, he would never try to even think of pouring water in his lover's face.

"G-Gus?" Eclaire called with a quiet voice and a hint of hesitation so he answered immediately.

"Hmm?" he hummed while holding Eclaire's left hand carefully since it still has a needle stuck in it.

"Are you really… Gus?" he asked once again, his grip tightening. Augustine gave him a soft smile saying, "En."

He hung his head low, ready to be scolded by Eclaire when he heard not a scoff nor a sneer. Rather, an angelic soft laughter. He looked towards his half-sitting lover's face in surprise.

"You're here… I'm very happy…" Eclaire spoke.

"You're not mad?" Augustine asked.

Eclaire shook his head left and right, "I'll only be mad if Gus didn't visit. I'll be mad and then I'll cry." He said honestly with a pout.

Augustine's face softened even more, "I'm sorry. It's all my fault…" after saying that, he hugged Eclaire very carefully, afraid he might hurt him again.

Eclaire blinked twice, as if he's already unfamiliar with such affection. Then he giggled and embraced Augustine very tenderly, "Gus…?" he asked.

"Hmm?"

"Can I call you love again?"

Augustine looked at him in the face. He wondered where the question came from. Even if his tone became harsh, he loves the person in front of him so dearly. He would listen to him calling him in such an affectionate way every day without fail.

Eclaire noticed Augustine's silence so he gasped in fear and bowed down his head while trembling, "N-No… I won't ask anymore… I'm s-sorry… Gus… no… A-Augustine…" he tried to retreat his figure but his back is already pasted on the bed, no longer able to move.

Augustine frowned upon seeing such reaction. He wrapped his arms around Eclaire's waist and pull him closer to his body. They both met eye to eye before he said, "Who says that you can't? I'll punish them."

Eclaire's face flushed when he felt Augustine's nose brushing to his own. His face turned redder upon hearing his lover's reply. He looked away with his cheeks feeling hot.

"T-That… n-n-nanny said… she said that because we're arguing so bad… Gu-Augustine will only hate me more if I tried to call you that way… because… it's insulting…"

Augustine noticed Eclaire's embarrassed face and even without seeing his expression, with his neck and ears already tomato red, he can already tell that Eclaire's truly telling the truth, especially when he suddenly hiccupped and covered his mouth before shaking his head.

"N-No! No one told me!" he tried to cover it up.

Augustine should be feeling angry because he is being lied to, but seeing his darling's embarrassed face trying to put on a serious look while not knowing what to cover in his face using both palms, he only thought he's too adorable.

He held Eclaire's wrists with his one hand and pinned them on the bed above his head. Eclaire's back fell on the bed. He closed his eyes in fear before peeking through one eye after hearing a low chuckle.

Before his blurry sight can see things clearly, he felt something soft touched the tip of his nose. Upon realizing that it was a kiss from his lover, his eyes widened and even his hands tinted red. He felt that the tip of his nose burns.

Augustine seemed to enjoy his lover's reaction and kissed more, his forehead, his eyes, his cheeks, his nose, chin, then going down on the neck. Once his lips touched his lover's neck, he felt Eclaire slight tremble. He paused for a second and witnessed an innocent face looking his way as if asking, "What's next?"

He couldn't help but to chuckle once more before feasting on his lover's neck. As he tried to be more and more intimate, he felt that Eclaire's hands are finally trying to escape his hold so he tightened his grasp a bit without hurting the other.

Eclaire began to feel restless, his whole body doesn't know what to do so he tried to move but the other is suppressing his movements. His gasps and breath increase by the second and his eyes are starting to water. Just then, Augustine decided to leave love marks so he sucked the side of his neck.

"Hngg!" Eclaire finally let out a sound. Such melody almost drove Augustine insane. The more he tries to put hickeys on Eclaire's neck, the more Eclaire struggled and the more he moans. Augustine is of course, loving it more and more.

So he took a bite in the collarbone.

Eclaire couldn't help but groan louder, "Aaahh!" and started to kick and fiercely trying to get away. When Augustine noticed his refusal, he finally stopped and gave the collarbone a last kiss before hugging him.

Eclaire lay his chin on Augustine's shoulder while trying to catch his breath. Augustine, on the other hand, wipes his lover's wet back, tracing his spine.

"Baby, how does it feel?" Augustine asked after pulling away.

"Hnnghh… hurts… scary…" Eclaire answered while wiping his tears away.

Augustine kissed Eclaire's hand and asked, "That's all?"

Eclaired pouted and looked around first with a red face before speaking, "G-Good…" he peeked towards Augustine and received a low laugh as a response. His eyes brightened.

"Call me love, okay?" Augustine said and Eclaire nodded as hard as he could.

"Love!" He smiled wide and gave Augustine a kiss in the cheek, "Hehe… Love!"

Augustine rubbed his hair and said, "Be good. Let's go back home." As he said this, he of course, took to heart about the issue on the head maid. He didn't want anything bad to even come close to his beloved.

Only he can influence him, no one else.

"En…"

[Ding! Ding! Ding!]

AFFECTION LEVEL: 55% --> 50%

FAVORABILITY LEVEL: 60% --> 80%

MISFORTUNE LEVEL: 2% --> 4%

*****

On the way home, Augustine is the one driving so Eclaire is more behaved in the passenger seat. Well, not Lumiere.

In his mind, he's actually partying like crazy. He didn't know he could pull that off! Not only the fever plan work, but innocent seduction worked as well! Plus, he managed to drop a clue without actually going out of character!

80% favorability!

80% FAVORABILITY!

ALL HAIL 80%!

[Looks like you're doing well now host.]

"Yeah! I'm really happy! This really is an easy world, system! I love you so much!"

[Aww… Don't worry! I'll do my best to assist you, host!]

"I know I can count on you! Kiss, kiss, muah~"

[Kiss, kiss, muah~]