DUSK.
My eyes widened in disbelief as I realized that I had really done it, and then he kissed me.
It was only then that I realised I was still with Seline, Ariadne, and Dalia.
They were so shell-shocked that they couldn't speak. Even I, who had taken the potion, was still taken aback.
It felt a bit embarrassing to be kissed in front of people, and I knew it would be rude to break it off abruptly.
After probably a minute, he released me and smiled.
"I have to go. I needed to see you before leaving for important work. " He said and left me standing there, shocked.
I turned to the people before me and saw a slight grin on Seline's face, and I blushed furiously. I knew my face was already flushed with pink.
Looking at Ariadne and Dalia was the best part of it; it was as though they had seen a goat fly.
"Um. I'll be back." I said even though I wasn't intending to get back to them.
I walked away, feeling their burning eyes on my back. My thoughts raced as I found my way to the library, which was always quiet and lonely.
I bet I was the only one in the Palace who visited the library. I sat with a book on my lap and began to think.
"Did I do the right thing? Is he going to be that explicit with his actions? Is this how he is in love? Oh my dusk, can you handle this!?" I asked myself as I freaked out. I was so scared that someone would notice what had happened, but there was really no need to be scared because Lucius had already been acting like I meant something to him.
I stayed in the library for hours until I heard the door open and wondered who had come in.
I walked slowly to the door but saw no one and was about to turn back when someone pulled me into a back hug. It was Lucius.
"I knew I'd find you here." He said.
"Oh, uh, Yeah , I was reading." I said, and he released me.
We went back to where I had been sitting and sat down.
"You're back?" I asked, and he nodded.
"It was really stressful, but all that's gone now that I see you." He said, and I bit my lips and then smiled because it was quite amusing. That the almighty Lucius would say words like this.
"Really?" I asked, and he nodded.
"I'd like to kiss you." He said, and I looked around.
"We're in a library. Anyone can come in." I took my book and continued to read, then he moved closer to my ear and whispered.
"Let's do something fun. It'll be more fun because anyone can come in." He said, and I gulped.
"Fun like what?" I asked, still staring at my book, and he smiled.
"Fun like what the animals watched us do back in the forest." He said, and I turned my face to him and kissed him.
We made love in the library, and he was right; it was more electric because of the fear that anyone could come in and see us.
After we made love, I dressed up, preparing to go to my room to shower, but he took my hand instead.
"Let's head out. To the river." He said, and I agreed simply because I knew he was going to have his way.
At the river, the wind was having a parade, blowing my hair and clothes, and I felt alive.
Lucius came to stand next to me and asked if I wanted to swim.
"Oh no, not in these waters. I wouldn't like to get wet." I said, and he laughed.
"Alright, how about playing with the waves?" He asked, and I looked at him.
"That seems to me to be the same thing." I said, and he shook his head.
“No, it's not. Okay, you don't want to get wet, right? I'll have you on my back." He said, and before I could protest, he bent in front of me and carried me on his back, and as he ran, I screamed. He ran into the water, and the waves crashed against us.
"You said I wouldn't get wet!" I exclaimed, laughing.
"Sorry, I couldn't help it." He said, he was running to crash against the waves once more. This time, we fell, and the waves, which were stronger, took us farther into the water.
“Oh, Lucius, I'm all wet." I said, smiling, and he gave me a swift peck on the lips.
"But it makes you look prettier." He said, and I shook my head. We swam around and did something as silly as building a sand castle, which kept on collapsing due to our inexperience. We spent all day at the riverside, and it was late when we got back to the Palace.
I changed into a dry shirt he gave me, and we both sat at the fireplace when we were dry.
The fire was beautiful as its flames crackled, and I felt warm in Lucius' arms.
We talked a bit about our day and why we hadn't been this close
.
"I guess I was just too proud to let you know I loved you." He said m, and I looked at him.
He didn't know it was a potion that was working.
"But I'm letting you know now. That I love you." He said, and I stopped. It felt like he really meant it, but I knew it wasn't real. How could Lucius like me when he hated me?
We kissed again and made love over and over again at the fire before we slept in each other's arms.
However, the next morning, he suddenly sat up, which caused me to wake up.
I sat up, and he looked at me with a confused look in his eyes, and in his eyes, I could no longer see the red ring. Then he stood up and left without a word.
The Potion had completed its work.