Lapis had arrived at the library once again, the comforting scent of open pages giving her a brief sense of nostalgia as she crossed the aisles of bookshelves. With each visit, she was becoming more and more accustomed to the organization of the books within the library and more familiar with what stories lied where. Today, she was feeling in the mood for a sort of mystery novel; a short one preferably since her room still had a good sum of books that she needed to finish through. Lapis had already gone through a few of the stories she had rented from the library, but there still left the tomes she needed to read so that she would not fall behind her classmates. She would not be a burden to her house if she could help it…
Not too long into her search though, she spotted an all too familiar body within the library as well. Well, two. One being Alex, and the other being just the person she wanted to see. She had no idea Leon was a reader though; a pleasant surprise! Perhaps she would be able to discuss favorite stories with both men at some point?
She peeked around the bookshelf she was at, smiling at him when they made eye contact. She quietly gestured for him to go to her, so Lapis could confirm something with him.
For once, Leon wasn't visiting the library for the books. As much as he loved them, he knew an hour was far from enough to truly get immersed into a story - especially since he was a very slow reader. Unlike real nobles, he hadn't been taught in the ways of the written word at a young age, and that had impeded his literacy. Not that anyone would know that. He made it a point not to read with others around.
But no, this time he was at the library for some peace and quiet to hopefully soothe his nerves. Libraries were magical places, packed to the brim with a plethora of worlds. They made whatever troubles Leon had seem small and escapable. Even if he didn't actually read, just soaking in the atmosphere was soothing. Especially since, incidentally, libraries tended to be otherwise quiet - if not empty. Which meant that no one would have to see him fuming.
Or so the thought.
He'd barely found a place to sit, when a familiar face smiled at him from behind a corner. Lapis. She was gesturing for him to come over. Leon looked around as if to make sure she was actually talking to him, then slowly rose from his seat.
He tilted his head as he approached, whispering a quiet, "What's up?"
"My apologies for disrupting you; this will not be long." Lapis assured him, picking out a book and looking over the cover as she spoke.
"I wanted to ask you." She subtly grabbed his sleeve and took him deeper into the aisle, away from the other students. Despite this, her next question was quiet; just above a whisper. "Are you truly a man of noble birth?"
Before Leon could start lying or defending himself, Lapis decided to give him the evidence she had for thinking this way. Of course, she kept her voice down to prevent eavesdropping.
"During the mock battle, you spoke to me by saying and I quote, "Somethin' tells me you ain't going with them." Now, I have interacted with more nobles than I have seen trees, dear. Not once have I ever heard a nobleman, high or low status, ever speak in the manner you did in that moment. However, I have heard people speak that way many times before; when I was in the library reading to children and some of the older commoners, their speech matched yours."
Lapis's smile remained kind. She directed her gaze to look up at him. "I thought nothing of it at the time. It would be very presumptuous to assume something was amiss from just one little sentence, so I excused it as you playing around or something of the sort, but then you spoke again. "So, do ya wanna try and aim your spells into that mess, or...Wanna go huntin'?" I thought that would be the end, but your informal speech continued the longer we remained in the trees, and I pondered.
The way you spoke then sounded so… natural in that state. It allowed me to think back to when you were at your most casual as a noble, and it struck me. Your nobleman behavior was too...erect. Too stiff to be natural. A person of noble birth would have practiced their speech, their appearance, and their grace to the point that elegance came to them as naturally as breathing.
This is not to say your presentation lacks charm or grace, mind you. I'd say you are doing an excellent job. However," Lapis grinned, "due to specific circumstances, I have a very keen eye for behavior and body language. I could see it, Leonid. Your body is not practiced in the art of long strides and poise, but in strategy, sneaking about, and attacking your opponents from afar. Your beauty and elegance belongs on the battlefield, not the ballroom! And in the classroom, you mentioned you would be willing to uncover more information for the benefit of the house. That only reaffirmed my suspicions. I thought nothing of it at the time, but as more clues surfaced the more I began to uncover~"
Despite Lapis's voice being quiet, Leon would be able to hear the excitement in her voice. She was closing the distance between them, face pausing a bit closer to his as she looked at him excitedly. "Tell me, Leonid. What nobleman is more comfortable speaking like a commoner, quick in the shadows, attacks from a distance, and comfortable with the art of espionage?"
A starry look of awe and enthusiasm were in her eyes. "None. Which is why my idea stands that you are not of noble birth at all, but a commoner adopted into your House." She moved away to give him his space again, her thumb gently tapping her lower lip. "What troubles me is your background… The three possibilities that match your skillset of which I could guess would be a mercenary, assassin, or a thief… I don't believe you would tell me, especially after all I uncovered to you, hm?"
Leon wasn't sure what to expect when Lapis took his sleeve and led him further away from view. He followed regardless, a curious smile painted across his features. He was just about to jest about how people might get the wrong idea if they saw them - when her sudden question drew colour from his face.
"What?"
Leon wasn't sure if the word ever made it past his lips. If it did, Lapis paid it no mind.
