"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."
Jin instructed, she brought the cigarette to her mouth and took a
Only that…
"Cough! Cough!"
bright red, and she began coughing in
soon started to fly out
lied to m—Cough!
coughing
"Hahah."
keeping his composure, let out a muffled chuckle. He already knew that this was going to
are you laughing
in expression
me on
'…Is this really her?'
she hiding
or something? Cant you fucking
no different than
twitch of his
properly. Try again, but this time try
not be playing with
bringing the cigarette close to her mouth, she tried
up, and Jin turned his head. They were
*Puff*
air, and Jin could very clearly hear her letting out a series of muffled coughs. Nevertheless, it was a marked improvement
it burns
while staring at the cigarette. Then, bringing it to
manner for an ensuing couple of minutes, up until the
I
She showed the butt.
before casting his
"Throw it away."
"Mhm."
a light flick, it disappeared out of thin
extended her hand
"What?"
idea of what she wanted but found himself
It couldn't be, right?
"…"
didn't reply and bobbed her hand
cigarette and placed it on her hand. She glanced at it
"More?"
Now, this…
took another cigarette and placed
her hand before directly staring at
the first time in a long time, Jin was left speechless. Was this seriously the same
'Ah, whatever.'
he shook his head and placed the pack in her hand,
"Very generous of you."
'Motherf—'
***
Velmout. I'd like to discuss with you about a
Priscilla—]
"Interesting."
at the letter
suit and holding a clear glass that was filled with
against the stone edge of
she finally couldn't wait
smirk formed on the demon's face. Seemingly
in the day had already made its way to his ears, so the letter did not come as a surprise to him when he
was extremely advantageous for him as it would mean he could leverage as much as he could from Priscilla, granted that he would help her get revenge which
essentially two birds with one
"Alright, then."
of his finger, the letter vanished into thin air, and he
suit, he
just how much I
*
are you sure
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