A/N: So, another Lust-centric oneshot. :D I don't think there will be much focus on her throughout the main plot... but there is a sideplot. So.

Thanks to all those who followed, favorite, and reviewed! :D Feedback is so very appreciated, and it motivates me to keep writing!

MissiB: XD I didn't realize that the name 'pipsqueak' came with affections attached for Envy. But I do love how his and Seaver's relationship is developing; you guys have yet to see it, but it's gonna be good. :3 And YES! SO CLOSE NOW! I can't wait to get to the main plot... I'm ready to tell you guys this epic tale. *dramatic music*

Digi-fanCapp: Thanks! :D I hope you like this next one!

Fandomgod321: I'm glad you like it!

Quietly-Insane 12: Seaver's one of my favorite OCs to date. :D I'm glad to know others like her as well. And this update maybe wasn't 'soon', but... it came. XP Seaver... hm, I suppose she might've drawn a little inspiration from Claus and Ed, but I didn't really base her off of anyone, per se.

Kasani: Yeah, you have a bit of a heads-up don't you? I'm not sure who it'll be worst for... *cough* But yes, they are adorbs. X3 And thank you!

Ender: Hm...

Seaver: I thought it was Ed who didn't like milk.

Ender: Hey, I didn't say anything!

Seaver: You were thinking it.

Ender: WAS NOT!

Sleep Arypsure: Thanks! :D

An Arm and a Leg: Yes, Aslan. :3 And nope; Truth, or Malum in this AU, is just an embittered little jynx... who will come into play more later.

Thanks again, y'all! Hope you enjoy this installment, and don't forget to review!

~Penelope

Interlude 8 - Lover

*Lucia: 16 Gredian: 15 Ender: 13 Sorin: 11 Glundil: 8*

It was quite the scandal.

That is, it would be if anyone every found out. Lucia had enough pressure on her as the only daughter of the king and the oldest of them all. If anyone ever caught wind of this, she'd be ruined…

But he was so… sweet.

She caught herself smiling into the mirror as she ran a brush through her thick ebony hair. Oh, dear, she had it bad… She shouldn't be letting herself get into this, but all she could think of was his soft smile and exotic eyes. The way he would hold her hand, but never be inappropriate. His chaste kisses on her cheek, but never on her lips. His honorable behavior in their relationship often made her feel inferior, as many times, she fought off imaginations of heated passion.

Shaking her head, she stepped back and examined herself in the mirror. The older she grew, the more her curves had accented, her womanly figure completely altering that of her younger, girlish self. Still, she was critical… She was too big at the bust, her hips too generous for her age, it was impractical and embarrassing, especially when her brothers felt apt to comment on her changing body over the years… Her cheeks flamed at the recollections that rolled through her mind. She hugged herself, trying to ward off the feeling.

But around him, she never felt this way. In fact, he never commented on her appearance. He only ever said anything if she brought it up. Just the other day, she had asked him point blank if he found her physically attractive – it had crossed her mind, and after some thought, she simply wanted to know.

He had turned those gorgeous eyes from the horse he groomed to her, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course. Why do you ask?" he had said.

She had hesitated to express her self-consciousness to him, feeling silly for even bringing it up. When she wound up stuttering more than speaking, however, he set down the brushes, approached her, and took her hands in his rough, calloused ones.

"That's not why I love you, though."

He had said those three little words. Even if they were encased in others, he still had said them. And they had made her feel warm all over. He hadn't elaborated further and simply went back to his duties. Those words had echoed in her mind since he said them two days ago.

Why did he love her, then?

It couldn't be for her personality. She was so… cold. Distant, sometimes even cruel. The way she treated her siblings sometimes attested to that. He had never seen those mornings when Ender and Glundil teamed up to wake her up at ungodly hours and then laugh as they tried to escape her wrath. Those mornings when her hair was mussed, her eyes tired, her mouth twisted in an angry growl unbecoming of a lady. He didn't hear the barbed words that poured from her mouth when she was upset. He didn't see her brush off other servants like they didn't exist as they went about their chores.

She wasn't a very good person…

The warm feeling had left to be replaced by a cold sadness. One that she hated. She wanted to be confident in herself, like he urged her to be, but it was so hard…

She needed to see him.

Just like that, she knew she needed to. She had to know… why.

