The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-757

Theodore knew Lucy was trying hard to protect herself while resisting the feelings she had for him. Though her lips were quick to speak, she hadn't rejected the idea, and it could still be considered. And though her words were unsure, her face told otherwise.

Right now, her face was burning bright red, and he took his own sweet time to wrap the bandage while taking advantage of her distracted mind to spend more time with her by being this close. The nights they had spent in the past, sitting in her patio in the middle of the night, he had heard her speak her heart out about things he didn't care about before. Nonetheless, he had heard her, and he knew what she desired.

"You didn't tell what you dreamt about," Theodore reminded her, and Lucy pursed her lips while watching his elegant fingers. "Is it Samuel?"

Lucy knew that Theodore knew about it, and he was only confirming it from her. She nodded without speaking a word, and he didn't question more on it. Once he had secured the bandage, he stepped away from her, and Lucy got down, pushing her gown back to its place.

"Your bruise hasn't reduced," she noted, watching his forehead.

"When you fight with the same kind, the impact is harder than the usual," replied Theodore. "You should get some rest so that your body can heal the wound faster. Is there anything else you would like me to help you with?"

"No, that was all. You should get some sleep too...than watch over me from there," her eyes moved to the patio, and Theodore offered her his charming smile.

"I would if I knew you wouldn't step away from your bed, but the princess's feet have their own mind, don't they?"

Was it her imagination, or did Theodore turn cheeky lately? Asked Lucy to herself.

"You should know the princess can walk anywhere she wants and no one can stop her if she decides to walk," responded Lucy.

She was ready to tell him goodnight and leave her so that she could gather her thoughts that had been scattered. But Theodore had other ideas as he stepped right in front of her.

Theodore moved closer to her, and her back was quick to hit the back of the chest where she had been earlier sitting on, and Lucy gulped at the closeness. She tried to put a wall, but he passed through it as if it was nothing with his debonair.

"Did you forget something?" asked Lucy, her voice barely a whisper.

But Theodore didn't reply to her, and instead, he moved further close to her. Her lips trembled when his gaze moved down from her eyes, her heart thumping in her chest. "W-what are you doing?" she asked nervously, her heart not prepared for the kiss Theodore was going to give her.

Theodore raised his hand, "It is just one…" his voice trailed.

"I don't think this-"

"Got it," said Theodore picking something below her eye, and he smiled at her, "It would be a waste to not use the eyelash for a wish."

Huh?

"I was picking up the eyelash," explained Theodore before his lips twisted, "Were you anticipating a kiss?"

"Of course not!" Lucy blushed brightly and what she wanted right now was for the ground to swallow her.

"I would have never imagined that you believe in such things, she added, stepping away from him and the wooden divider.

"Says the one who taught me about it," hummed Theodore.

It was something Lucy had learned from Ruby about placing one's eyelashes to make a wish so that it would come true by blowing it on the back of one's hand.

"You don't have to follow what I say," muttered Lucy, and she got on the bed. "I will get some sleep now."

"Of course," responded Theodore to go around the room and blow out the candles. "Have a goodnight."

"Goodnight," murmured Lucy, who had already buried herself in the blanket.

Theodore stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him. Letting her rest now, he made his way to his room. Taking a seat at the edge of his bed, he brought his hand forward, which he had turned to a fist since he had left Lucy's room.

Opening the palm of his hand, he looked at the eyelash that he had brought along with him, staring at it while remembering one of the memories they had spent together.

It was one of the times when Morganna had ordered Lucy to not step out of her room without being allowed to have any meals. And as usual, he had gone up with a bottle of fresh blood for the princess to drink.

Lucy had finished drinking the blood from the bottle, and Theodore had taken a sip directly from it. He remembered how her face had turned red, and though he didn't realize it before, he did now. They had shared an indirect kiss.

'What is it?' he asked her, a question in his eyes.

'Ah, that,' the young princess tried to answer him, 'There's a lash under your eye! Nana says, if you use it to wish, your wishes come true.'

The young girl had moved from her place to come to pick his fallen eyelash from his face. 'Give me your hand,' she whispered, turning it around before placing it on the back of his hand. 'Now you close your eyes and wish before you blow it. Don't tell me!' she quickly added.

Theodore smiled at that memory. Such innocence was hard to find. Lucy was too pure in her thoughts, and maybe it was because she had been raised by a human and not by her wicked vampire family.

He wondered if it would work, but it was worth a try, and he placed Lucy's eyelash on the back of his right hand before he closed his eyes.

'To the person whom this eyelash belongs to, I wish her nothing but happiness,' and he opened his eyes before blowing it away.