“Shit, it’s Lucinda,” I froze on the spot, turning to AI.

“Lucinda? Mistress Lucinda?” AI failed to comprehend. Then he blinked, registering a possibility. “Young Master, have you been up to no good again? What is it this time—“

“I’m not supposed to be here,” Grabbing AI’s arm, I led him to his platform. “Listen, I need you to switch to sleep mode. Stand here,” I lifted him onto the raised mechanism, fixing the cuffs onto his wrists.

A heart-wrenching guilt pierced the back of my head but I refused to acknowledge it.

“Who’s in there?”

Came a voice outside of the door, and I knew I had to hurry. If Lucinda goes to Father’s room, and find that the key isn’t there—she’d kill me.

Not just me.

But AI too.

There’s probably something she’s hiding. Something she doesn’t want me to know.

Something my Father wouldn’t like either.

But what?

“Young Master?” The skies in his eyes were anxious, uncertain. His gaze searched mine, sad. “I-Is this…necessary?”

“Sorry,” I apologized, clenching my teeth. “It is.”

I don’t want to lose you again.

“Alright then,” AI’s expression softened. But as I stepped away from his platform, he tensed. “Young Master, where are you going?”

I heard sharp footsteps recede, and my guess was that Lucinda was off to find the key. I needed to get the key back to Father’s room before she did.

“Dinner.”

AI relaxed. “Oh. Then…will you be back soon?” He asked, and there was a strange hope in his voice.

Something I have yet to hear.

I blinked, brushing past the confusion. “I’ll try.”

The droid giggled softly. “Do try and stay out of trouble, Young Master.”

I rolled my eyes, then, after pausing to think for a second, placed a kiss on his forehead.

AI’s reaction was immediate—his glasses slipped askew, and he blushed to the tips of his ears.

“That—that, only Master…does that…”

“Get used to it then,” I smirked, striding towards the door.

And maybe then—

You’ll love me too.

________________________

I sneaked out of the kitchen, pausing ever so often to listen for any sign of Lucinda. The lobby was relatively empty—except for VI silently polishing the surfaces of flower vases.

Darting across the lobby and racing up the marble steps, I turned to take the longer route, ensuring that I wouldn’t bump into Lucinda.

As I arrived at the second floor, faint murmurs stopped me in my tracks.

Hiding behind a marble pillar, I paused to listen.

“—my lady. I have bid him to his chambers for a change of clothes. You know how unfashionable he gets at times,” The woman laughed, and I recognized her as Lowe.

A sharp cough acknowledged her comment, and Lucinda responded in a stiff tone. “Surely, you do not jest…?”

“Of course not my Lady!” Lowe smiled, ever so surprised. Her acting was flawless.

Such masks women put on.

 Skilled, indeed.

“I assure you, he will be down to dinner in ten minutes. Pray do not waste your time thinking about a barbarian like himself,” Lowe sugar-coated her words so well, that I caught a rare smile on Lucinda’s lips.

My step-mother nodded lightly, sighing. “You are a fine young lady, Lowe. A pity it is, really—that your mother wasn’t well brought-up.”

Well-bred she meant? ‘Poor’ was the word she euphemised.

The sound of her heels clicking against the cold floor began, getting louder and louder.

I realized that she was heading for the stairs—and there was nowhere for me to hide.

In the heat of the moment, I shifted to face the stairs, concealing myself behind a pillar.

Lucinda’s orchid dress came into view. I held my breath, watching as she descended the stairs with her back facing me.

It was only until she was no longer in sight when I finally breathed, turning to catch up with Lowe.

“Lord Suoh!” The exclamation was loud, and she hushed immediately, calming down from her shock. “What are you doing here?” She hissed. “Lucinda’s looking for you—”

“She heard me,” I explained, slightly out of breath from sprinting up flights of stairs. “She heard me in the dungeons.”

Lowe frowned angrily. “And what—may I ask, were you doing screaming at the top of your lungs until she could possibly hear you through the walls? Professing your love like the idiot you are?”

I paused.

“…Maybe.”

“Ugh, you’re such an idiot,” Lowe snapped, turning on me. “What have you got on your mind now then? Lucinda’s probably got her eyes on you now. Mark my words—she’ll be watching those doors the next couple of days.”

“Damn. Crap. Shit. Fuck—“

“Cursing will not help you in any manner my Lord!”

I raised an eyebrow, giving her the middle finger whilst doing so.

Lowe rolled her eyes. “So?”

“I’m going to return the key.”

“What key?”

“The key to Father’s Lab. She’d freak if she knew it was missing. Probably make her more suspicious,” I explained shortly.

“Well—let’s say she’d be even more suspicious if she knew the key to your father’s chambers were missing,” Lowe snapped open her purse and fished out a rusty-looking key.

My eyes widened.

“What—how did you—“

“I have my sources. Well then, shall we?” Lowe invited, stalking down the hallway towards my father’s room.

I fell into step beside her, calculating the possible ulterior motives this woman might have.

“If you’re wondering about ulterior motives, yes—I do have one. ‘Bit curious about that book. The one with AI’s name on it,” She said airily, unlocking the door with an icy ‘click’.

I paused.

“How did you know about the book?”

Lowe coughed. “Well, let’s say that a certain Lord likes to talk in his sleep.”

I cast my gaze skywards.

“Shut the hell up. I don’t talk in my sleep.”   

The scheming lady squared her shoulders, entering my father’s room as if it were her own. “You never know.”

_________________________

“Wait,” I stopped Lowe as she slipped the book out of its place on the shelf. “The key was in the book.”

“So?” Lowe narrowed her eyes, not getting my point.

“If Lucinda finds the book missing, there’d be no reason for the key to be lying around anywhere—” I snorted impatiently, stating the obvious.

“Ugh. You’re right, for once.”

Again, I flipped her off.

“Now what?”

“I guess we leave the book here then.”

“How about the key?”

Lowe raised an elegant brow.

“Well, if you don’t mind leaving your precious droid down there for a week or two—susceptible to any of Lucinda’s cruel questioning, mind you—I suggest you leave the key with the book.”

It was a witty remark.

She knew it would drive me into action.

Into doing something reckless.

I sighed, frustrated. “Alright, what are you hinting at? Spit it out.”

She shrugged, indicating that it was none of her business.

“Just thought you’d like to steal him for a night or two. Hide him in your room, perhaps?”

I thought about it.

If the book and key was in place, Lucinda wouldn’t suspect anything, would she?

Besides, what would she care if AI went missing?

It’s a risk.

She might care.

She might take precautions, and check the lab even though the key’s in place.

But what the hell—

As long AI’s safe.

Running a hand through my hair, I admitted that it was a plan. But it had to be accomplished in a night.

“I’ll help. If you ask,” Lowe said smugly, steepling her hands.

The corner of my eye twitched in annoyance.

“Help?”

“Hmm?”

“I need your help.”

“Oh I don’t know who you’re talking to—“

“Oh for fuck’s sake I need your freaking help,” I growled exasperatedly. “Please.”

Ugh, women.

_______________________

A/N: Short update! ^0^/ Huhu. I love the idea of AI staying in Suoh’s chambers for a couple of nights :3 Don’t you?

-Cuppiecake.