CHAPTER 69: I’M A NURSE ASSISTANT, NOT A TEACHER!

Lucien didn’t waste a second.

The moment he stormed out of the hearth room. His boots hit the ground hard, not because he was angry... though he was... but because of urgency. Niblet. That stupid black dog... that beloved little pain in Rin’s ass... the same dog that came from nowhere. The one who means a lot to Rin.

And now the mutt was rotting in the dungeon?

Lucien practically kicked the door open and descended into the dark stone underbelly of the mansion. The torches lining the walls flickered dimly as if nervous about what Lucien might do next. There were no guards stationed anywhere. There were no guards at all in the mansion. Lucien didn’t stop.

He opened the iron-barred gate, stepping into the row of cells filled mostly with silence... and then...

"YIP YIP YIP YIP!"

That high-pitched, angry barking echoed from one of the corner cages.

Lucien’s face softened just a bit.

"Found you."

Niblet was a furry black ball of rage behind bars, ears flattened, baring his teeth at Lucien.

"Hey..." Lucien tried to communicate with him and he growled.

Lucien knelt in front of the cage. Niblet barked again, but it wasn’t hostile this time. More... confused.

"Relax, you little thing." He reached through the bars and scratched behind Niblet’s ear. The growling faded. "Your master is waiting for you."

A few minutes later, Lucien walked through the academy’s eastern dorm wing... with Niblet tucked into his coat like a smug furry criminal.

.

When he reached Rin’s room, the sun dipped into the horizon, casting warm amber light across the hallway floor. He could hear faint rustling inside.

Lucien didn’t knock.

He opened the door... and paused.

Rin was sitting cross-legged on the floor in his oversized coat, slurping from a suspiciously modern-looking cup with a plastic lid and steam curling out of it.

Lucien blinked.

"...What the hell is that?"

Rin choked mid-sip and scrambled to put the cup behind him.

"N-Nothing!"

Lucien narrowed his eyes.

"Is that... soup? Wait, why are you drinking from a plastic cup? That looks like..."

"It’s not what it looks like!" Rin said quickly. "Anyway... where’s Niblet?!"

As if on cue, Lucien opened his coat and let the dog hop out.

"Bark!"

"Niblet!!" Rin dropped his cup... completely forgotten... and ran to scoop the demon-dog up in his arms. "You’re alive! You’re okay! You adorable, spoiled, snobby mutt!"

Rin rubbed his cheek against Niblet’s fur while Niblet licked his ear and wagged his tail like crazy. It was a whole reunion scene in 4K... until Lucien casually dropped onto Rin’s bed and let out a soft sigh.

Rin looked up from the floor, blinking.

"...What the hell do you think you’re doing?"

Lucien smiled, folding his arms behind his head as he sprawled across the mattress.

"Getting comfortable."

"On my bed?"

"Yup."

"Don’t you have a dorm?!"

"I do."

"Then go back to it."

Lucien turned his head lazily to the side.

"Nah. I want to sleep here."

"What?... NO. You’re not sleeping here. This is my room."

"Exactly." Lucien smiled more, patting the spot beside him. "That’s what makes it comfortable."

Rin stood, still cradling Niblet.

"Okay, listen here, you clingy mosquito. I just woke up from being unconscious for FOUR DAYS and barely processed the fact that I’m not pregnant... thank god by the way... and you think I want some six-foot male lead hogging my pillow space?!"

Lucien tilted his head.

"...You think I’m six feet?"

Rin blinked.

"That’s what you got from all that?!"

Lucien just chuckled.

"C’mon, just for tonight. I’ll be gone before sunrise."

"No. Out. Out out out..." Rin marched forward, but Lucien caught his wrist.

"...I’m graduating next week."

Rin paused.

"Okay? And?"

"I want you there," Lucien said softly. "At the ceremony. With a flower. Just... holding it out for me."

"...What?"

"I want you to come to my graduation." He repeated.

Rin blinked, caught off guard. "I already got that. What I want to know is... Why?"

"Because you matter to me, Rin. And I want to look out into the crowd and see you."

Rin swallowed hard, shaking his head.

Lucien tugged his arm a little. And with one clumsy step, Rin toppled onto the bed beside him, Niblet leaping away with a huff like a third wheel being pushed off-stage.

