The Long Way Back | Lady Lesso

Chapter 21

The day began like any other, but you couldn't ignore the gnawing tension that had settled between you and Lady Lesso. It was subtle —barely noticeable to anyone else—but it lingered in the way Lesso's eyes lingered on you a second too long during lessons, or the way her words softened ever so slightly when directed toward you. Whatever existed between you was no longer something you could deny.

You were falling—no, you had fallen—for the Dean of the School for Evil. And perhaps, just perhaps, Lesso was falling too.

It was late evening when you found yourself summoned to Lesso's office. The message had been brief and formal, but the weight of it pressed heavily on your chest. The Dean's office was an intimidating place for most students, but you had been there enough times to notice the small, human touches that others might overlook—the meticulously organized stacks of parchment, the faint scent of spiced tea, and the single rose tucked in a vase by the window.

When you arrived, the door creaked open before you could knock. Lesso stood on the other side, her sharp green eyes meeting yours with an intensity that made your breath hitch.

"Come in," Lesso said, her voice calm but commanding.

You stepped inside, the door closing softly behind you. The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the fire crackling in the hearth.

"You wanted to see me?" You asked, your voice steadier than you felt.

Lesso nodded, gesturing to the chair in front of her desk. But instead of sitting behind it, as she usually did, she leaned against the edge, her arms crossed.

"I've been meaning to discuss your progress," Lesso began, her tone measured. "You've exceeded my expectations, Y/N. But you've also become... distracted."

Your heart pounded. Were you being reprimanded? "Distracted?"

Lesso's gaze pierced you. "Your focus. Your determination. They've shifted. I need to know why."

The question hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. You looked away, your thoughts racing. How could you explain the storm of emotions that consumed you every time you saw Lesso? How could you admit that your distraction wasn't born of weakness, but of something much more dangerous?

"I..." You hesitated, choosing your words carefully. "I think I've been trying to understand my place here. What it all means. That's all."

Lesso studied you for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, to your surprise, she stepped closer.

"Don't lie to me," Lesso said softly, her voice losing some of its sharpness. "I see more than you realize, Y/N. And I know there's something you're not saying."

The proximity was almost too much to bear. Your pulse quickened as you met Lesso's gaze, the intensity of it drawing you in like a magnet.

"Why does it matter?" You asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Lesso's lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, it seemed as though she might retreat. But instead, she reached out, her gloved hand brushing against yours.

"Because I care," Lesso admitted, the words soft but charged with meaning.

Your breath caught. The air between you grew heavier, charged with an unspoken tension that had been building for weeks. Slowly, Lesso's hand moved to cup your cheek, her touch featherlight but deliberate.

"Do you know how dangerous it is for me to admit that?" Lesso murmured, her voice low and steady.

Your eyes searched hers, your own emotions threatening to spill over. "I care too," you confessed, your voice trembling.

The words hung between you, fragile and unyielding. Lesso's hand lingered on your cheek, her thumb brushing gently against your skin.

"This is madness," Lesso said, though there was no conviction in her tone. "You realize what this could mean for both of us?"

You nodded, your heart pounding. "I know. But I don't care."

Lesso exhaled sharply, her gaze flicking to your lips before returning to your eyes. "You should care," she said, though her hand remained where it was.

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Then, slowly, as if testing the waters, Lesso leaned in. Her lips brushed against yours in the faintest of touches, sending a jolt of electricity through your entire body.

The kiss deepened gradually, Lesso's control and precision giving way to something more raw and unguarded. Her gloved hand slid from your cheek to the back of your neck, pulling you closer as your breaths mingled.

Your hands found their way to Lesso's waist, gripping the fabric of your crimson cloak as if to anchor yourself. The heat between you was undeniable, a fire that threatened to consume you both.

When you finally pulled apart, Lesso rested her forehead against yours, her breath uneven. "This is dangerous," she said again, though there was no regret in her voice.

"I don't care," You repeated, your voice firm.

For a long moment, you simply stood there, your foreheads pressed together as you steadied yourselves.

"You're infuriating," Lesso said at last, though the corners of her lips twitched upward in the faintest hint of a smile.

You chuckled softly, your hands still resting on Lesso's waist. "And you're impossible."

Lesso pulled back slightly, her expression softening in a way you had never seen before. "If we do this... we do it carefully. No one can know. Not yet."

You nodded, your resolve firm. "I understand."

Lesso stepped back, creating a sliver of distance between you, though the warmth of her presence still lingered. "You should go," she said, her tone once again measured but lacking its usual edge.

You hesitated, your gaze lingering on Lesso. "Goodnight, Lady Lesso."

Lesso's lips quirked upward, the faintest hint of a smile. "Goodnight, Y/N."

As you left the office, your mind raced with the events that had just unfolded. The boundaries between you had finally cracked, and though the path ahead was fraught with danger, you couldn't help but feel a thrill of exhilaration.

In the solitude of her office, Lesso allowed herself a moment to breathe, her thoughts swirling as she replayed the kiss in her mind. For the first time in years, she had allowed herself to feel something beyond duty and control.

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Hope you liked the story so far. Lesso becomes soft for y/n :)