Red and Black

Chapter One

The hallway was dark as you stumbled and crashed into the walls, having to steady yourself every 5 steps or so. You couldn't help but giggle to yourself as you heard Valerius' voice in the back of your mind. "This isn't just regular wine, it's from Prakra. You better pace yourself, you do have to speak with Lucio later tonight." You had shook off his comments, as you normally held your alcohol pretty well. But the drunkenness snuck up on you, and time escaped you. Once Valerius pointed out that you would soon be late, you stood up and you felt the four glasses hit you at a rapid speed.

So now you were here, knowing that Lucio was waiting patiently for you. Well, perhaps just waiting. You looked for him in the dining hall where he originally wanted to meet, but a servant informed you that he was waiting in his bedroom instead, as he had grown tired.

You were a bit nervous, anticipating the anger or frustration that had come as a result of making him wait. As you walked, you hoped he would not be too upset with you. However, the worry began to fade into a flutter in your stomach. The amount you had to drink was swirling around you, making you warm and lightheaded. Once you got to his door, you knocked twice. You stood straighter, hoping your eyes hadn't gone glossy.

"Come in," you heard through the door, and you stepped into the lowly lit room, where Lucio was sitting in front of his mirror. He was taking off his makeup with a rag now covered in a glittering red shadow and blotches of black eyeliner.

You offered a smile, closing the door behind you. "I apologize for being late, I-"

"Y/N, I do not have the energy left for pitiful excuses," Lucio told you, tossing the rag onto the vanity and standing up. "I know what you were up to, so there's really no point." As he now stood before you, you realized that his shirt was unbuttoned lower than usual, and your eyes couldn't help but drift down.

"Y-you do? Well, I d-do apologize, Lucio, sinc-sincerely." You couldn't help but stumble over your words. You had been caught, and you were starting to think it was a poor idea to come to his room.

Lucio merely smirked at you, "I'll admit, I am a bit hurt that I wasn't invited to get overwhelmingly drunk with you and Valerius. The servants were telling me that it sounded like you two were having a thrilling time... one even said they thought it was a date ."

"Excuse me?"

He nodded, "Yes, they did say you two were getting very close to each other. I knew Valerius had feelings for you, I'll have to congratulate him."

"Lucio, no! I don't- we are NOT together. That I can promise you. We usually have wine nights and just talk ill of the other courtiers. If anything, I would think that he had feelings for you- " You stopped yourself, knowing that you had just incriminated yourself and Valerius, and both men were likely to want your head for it.

Lucio let out a laugh and finally backed away from you, "Oh, darling you really just let everything slip out when you're intoxicated, don't you? Hmmm... I wonder what else you'll tell me." Lucio sat down on the edge of his bed and gestured for you to sit on the stool in front of the vanity. "Here, have a seat, we did have matters to discuss but I think this is much more interesting."

You sat down, your head immediately going into your hands and resting on your lap. "Am I going to be fired?" You whispered, not really wanting to hear the answer.

"Oh, Y/N, where would we get another magician as talented as you? No my dear, whatever you do in your spare time isn't a concern of mine... but I didn't realize that he was your type. I personally think you could do much better." Lucio lifted your chin, looking at you in the eyes.

As you looked up, you let your eyes glaze over his face. You realized that you hadn't seen him without makeup before, and suddenly you were blatantly staring at him. You took in each of his features and ended up looking into his eyes. "Y-you're very handsome, Lucio."  You weren't even embarrassed to say such things, you were just awestruck.