"Lucien!" Rin hissed, squirming to get free, but Lucien didn’t let go.

"Promise me, Rin."

Rin wriggled under his grip. "Ugh... fine! I promise, okay?! Flower, smile, whatever. Just let me go already!"

Lucien only smiled and curled an arm around him like a blanket.

"I’ll let you go... in a minute. Just stay."

Rin groaned.

"You’re such a pain."

"Shh," Lucien whispered, his breath warm on Rin’s ear. "Just a minute."

There was a pause. Rin couldn’t push Lucien away. He just shut his eyes and let out a deep sigh.

"...Okay. One minute. Then I’m out of here."

But one minute passed. Then another. And Rin realised something strange. Lucien was already dozing off. He could feel his warm breath hitting Rin’s skin. Just like that. His grip loosened, breath steady. His forehead rested against Rin’s shoulder.

"...Idiot," Rin mumbled, looking down at the peacefully sleeping face beside him. "Why is he so..."

[DING!]

[New Notification: Heart Rate Normal. Cortisol Levels Lowered in the Presence of Lucien Vortellion.]

[Recommended Action: Stay close for mental balance.]

Rin stared at the screen, eyes twitching.

"...Don’t you fucking start."

He looked back at Lucien and poked his head.

"I’ll wake him up soon and make him return to his dorm,"

.

.

The next morning...

Lucien woke up alone, stretching as golden light filtered through the curtains. He sat up as his eyes scanned the empty bed until he saw it... a folded note on the pillow.

He picked it up and read it silently.

This is obviously Rin. So, I went back to the clinic since I’m back in the dorm. Niblet’s fed. So please... go back to your dorm and rest well, tall boy.

Lucien grinned.

"...His handwriting is as cute as his face."

He kissed the note, shoved it into his coat pocket, and looked around the room. He didn’t mean to be that clingy to Rin. He just hated the fact that he had to leave Rin at the academy in the name of becoming the heir.

He hated the fact that his father wanted to take Rin for himself. He clenched his fist at the thought of that.

’There’s no way I’m going to let Rin be taken away by that old man. If Rin isn’t coming with me, I won’t make him leave with my father or remain at the academy either... But, where is the best place for him to be safe?’

He sighed, shaking the thought in his head.

"I’d better leave," he grumbled and left.

.

.

Meanwhile, at the clinic...

Rin adjusted the sleeves of his white coat and walked confidently through the main hallway of the medical wing. Unlike the sheer, almost-transparent shirt he had been forced to wear during the heat, the coat felt like armour. He was so glad to be back in his coat.

"RIN!!"

He barely had time to react before a few nurses ran to him.

"You’re back!"

"We thought you died!"

"Me? Died? Haha! Please don’t joke like that!" Rin gently smacked one of them. "I’m still recovering, you know."

The small crowd dissolved with laughter, and Rin made his way back to his desk... only to pause when a tall shadow stepped into view.

Theron.

He smiled, tall and unnervingly elegant.

"You look well, Rin,"

Rin turned his face away from Theron’s face.

"I feel like crap," he muttered.

"Good. That means you’re strong enough."

"...For what?" Rin asked slowly.

Theron placed a folder on the desk.

"The Dean has requested that you assist me with teaching."

"...Teaching what?"

"Health education."

Rin blinked.

"What the hell does that mean in this world? I mean... Is it somehow related to tips on how to make a healing potion?"

Theron’s grin widened.

"No. Anatomy. Hygiene. Safe physical contact. Safe sex,"

Rin’s stomach dropped.

"...Are you serious?"

"You’re a nurse assistant, remember?"

"I’m not a teacher!"

"Well, you are now. Congratulations?"

Theron looked far too amused.

Rin leaned in, whispering through clenched teeth.

"When is this class starting?"

Theron tapped the folder.

"...Now."

Rin stared.

"Wh... NOW?! But, I’m not ready!"

"You don’t have to. Come on, let’s go!"

Rin groaned loudly as he was pulled... literally... by the arm down the hall, his white coat flapping behind him, Niblet trotting faithfully behind like his own personal assistant.

"...This world seriously has it out for me."