She strode from her chambers into the vast halls of the palace, maneuvering her way toward the main floor, to the back doors. He would be lunging the stallions at this hour, working their energy out after a night in the stables.

Shorter footsteps pattered up beside her – Ender's bare feet. He was the only one of her brothers that refused to wear shoes the majority of the time… She gave him an absent glance, but it didn't last long. She had too much on her mind to deal with him right now.

"Lucia, hey Lucia!" he said as he came alongside her.

She didn't respond, expecting him to get the hint and just say what he needed to say.

Instead, he poked her arm a few times. "Hey, Lucia!?"

"I'm listening! What?" she snapped, batting his offending hand away and picking up her pace a little as she rounded a corner.

"Sorry! Geez, it's not like I can tell if you heard me or not if you don't answer!" Ender scowled at her. "Have you seen Seaver?"

"No." She kept her response curt, hoping he'd just go away. She didn't need this aggravation.

"Do you have any idea where she might be?"

"No!" She glared at him. "I'm not her nursemaid; I don't keep track of her night and day. How would I know where she is? Now leave me alone. I have better things to do right now than waste breath on your stupid questions…"

He dropped back, out of her sight, and she instantly regretted her words. What had he done? Nothing, and yet she'd lashed at him like a scorpion… This was exactly what she meant; he didn't see when she did things like this. She didn't think to glance back at her brother until she reached the end of the hall and chanced a look over her shoulder. Ender stood where he'd stopped, fists clenched, staring at the floor. His lengthening olive spikes draped in his face.

She thought about going back, but what would she say? Besides… she was going somewhere. Perhaps later, she could find him again. So she continued on her way.

She found him right where she knew she would. He was just bringing out Hasufel, the youngest stallion in the royal stable. The blood-bay horse was a favorite of Gredian's.

"Am'ranth!"

He looked up as he led the horse into the round pen. She saw his gentle smile playing at his lips, but he held it at bay, as she knew other stable hands were nearby and watching. He gave a short bow at the waist.

"Your Highness… what can I do for you?"

"I wish to speak with you privately for a moment."

He nodded. "As you wish, Your Highness. One moment." He dropped the stallion's lead line to the ground, and exited the gate, closing it behind him. Then Lucia led him toward the archery range – no one would be out there right now. Not even Ender, if he was still looking for Seaver.

True enough to her guess, the range was empty. There, she felt safe to drop common courtesy. "Am'ranth, I… I wish to ask…"

He leaned his weight back onto his heels, folding his arms over his chest, waiting. She gathered her wits, and spoke carefully.

"I need to know… You said that you did not… love me… for my appearance. I need to know why, then?"

His eyebrows twitched on his dark brow. "Why what?"

"Why you… love me."

Understanding dawned on his face and he smiled. A part of her turned to mush at that smile that she loved so much, but another part balked at the idea that he was amused by this. She wasn't joking! She was very serious.

He placed his hands on her shoulders, stepping close to kiss her forehead. Then he smiled at her, and she felt weak at the knees. "Because you are a fiery woman with a good heart. You are strong, but not too strong. You stand up for yourself, while still caring for the wellbeing of others – like your family."

"But I'm not-"

He touched a finger to her lips to silence her. "No arguing. It is my opinion, and it's not changing." Squeezing her arm, he stepped back. "Mornings aren't the best time for our… rendezvous, Lucia." He smirked. "The other hands will be suspicious. I will tell them you needed help bringing water from the well."

Of course, the excuse would work, as Lucia always insisted on doing things for herself. Such as fetching her own water. However, the well bucket was always so heavy… she always wound up recruiting the aid of one of the strapping young men in her life.

She must have nodded without thinking about it, because Am'ranth reached up a dark hand to stroke her cheek before he turned to head back to the stables. Only when she knew he was out of earshot did she let out a sigh.

He was so… sweet.

But no one could ever know. Not only was he a servant, and she the princess…

He was a drow. And she was a human. It could never be.

But they sure could pretend.

A/N: Yeah, Lucia has read perhaps one-too-many romance novels... XP

Let me know what you think in a review! Also, I have to ask: is there any scenes you readers would like to see involving King Matthus, Queen Theresa or Deodra? I feel like I need to have a few more with them in it before I start the main plot, but I'm not sure what sorts of scenes to do. I would love some suggestions or ideas. :D I can't promise I'll use them, but I will definitely consider them.

REVIEWS ARE LOVE!