"There's no correct way," Edmund replied, "As long as you have the desired effect on others. I have that effect, that's why no one bothered to tell me. I tried to copy you, but something was off. Maybe it's the way I sit?" he paused, looking at his posture, "I was taught to sit straight at all times, but you are slouching."

'Just enough to be comfortable,' Lucian checked himself through the bird's eye view. It gave an impression that he was not interested in fighting, but was also not afraid of it. Just a reminder, that if someone pushed him, he would push back.

Lucian found his brother in law to be quite tolerable, a person he could get along with.

Edmund's mother was currently busy making preparations for the birthday party, nobody had time to pay attention to the drunken heir except his sister.

Celine walked into the room and took a sniff of the air. "..." She walked around the room and opened all the windows, allowing fresh air to come in.

Lucian's heart skipped a beat. He was still in love with her, still wanted to be with her, and this was a great opportunity to get back together with her.

She gave Lucian a single glance before turning her attention to her brother.

"Celine..." Edmund grinned at his sister. He was sprawled across the desk, his face pressed against the wood, "Lucian promised to introduce me to honest and caring women..."

"..." Lucian wanted to knock himself out.

Edmund just had to mention how Celine was the queen and ruler of his world and heart, and how Lucian had no interest in other women.

But Edmund did the complete opposite of that, "A girl that is not you, Celine, not a devil. Mmh..."

"..." Celine didn't say anything, and her expression didn't change. She just pulled her brother up and dropped him on the floor before taking his seat. "Get out," she said, pointing at the door.

Lucian stood up and walked around the desk to help Edmund off the ground, and then assisted him to the sofa. He then sat back on his seat opposite of Celine.

She ignored him, her gaze focused on the paperwork in front of her.

"Do you need any help?" he asked.

"No," she said, not looking up.

Lucian shuffled his chair closer to the table and supported his cheek with his palm. "You look beautiful today," he said, "and every day."

She raised the papers and read them, obscuring his view of her face, "Get out now or I'll have you kicked out," she threatened.

"Your brother is drunk. He needs someone to take care of him," Lucian said, "I'm not leaving until he's sober enough. I promised to watch over him."

"..." she didn't say anything, and he took that as a sign of her relenting.

For the next half an hour, he watched her work. It was torture for him, but it was also a sweet kind of torment. Her presence alone was enough to keep him going.

"I prefer a clingy Celine," Lucian said, crossing his arms on the table and laying his head on top of them, "She is cute when she is being needy," he said, letting his eyes fall to her hands.

The sound of the paper on paper was the only response he received.

"I like her when she is trying to annoy me. I like her even more when she is being selfish, and I like her when she is being greedy. I like her when she smiles, when she laughs, and I like it when she is being a little devil on my shoulder."

Celine put the papers down and signed them before moving to another stack. Her eyes were glistening with tears she was holding back, but she still kept a straight face and didn't show any sign of weakness, "That's an interesting way to let out your resentment after I ended our relationship. You must be feeling really good about yourself."

"...Why did you?" he asked, raising his head to look at her.

"Why did I what?"

"Why did you end it?"

"Even after all these years, you still expect our relationship to fail eventually, so why should I waste my time on it?"

"..." Lucian looked up at her, but she was already busy looking over a new document.

He waited for her to speak, but she didn't. Instead, she moved to another paper, and she opened her mouth to take a deep breath. Tears were clearly pool‎ing in her eyes, but they refused to fall.

He outstretched his hand toward her, and she avoided the touch by pulling away. His hand froze in mid-air, and he curled his fingers into a fist, his knuckles turning white.

"There are plenty of others who will beg for your attention," she said, her voice cold, "Who will be jealous of anyone who gets a glance from you, who will smile at you no matter how horrible you are. Train them well, and you'll have your perfect woman."

Lucian let out a breath, "You have a point there," he said, "but you forgot one important fact."

"Which is?"

"That you are not replaceable."

"You mean replicable."

"..." Lucian fell silent for a moment, "Do you plan to replicate me?"

"That would be a crime against humanity."

"..." Lucian choked on his breath, "That was mean."

"But true."

"...I'll let that slide," Lucian said, trying to contain his laughter. It was good to see her playful again, and it meant that she was in a better mood, "I will start to hope more. I will stop waiting for the day when you leave me, alright?"

"..." Celine gave him a doubtful look. She knew him better than that. He wasn't going to change his views of the world just like that, not without a proper reason. She tried for years after all. He almost accepted their break up with no reaction to them as well (if only she knew how bad he had it a couple days ago).

He tiptoed his pointer and middle fingers on the desk, slowly getting closer to hers, giving her a chance to move away.

She did. On the last second before he touched her.

An irking feeling washed over him as he wiggled his fingers in a 'help me, I'm hurt' manner.

"My hand is lonely," he sulked, "It misses yours, and I can't do anything to help it," he looked at her from under his lashes, "I need you to save it."

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