She went on to recite their earlier conversations, quoting each time he'd let slip his noble guise. Leon felt his face heat up. He hadn't even thought about the things he'd said back then - nor remembered them afterwards. The fact that she did was not only impressive, it was-- disconcerting. What else had she noticed that he hadn't even paid attention to? How much information could she retain in that pretty little head of hers?
She kept talking for what felt like an eternity, each word another dagger held at his throat. Leon's feelings were a storm, and his mind its epicenter. He went from shock to anger. He was embarrassed, and he was impressed. At one point, he was flattered. But above all else, he was alarmed.
The closer Lapis got to get conclusion, the more aware Leon became of the blade on his hip. There was no denying it now; she had found out his secret - a secret that could, at worst, cost them both their lives. He was cornered. And everyone knew what rats did when they were driven to desperation.
The library was all but barren where they stood. He could slit her throat before she could scream. All it'd take was one practiced slash.
But then he noticed the... glint in her eye. Excitement? She was coming closer, and Leon had to curl his hand to a fist so he wouldn't grab his blade. She shouldn't be coming closer. She'd just deducted he was a potential criminal! Every inch of distance she closed was a step towards the gallows. She was smart, he knew she was - so why was she so foolishly putting herself in harm's way? Did she have a trap prepared? Or... did she really trust him that much?
No, that could not be it.
At last, it was Leon's turn to speak. But he found his legs before he found his tongue.
In an instant, Leon had closed the distance she'd put back between them. His hands were pushed against the bookshelf behind Lapis, her head framed by his arms. Leon's eyes narrowed; not as a threat but as an attempt to understand. His voice came out without any distinguishable tone, but perhaps the closest was worry.
"And what if I was an assassin?"
He gave her a moment to think on his words, but not to reply to them. He did that for her, "You'd be dead. All because you trusted me enough to reveal your deductions."
Leon took a step back, arms crossed and gaze averted. "... Suppose you're right. That I'm not of noble blood - that I am in fact a commoner, taken in, for some reason, by my house." He turned to glance back at her, hesitant - scared. "... What then?"
He was acutely aware of his sword again.
Leon was most certainly an interesting character, that was for sure. She'd anticipated a threat, or him storming away, or even asking what she wanted for him in return for her silence. Instead, he trapped her between his body and the bookshelf. The book that Lapis held in her hands wasn't just for looking through, mind him. She held it in front of her vitals; her heart and her throat. Just in case Leon would make due on using his assassination skills.
"Nothing." She answered with a smile. "I have no intentions of telling a soul. I merely believed you would want to be aware that someone was able to deduce your secret; so you may see where you've slipped too much information, then polish your performance. I can even assist you if you'd like."
Lapis assured him, hugging the book in front of her this time. Neck exposed as she looked at him. "I understand you are a lot stronger and a much more formidable opponent than myself. Knowing this, If I had malicious intent, why would I go through the trouble of telling you that I knew in person? Wouldn't it have benefitted me more to not tell you and just share the information? Or anonymously send you a note with a list of demands if I wished to blackmail you?"
… Nothing? Leon's hesitance melted away into confusion. He fancied himself a good enough of a judge of character. He'd had to be; trusting the wrong person on the streets could spell death, after all. And as far as he could tell, Lapis's words seemed genuine.
She even lowered her book. He could see her neck - and the exact spot he ought to slice, if he were to mean harm. But he was no longer thinking about his blade.
She was right, there was no real reason to tell him of her suspicions - unless she wanted him to react in a way that confirmed her suspicions, with an ambush prepared. But even after what he did - suddenly trapping her, an act that could be easily seen as a threat, it was just the two of them there. Alex was somewhere - but evidently not close enough to be aware of what went on behind the furthest shelves.
She really had done all this just to help him, huh? She had... had even promised to help him with his act.
... Well didn't that make him feel like a bastard.
"... Thank you," he mumbled, gaze downcast. Away from her eyes, away from her neck. The embarrassment he'd felt earlier couldn't compare to what he felt now.
"Yer kind, y'know?" She had shown him weakness by lowering her book - he returned it in kind, by speaking the way he was most comfortable. His brows furrowed though, the same look of worry from earlier returning."Too damn kind for your own good. What I did back there-- if I'd been some cutthroat..."
He didn't want to repeat it. Instead, he shook his head. If what he'd done earlier hadn't made her realize what could have happened if she trusted the wrong person, then his words certainly wouldn't do the trick. "I'm nothin' that formidable though. Just a guy who happened to be in the right place at the wrong time. It's... a long story. Borin', too."
Leon smiled, lips curled upwards in an attempt at mischief, perhaps to lighten the mood. "But, well, if you wanna help me polish my performance, who knows - I might tell it some day. If you wanna have a listen."
Ever so slowly, he offered a hand. If she didn't want to take it after what he'd done, he understood - but it was his way of offering peace, and an apology. "Deal?"
Lapis listened to his words, and gave a soft nod. "Yes, I've been told before." She said, referring to his remark about her kindness. Her father had said so many times when she was younger and often tried to make her "assertive" but quickly abandoned it when he realized it was pointless.
With a big smile, she reached over and gently took the offered hand in a shake. The idea of Leonid sharing his backstory made her giddy.
"I would like nothing more."
