"Has he always been like that?"
The Duchess inquired as she turned her head and faced the window of the room she was in, admiring the view outside.
Sitting opposite from her was Jin. Similarly looking at the window, he inwardly sighed.
"Yeah…"
They were currently talking about Ren.
He may have changed a little over the years, but thinking back at all the times he had been with him, he couldn't find a way to deny her words.
"Must've been tough."
"Tell me about it."
Thankfully, the Duchess was quite hospitable. Else he really would've been cursing Ren till the end of his life.
He reached out for his pocket and took out a cigarette.
…It was a habit he picked up due to all the stress he'd been facing recently. It wasn't harmful to him anyways, so it didn't really matter.
"What's that?"
"This?"
He lifted the cigarette.
"Yeah."
The Duchess nodded, her eyes carrying a hint of interest.
After noticing how interested the Duchess was, he lifted his index finger to light the cigarette and then took a brief drag from it.
*Puff*
The Duchess's gaze followed the smoke that raised in the air.
"It's called a cigarette, and it's something that helps me manage my stress."
"…There's such a thing?"
"Mhm"
He took another puff before handing the Duchess his pack.
"Want to have a go?"
"Can I?"
"Yeah. Go ahead."
She reached out with caution. Sliding the cigarette out with the tips of her slim fingers, she brought it in close to her mouth and placed it in between her lips before taking it out.
For a good minute, she examined it with wonder.
"What do I do now?"
"Light the tip."
He pointed at the white side.
A blue flame flickered over the Duchess's finger.
Alternating her gaze between Jin and the stick, she brought the finger close to the tip.
"Like this?"
"Yuh."
The cigarette lit, and an orange ring formed.
"Bring it to your mouth and inhale."
Jin explained before she could ask further.
"…Okay."
cigarette to her
Only that…
"Cough! Cough!"
face turned bright red, and she
to fly out
You lied to m—Cough!
coughing even more
"Hahah."
out a muffled chuckle. He already knew that this was going to
are you laughing
that her subsequent change in expression and her words
trick me
'…Is this really her?'
that he was directly interacting with her, he found her new behavior to be a stark contrast from the one
she hiding
or something? Cant
looked no different
of his lips,
it properly. Try again, but this time try inhaling
not be
him fiercely. Then, bringing the cigarette close
heaved up, and Jin turned his head. They were
*Puff*
her letting out a series of muffled coughs.
burns a
at the cigarette. Then, bringing it to her mouth, she took another
draw on the cigarette in this manner for an ensuing couple of minutes, up until the point where there
I
She showed the butt.
it before casting his gaze
"Throw it away."
"Mhm."
flick, it disappeared out
her hand in
"What?"
what she wanted but found himself rather taken aback when he thought about
It couldn't be, right?
"…"
bobbed her
took out a cigarette and placed it on her hand. She glanced at it for
"More?"
Now, this…
cigarette and placed it on her
bother looking at her hand before directly staring at Jin. Her gaze and expression were clear. She
time in a long time, Jin was left speechless. Was this
'Ah, whatever.'
he shook his head and placed the pack in her
"Very generous of you."
'Motherf—'
***
me at the Red Peak, Duke Velmout. I'd like to discuss
Priscilla—]
"Interesting."
muttered while staring at the
black suit and holding a clear glass that was filled with a crimson liquid, his
against the stone edge of the
finally couldn't wait
face. Seemingly already having
the day had already made its way to his ears, so the letter did not come as a surprise
an alliance. After all, by that point, the only thing on
as much as he could from Priscilla, granted
essentially two birds with one
"Alright, then."
his finger, the letter vanished into thin air, and he returned
he
much I can squeeze
*
you sure it's not
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