Let's Train Heroine

Maris stood in the middle of the room, her face glowing with excitement as she held out a hand to Lucan. The moonlight spilled in from the large window, casting a soft silver glow around them. She had been talking about it for days, how she wanted to teach him something new—something fun and spontaneous. Tonight, it was dancing.

"Come on, Lucan-sama!" Maris giggled, her light blue eyes sparkling as she tugged at his sleeve. "You can't say no to me. It'll be fun, I promise!"

Lucan, sitting comfortably in his chair, raised an eyebrow at her, his expression clearly skeptical. Dancing wasn't exactly on his list of skills, and the thought of trying to follow Maris's graceful movements felt daunting. But, as always, her infectious energy was hard to resist. He reached for his notebook, scribbling down a quick message.

I'm not much of a dancer, you know that.

Maris waved her hand dismissively. "That's okay! You don't have to be. I'll teach you, step by step. You're great at learning when I teach you, right?" She gave him a playful wink, clearly referencing their sign language lessons from earlier. She had spent more time making him sign loving phrases than practical words, but Lucan hadn't minded.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

It was worth seeing her blush.

Lucan sighed but smiled softly, standing up from his chair. He gestured for her to lead the way, and Maris clapped her hands in excitement, practically bouncing on her feet.

"Okay, first things first. Take my hand," she instructed, holding her hand out toward him again. Lucan hesitated for a second, then gently placed his hand in hers. Her skin was soft and warm, and she squeezed his hand with reassurance.

"And now," she said, stepping closer to him, "put your other hand here." She took his other hand and placed it on her waist, guiding him into the position. Lucan's heart skipped a beat at the closeness. Her white gown flowed gracefully around her, and the scent of her lavender perfume filled the air between them.

"See? It's easy!" Maris said, grinning up at him. She took a step back, pulling him gently with her. "Just follow my lead. One step forward, one step back, that's all."

Lucan tried his best to follow her instructions, stepping forward when she stepped back and vice versa. But his movements were stiff, awkward compared to her light, fluid grace. He stepped on her foot once, making her wince, though she quickly covered it with a laugh.

"You're doing great, really!" Maris assured him, though the slight twitch in her smile betrayed her amusement. "Just relax a little. Dancing is supposed to be fun!"

Lucan gave her a look that clearly said easy for you to say. But he tried, loosening his movements as they swayed together in the dimly lit room. The moonlight painted soft shadows across the floor, and the soft sound of their steps filled the otherwise quiet space.

Maris hummed a soft tune, her voice light and sweet as she swayed in time to the rhythm only she could hear. Lucan found himself drawn to her voice, his earlier awkwardness slowly fading away. He followed her lead more easily now, his hand resting comfortably on her waist, their steps falling into a smoother rhythm.

"That's it!" Maris said, her face lighting up. "You're getting it now!" She twirled beneath his arm, laughing as her dress flared around her, and Lucan couldn't help but smile at how happy she looked.

As they continued to dance, Maris looked up at him, her laughter softening into something more tender. The playful mood of the evening shifted subtly, becoming something more intimate. She stepped closer to him, resting her head lightly against his chest as they swayed together. Lucan felt the warmth of her body through the fabric of her dress, her lavender scent wrapping around him.

"I've always wanted to do this with you," Maris murmured, "Just the two of us, like this. It's… nice."

Lucan nodded. He never expected this, and he never even thought about it. His plan to use Maris, reach the top of the world and enjoy the life however he want. But, everything doesn't according to plan, and he found that, being with Maris is more fun than anything else.

Maris pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a shy smile. "You're a better dancer than you think, Lucan-sama," she said, her cheeks flushing a soft pink. She took his hand and placed it over her heart. "See? You're making my heart race."

Lucan blinked, slightly surprised by her boldness. He could feel the steady beat of her heart beneath his palm, and softness of her breast. It was intimate and loving moment.

Maris's breath hitched slightly, her cheeks growing redder by the second. She glanced down, breaking the intense eye contact, and a small, nervous giggle escaped her lips.

"I, um… I think that's enough dancing for now," she stammered, suddenly flustered. She took a step back, but Lucan caught her hand before she could retreat completely. He wanted to spent more time with her.

Maris blinked up at him, her heart racing even faster. She hesitated for only a second before doing something she hadn't planned, something that took even her by surprise.

She leaned up on her tiptoes, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for him. Before Lucan could react, her lips brushed against his, soft and fleeting, but enough to make both their hearts skip a beat.

The kiss lasted only a second, a brief, innocent touch, but it was enough to send Maris's heart into overdrive. Her eyes widened as she realized what she had just done, and a deep blush spread across her cheeks.

"I—um—I didn't—" she stammered, stepping back quickly. Lucan stood frozen in place, eyes wide with surprise. He reached up to touch his lips, still processing the sudden kiss.

Without another word, Maris turned on her heel and ran out of the room, her face beet red. "Goodnight, Lucan-sama!" she called over her shoulder as she fled, her voice high-pitched and embarrassed.

Lucan stood there for a moment, staring after her retreating figure. A slow smile crept onto his face, and he shook his head in amusement. Maris, with her boldness and sudden shyness, is fun.

He sighed softly, still feeling the lingering warmth of her kiss, and settled back into his chair. As much as he wanted to chase after her and see what else the night could bring, he decided to enjoy the moments slowly.