WMMAP - [S2] Shelter You

15: Holding Your Hand

"And that's the plan for this Thursday, Milady."

Staring blankly at the garden of roses, Athanasia finally responded after a longing pause, "That plan... Sounds a bit extreme to me..."

"It's not up to us to decide."

"Still..."

"Still, there is one more thing that I want you to do."

Athanasia heaved a sigh, and asked, "What is it now?"

"Please keep your relationship in a low profile. When I said low, I meant you cannot let anyone, especially outsiders know. Though you are as free as you are here, within the properties. Everyone here knows how to perfectly keep the secret seal."

"Because Dad hasn't approved of him?"

"I am not worried about His Excellency giving you two the blessings. Otherwise, Lucas wouldn't be here, let alone sharing a place with just you."

"Then what is the problem?"

"I am worried about the scandal that may occur. People and the media are going to give both of you a hard time, especially you. Because Milady... You are highborn. An aristocrat. And Lucas is just—"

"No," Athanasia put both of her hands on the table and stood up, "I refuse to have this sort of conversation. I was going to let him be known that we both are official and you had to make him just my bodyguard and a driver. As long as Lucas is stuck with being just this title, those people will never leave him alone."

"And do you think if you publicly announce to everyone that you are dating your bodyguard, people will leave him alone?"

"You are a bodyguard as well!"

"My father may be the one who is commanding the military power, but I am still also a general, Milady, while Lucas... He is really just a lonesome child who seeks refuge under the roof of De Alger. And to have the luxury of dating the only daughter and the successor of the Obelia Company, it's a privilege."

"Stop! I hate it when you have to paint all these fancy titles all over me! This is why I left Obelia and went to Arlanta in the first place! I just want to have an ordinary life, Felix!"

Putting his forefinger onto his lips, Felix successfully calmed Athanasia down in the blink of an eye.

"Please listen to me first... Because I wouldn't suggest anything if I hadn't been able to find the solution for it."

"I... I'm sorry... I got a bit worked up again...," she apologized quietly as she sat back down.

"You really love him, do you not, Milady? Because never in my life have I seen you fight so fiercely for someone," he said without looking at the girl as he let his eyes wander into the darker shade of the evening, "Don't get mad at me, but Lucas really has a golden privilege."

A deep shade of pink slowly appeared on her cheeks, and it wasn't from the previous outburst. "So... What is that solution that you want to suggest?"

Felix continued, "I am against nepotism, but just for you two, I may be able to adjust Lucas' rank if he continues to serve under the Special Unit, which is this current position as your soon-to-be bodyguard. Again, he still has to prove himself and once he has done just that, his ground will be solid enough to stand next to you. But I only ask that you give me time and your patience that set me to work on it while keeping your relationship with him a secret."

"I... Understand..."

"But will he understand? His temper is... Something else."

"That's not true. He grows... Mature by a mile."