Eighth

His eyes had sparkled when she'd told him that.

As the lesson proceeded, he stood by and guided her in her movements.

Every brush of his palm sent electric thrills coursing up her spine, and she could feel her face going warm.

But it wasn't just that.

His teaching methods were...incredible.

The way he was able to pick out the flaws in her motions, the mistakes and wasted movement in her blows...the way he corrected them and refined them...it was all so...

She could feel his guidance in the tiniest movements as his hands held her body firmly.

It felt like she'd grown so much already...

After only a couple of hours!

Just how much could she learn from him if she kept it up? If he kept teaching her day after day?

"Prince Adrien, this is...amazing...! I learned so much today!"

A pleased smile curled his lips as he spoke. "Did you? Well, if so, I'm pleased that I've been able to instruct you, Lady Emily."

He offered his elbow to her as they walked together. "Shall we go have some tea and a light lunch?"

"Oh, tea sounds wonderful! I'm all sweaty and gross, though..." She hesitated, unwilling to get too close when she was...gross and...things.

He shook his head, insistent on offering his arm. "Never. You are the most lovely and radiant creature I've seen all day."

The way he looked at her...it made her shiver.

"...Is this the part where I should compliment you too, My Prince?" She tried to deflect with a playful, teasing comment.

She did, ultimately, loop her arm around his, as she struggled to stifle her smile.

"Only if you like." His voice was mild, but there was a hint of playfulness in it.

She grinned at him.

"I've had quite the learning experience, Your Highness, and I found that I really...really enjoyed myself. I got to spend the time with a handsome and charismatic man and learned from him. It's truly been...amazing, My Lord. I wouldn't change a thing."

His eyes lit up.

A beautiful smile curved his lips.

"...Thank you."

There was nothing forced in his happiness.

It was...heartwarming to see.

Adrien's happiness was like a rare gift to witness.

She knew that with her entire being. She was sure of it.

Adrien seemed genuinely thrilled as he sat with her over a cup of tea.

The longer she talked with him, the more comfortable she got with his company.

He was kind. Charming. Gentlemanly.

Adrien had an aura about him that made her want to stay close to him.

"Will you join me for dinner tonight?" He asked as he refilled her cup of tea.

She blinked in surprise. "Ah...? I don't want to take up all of your time-"

His hand rested on the table, palm up. "You are welcome to as much of my time as you like, Emily."

He looked up at her, his lips tilting upward into a faint smile. "I will ask again...will you join me for dinner, tonight?"

Her pulse raced as she placed her hand in his, smiling up at him. "I would be honored, Adrien."

It was hard to breathe.

Why am I so nervous around this man? We're friends...

Adrien was gazing down at her with a content smile, as if he too was unable to breathe, but not minding the fact in the slightest.

"Then I shall see you in the evening."

It took her a moment to come back to her senses and remember to pull her hand out of his grasp.

She pulled back her hand with an awkward little laugh, smiling sheepishly at him.

"...Yeah..."

Adrien smiled at her, a bit wistful but still warm, before he rose from his seat. "I will look forward to seeing you tonight, Emily."

"Y-yeah...! Me too-I mean-!"

She felt her cheeks redden with embarrassment as the prince walked away, the gentle smile on his lips growing just a little bigger.

A rush of blood heated her cheeks, and she clutched the hand he'd held to her chest, giggling a little to herself.

"It's...kind of funny. How easy it is to get flustered around him."

But it was nice.

He was nice.

She smiled to herself, tucking strands of green hair behind her ear as she walked down the hall of the castle.

A voice cut through her thoughts. "It's not like I really care but..." 

She froze. 

Kieran leaned against a wall in the hall, arms crossed, squinting at her in disbelief. "You rebound awful quick after being so attached, huh?"

That's-- a sharp pain.

She hissed out a breath.

She closed her eyes. "What. Did you expect me to keep chasing you desperately?"

He shrugged. She could hear how his armor moved, even if she didn't open her eyes. "Don't get it twisted. I'm not upset. I'm just surprised. For as clingy as you are, I still thought you had more self respect."

Her fists clenched and her knuckles turned white as her hands shook. "You...you-"

"Jerk? Asshole?" Another shrug. "Yeah. Maybe. But when you get hurt this time? It'll be your fault. Not mine."

He pushed away from the wall then and just...walked away.

Without hesitation.

It was nothing new to her.

He'd already done it once before.

She brought a shaking hand to her mouth, taking deep breaths through her nose.

"...I'm not letting it get to me again." She opened her eyes, taking a deep, shaking breath as her fingers balled into tight little balls at her sides.

Her lip trembled, just a bit, as her chest rose and fell in stuttered little gasps. "...I'm...I'm going to have dinner with Adrien tonight, and I'm not going to think about you! You can go rot!!"

She swallowed down the lump forming in her throat as her voice rose to a shout. "I'll never, ever think about you again, Kieran! Ever!!"

She felt the tears building up in her eyes, hot and heavy and burning as they began to roll down her cheeks in fat drops. She covered her face with her hands and shook her head furiously.

"Never!!"