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Lux raised her head to look through the window, at the garden that circled their mansion. It wasn’t much, but there was an elegant beauty to the way the flowers were organized. “Opposite of what we are,” she thought.
Waiting for her father to arrive, waiting for the inevitable fate that he would bring for her. A bound life, with a guy she didn’t know.
It was better than staying alone in this cold prison, at least.
The heavy doors of the room open with urgency, startling Lux. She looks up at her father who’s walking across the room with a grin on his face.
“Oh how lovely he is,” his father starts without a greeting. Totally improper manners, for which Lux would be punished for. “Just a merchant, nobody too important, just like I promised you.”
“Oh,” Lux sighs, weirded out that her father had actually respected her decision. Though she guessed it was just his way of getting rid of her rebellious daughter without making too much noise among the rich. Lux wasn’t exactly rebellious in the traditional sense, she was even a perfect poster child with her good manners and looks. She just had some, urges let’s say, that could classify her as dirty.
“You can see him tomorrow morning if you’d like,” her father softly smiles this time. Possibly pondering over the fact that his daughter is genuinely leaving. “He said he wants to pay us an official visit.”
Lux shrugged, putting her chin in her hand and looking out the window again. “Perhaps.”
Perhaps. Perhaps this guy could take her somewhere far away and set her free.
***
Jinx didn’t think it would be this exhausting!
Seriously, how hard could it be to be a guy? Not that guys even thought that much! But trying to keep her voice balanced and keeping up with the rich guy’s “manly talk” had turned out to be a serious and shit task.
“This better be worth it,” she grumbles with her own voice and finally sits down on the couch with her legs spread. At least that was one thing she didn’t have to act out.
“I wonder if she’s pretty,” she thinks, as if it would mean anything. She only had to be stupid enough to let Jinx in on her family secrets, and then both would be off to their ways. She had it coming for being a rich princess, anyway. Karma or whatever the fuck they say.
“Princess,” Jinx whispers, leaning to grab the drawing from the table. The drawing of Luxanna Crownguard makes her look insanely pretty, but Jinx knows it’s not always the case. She even wishes it isn’t, so that she won’t be tempted.
Jinx, the scammer and rich hunter, being tempted by an obedient little blonde princess who is probably dumb as fuck.
As if!
***
Lux had heard of butches before, sure. Women that dressed and acted like men in public to protect their love, women that were always in their girl’s service, arguably soft when they were all alone. Had heard the girls giggling about them, how they were the best of both worlds, both the security of not being in a queer relationship and also the privilege of being with a woman. A dream come true for sure!
Even though she has never seen one, Lux is pretty sure this James “guy” is a butch. Or pretending to be. It’s a mystery how her father seems so oblivious.
“Welcome,” Mr. Crownguard greets the man, shaking hands. The man lowers his cap to greet Lux.
“It’s a pleasure, Miss,” he says slowly, dragging his eyes on Lux’s face. It makes her shiver inside. There’s something so heavy and dangerous about his gaze.
“My pleasure,” she gives him her best smile, effectively breaking eye contact. A victory for Luxanna.
With the barrier of the guy’s overconfidence broken, Lux sees that he’s shorter than her. She smiles at this information.
Boring conversations are had. Garen joins them in the living room. Boring arrangements, fake smiles, laughs and compliments.
Though the guy doesn’t even flinch, Lux knows that he’s lying. Nobody would be able to answer all the questions without hesitation if they were telling the whole truth.
Interesting, Lux thinks, observing the guy behind her teacup. It seems like James is not looking at Lux deliberately whenever she’s observing him. She smiles at the thought.
“Would you excuse us then, father, brother?” Lux gives them all her brilliant smile. “I’d be more than happy to consort my suitor inside the mansion and get to know him better.”
Her father visibly relaxes, while Garen lifts an eyebrow. Lux silently shoots daggers at Garen. She hopes he doesn’t think she’s going to kill James.
“And I would be more than happy to be taken for a walk by the loveliest lady in the entirety of Demacia,” James gets up, offering Lux his arm. “After you, madam.”
