Algernon Black || The Rise of a God ||

(Chapter 150) The Carriage Ride Back

Algernon acted completely normal for the rest of the short while they remained in town. As if nothing had happened between them in the dress shop. He was so good at acting as if nothing happened in fact, Lucy started to doubt it herself. The only thing that made her question if Algernon thought anything about it at all was the way he rushed their exit.

"Your wagon is packed with all the things your mom requested," Edia said, dropping off the dress to Hanagin. "You two make sure to get there safely."

Algernon assisted Lucy into the carriage. "Of course, Aunt Edia,"

"Oh, come here!" Edia suddenly embraced Algernon who wasn't thrilled to be coddled but accepted his fate. "You stay good now do you hear me? Even when you get back to that school of snotty aristocrats, remember who you are."

Algernon met the woman's earnest gaze with weary eyes. He nodded while knowing how impossible a promise that would likely be to keep.

Edia patted the back of his hand adoringly. "Get on your way then. Your mom will be fixing to make dinner soon."

Algernon made his thanks known before getting into the carriage.

"You take care as well dear," Edia called out to Lucy, waving them off.

"You too," Lucy replied right before Algernon closed the doors.

Edia stood back, fondly overlooking their drive off next to her husband.

"Reminds me of us," Erik said to his wife of over 30 years.

Edia snorted. "Your memory is completely shot if you think you were ever that attractive."

He smiled and grabbed his wife's full waist affectionately. "Attractive enough to get a dozen kids out of ya." Edia laughed as she battered his hands away.

Lucy watched the cheerful couple from the back window smiling at their display of affection. Algernon observed Lucy's smile and one of his own grew.

"You seem to have enjoyed yourself."

His obscure undertone could be construed to mean more than one thing, but Lucy intentionally took it to mean the time spent with the village people.

"Yes. They're all nice people."

Algernon thought back to the dress shop, and how Lucy looked elucidated by the light of the waning sun. It was all he had been thinking about since, with his desire growing stiffer with every moment passed in her company.

"I feel like I've achieved more on this trip than I could have hoped for," Lucy said.

Oh? Algernon thought as a smug smile lifted the corner of his mouth and he reached over to settle a hand on Lucy's inner thigh. "And, again, what exactly were you hoping to achieve from this trip?"

"I don't know," Lucy answered as her mind started to fog with Algernon's hand rising up her leg. "To learn more about you." She sounded pathetic to even her own ears with how meek her voice came out.

Algernon focused his gaze to where his hand furthered up Lucy's thigh. "And why is that?"

Lucy watched and felt as Algernon's fingers curled around her. "I thought it might explain all the strange things you do."

"Are my motives not obvious enough?" Algernon asked as his fingers found their way up to the tops of Lucy's leg and started moving inward.

Lucy drew a sudden sharp breath. "I've had enough of your teasing."

Algernon smiled. "Is that your way of asking for more?"

Lucy signed. She never had a response for him when her body heat rose to overtake her thoughts as it did now. "Lucy?" Algernon asked, at her silence.