More and more hateful, that's how Celine looked from an outsider's perspective. It was worse than with the noble ladies.

She made one question her intelligence and not want to get associated with her at all, making one want to go against her instead.

Her brother often talked badly of her despite being fiercely protective of her at the same time. One had to have a very strong bond to tolerate such a personality, or a high tolerance.

'How am I supposed to express love to that?' Lucian listened to her complaining about the food and the people who cooked it. The waiters were also doing a poor job, the tea was cold, and so on.

"Please excuse me," the Crown Prince said, wiping his mouth with a napkin, "I remembered that I had a lesson to prepare for. My apologies, Mr. Arclight. Lord Edmund."

Lucian smiled, "My deepest apologies for not being able to provide a relaxing environment for your meal. Please, don't worry about it, Your Highness."

The Crown Prince got up and left, leaving them alone. "Don't follow me again," he said without turning his head, sensing that Celine was about to do just that.

Celine turned her head towards Lucian, away from the Crown Prince's departing figure and the rest of the students. She seemed pleased with the outcome. Her lips curled in a slight smile as she took a sip from her teacup.

"Oh dear," she said, taking another sip, "It suddenly tastes so much better. The quality of the company truly affects the senses, doesn't it?"

Edmund rolled his eyes and continued to eat his meal, "No man will ever find you attractive if you keep damaging your reputation like this."

Lucian felt attacked even though the comment wasn't directed at him. Edmund doubted his feelings towards Celine (not like Lucian were doubting them a second ago).

The talking exhausted her, it seemed. She didn't argue with her brother, and instead looked at Lucian from the corner of her eye, giving him a little smile.

Lucian smiled back, saying softly, "Eat. You barely touched your food."

Celine set down her cup and dove into the dish. She had excellent table manners, her expression softening with each bite, as if she was enjoying the meal.

Edmund set his spoon down, excusing himself from the table. He obviously didn't want to be seen agreeing with his sister's behavior.

Celine sighed, returning to her meal. She seemed to have no appetite after Edmund"s departure, but she knew Lucian didn't like wasting food, so she continued to eat.

"I'll have a word with your brother later," Lucian said, not wanting her to feel that she was being abandoned by her closest family member.

"No need, he's here to build connections anyway. He doesn't want to be associated with me, so it's fine," she said, finishing the last of her meal, "We are both choosing a different path of survival in the end, aren't we?"

Celine took another sip from her tea, and Lucian could see the isolation in her eyes as she gazed at the crowd around them, "The sooner I get used to it, the easier it will be."

Lucian wished that she wouldn't have to get used to it, "I will make you a lunch box tomorrow. What would you like to eat?"

"I wasn't serious about the food being bad," Celine muttered.

"I know, but a complaint is a complaint, I can't just ignore it," Lucian replied.

She blinked at him, realizing his intention to cheer her up despite her trampling with everyone's mood a moment ago.

"Then I want to eat your cooking. I'll skip breakfast to save my appetite for lunch," she paused, trying to salvage the situation with Lucian at least, "Hunger is the best seasoning after all."

"..." Lucian wanted to pat her head and tell her that she should eat normally.

She tilted her head, expecting praise for her good behavior. Her eyes were sparkling, like an eager puppy waiting for a treat. There was no hope for her.

"Alright," he eventually agreed since he would also skip a meal for the sake of enjoying her cooking as much as possible, "but only this once."

"Only this once," she repeated.

They had to part ways soon after. She couldn't stay by his side for too long or it would look suspicious.

As she walked away, he noticed a slight skip in her step, as if she was having a hard time controlling her excitement. She was looking forward to the next day already.

She needed very little to be happy, yet nobody else seemed to realize that.

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The next day, Lucian left the lunch box under her desk before the classes began. The lunch box was made of white porcelain, with a golden flower pattern and a dark blue bird flying among the branches.

After the class, Lucian stayed back to prepare the equipment for the next lesson, glancing in her direction as he waited for her reaction.

She opened the box carefully. Inside, there was a variety of small dishes. A couple of sandwiches with different fillings, a fried chicken skewer, and a salad with sliced fruits, nuts, and berries. A cute lunch for a cute girl.

Celine looked up from her lunch box and smiled, her eyes shining like two precious gemstones. She ate in silence.

They were alone in the classroom. The other students had left to join the others in the cafeteria.

He walked over to her desk, leaning down to her level.

"Good?" he asked, taking one of the sandwiches she offered to him.

She finished his share of the sandwich, "Very. Is there a way I could hire you as a personal chef?"

He chuckled and returned to the board to clean it for the next period. He could feel her watching his back as he wiped the surface, then his sides as he put the equipment on the shelf.

"Thank you for a good view," she said, "It's as delicious as the food."

Lucian coughed to cover his laugh, shaking his head. He wasn't used to such comments, and it made him feel hot in the face.

"I'm glad you like it," he said, trying to be nonchalant about it.

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