“How kind of you,” Lux tilts her head to look better into his eyes with a mischievous smile. “I can say the same for you.”
As they get out of the room, James tenses up even more if it’s possible. Lux can feel it on his arm, and in turn she hugs it even tighter; feeling dizzy with the power.
“I too like being taken for a walk by a lovely lady,” she says, testing the waters. Even if this guy gets weirded out and drops the marriage all together, there is nothing that Lux is losing anyways. “Would you show me around Piltover?”
“Oh,” James reacts with a high voice. He got flustered, probably been caught with two of his many lies. “Of course I’d love to. Hopefully once we get settled, I’ll give you the world my love.”
Lux purses her lips, looking straight ahead. “How cute,” she trails off, leading James towards the staircases.
“Why- why are we going up?” James questions, looks worried.
“Has my father told you absolutely nothing?” Lux grins, turning towards James and effectively stopping his steps. “I’m a scandalous girl.”
James visibly gulps.
Lux starts trailing her finger on his chest, from his collarbones to his lower trail with aching speed. “You’d always take something for a test ride before buying it. Isn’t that the wise choice?”
“Aagh, Miss Crownguard if this is some type of test,-“
“It is,” she shuts him up. “It is a test of how satisfying and honest you are.“
Lux can see the sweat forming on James’ forehead.
“Relation before marriage is a sin, madam,” James says silently, visibly relaxing. So now you’ve found your lie, how cute, Lux thinks. “I wouldn’t expect the Luxanna Crownguard to be a sinner, but your relationship with God is your own business. I can assure you as your husband, I’ll support you however you’d like. But for now… I cannot grant your wish.”
Lux mockingly pouts, the hand on his stomach still in place. ”You know what else is a sin?”
James just stares at her.
Lux leans down to whisper in his ear.
“Lying.”
She leans back slightly, enjoying the shiver that rushes down his body. James is heavily breathing.
“You don’t have to be a man to marry me, sweetheart,” Lux says, and she finds that she’s actually being honest. James is exciting, and she wants to know more. “So how about we start with a real name, hm?”
James blinks once. And twice.
“Holy shit,” she finally breathes out. “You’re full of surprises, princess.”
Lux smiles, finally hearing the real voice of the mystery person. It sounds so dangerous and sweet at the same time.
Then all of a sudden, she’s being pulled in by a hand on her waist and a cold dagger is pressed to the side of her throat. She didn’t even have the time to react.
“If you’re going to yell for someone, then don’t,” she starts, her eyes half lidded as she watches Lux’s neck. “We don’t want trouble, do we?”
Lux smirks despite the circumstances. How exciting is this person! This is the best thing that has happened to her inside this goddamn mansion.
“Oh I’m not sure about that, I think you came here looking for it,” Lux says, feeling the hand tightening around her waist. “Why are you being violent, love? I just wanted a name so that i can scream it out later.”
The mysterious person seems to be deep in thought, or maybe in feelings. Lux isn’t sure of anything anymore.
“It’s Jinx,” she finally says. “No surname.”
“Zaun, huh?” Lux reaches for the hand that’s not holding the dagger as she feels Jinx relax.
“You gonna turn me in?” Jinx scoffs. “Then do it already. I’m just gonna run away.”
“You don’t get it,” Lux says, almost with disappointment in her voice. “I’m a sinner. I meant it when I said you didn’t have to be a man.”
“So…” Jinx trails off. “Would you let me?”
“What?”
“Let me marry you and steal your fortune?”
Lux scowls. “I’d be heartbroken.”
Jinx licks her lips. “What if I brought you along?”
Lux smiles softly, her other hand reaching to hold the back of Jinx’s neck.
“I think that’d be the best for both of us.”
She isn’t sure who closed the distance, but Jinx’s lips are surprisingly soft and her voice is so sweet, Lux is getting married to a crazy woman and getting away from the cold mansion.
It is the perfect day for Luxanna Crownguard.
And it was totally worth it for Jinx.