Forbidden Lessons

32

32

Ian’s POV

The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across the walls of my study, illuminating the books that were on the shelves. Sophia sat across from me at the heavy oak table, her brow furrowed in concentration as she pored over her history textbook. She was beautiful, her fiery red hair catching the light in a way that seemed almost out of this world.

I had told her to come here so we could revise together for the upcoming history exams.

“Alright, let’s go over the causes of the French Revolution again,” I said, my voice smooth and calm, even though all I wanted to do right now was to bend her over the table and fuck her hard.

Sophia sighed, pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Okay, so there were social, economic, and political causes, right? The society was divided into three estates, with the commoners, or the Third Estate, bearing the brunt of taxes and having the least power.”

I nodded, watching her intently. “That’s correct. And what about the economic factors?”

She bit her lip, and I clenched my fists. Su was really tempting me right now, whether she knew it or not. “The country was in debt due to excessive spending by the monarchy and costly wars, like the American Revolution. Then there was the financial crisis and poor harvests, which led to food shortages and increased bread prices.”

“Very good,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “And the political causes?”

Sophia hesitated, her green eyes searching mine for a moment. “The Enlightenment ideas about democracy and individual rights inspired the common people to challenge the absolute authority of the king. Plus, the Third Estate felt underrepresented and demanded more power.”

“Excellent, Sophia,” I praised, allowing a small smile to touch my lips. “You’re making great progress.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she returned my smile. “Thanks, Ian. I just hope I can remember all of this during the exam.”

“You will,” I assured her, reaching out to take her hand in mine.

“Let’s take a short break,” I suggested, squeezing her hand gently before letting go. “You deserve it.”

She nodded, stretching her arms above her head and letting out a contented sigh. “That sounds good. My brain feels like it’s about to explode.”

I chuckled softly. “I doubt that, but a break is always beneficial.”

As Sophia stood and walked over to the window, I watched her with a mixture of longing and despair. She was so vibrant, so full of life, and I was a creature of the night, condemned to eternal darkness. I could never give her the life she deserved, but I couldn’t bear to let her go, either.

And now there were people after her life because of a secret she didn’t even know about.

She looked out of the window, her expression thoughtful. “It’s such a beautiful night,” she murmured. “I wish we could go for a walk.”

“Maybe another time,” I replied, shaking my head. The offer was tempting but she needed to focus now. “For now, let’s focus on your studies.”

She stared at me in silence for a while and then she sighed, nodding her head.

After a few minutes, Sophia broke the silence. “Okay, I think I’m ready to tackle the next topic. The Industrial Revolution, right?”

I nodded. “Yes, let’s start with the key inventions and their impact on society.”