Chapter 41. Truly a Jerk

Cercei's POV

“Are you wearing lipstick??” inquired Claire, her voice hemming on a shrill exclamation.

Feeling a twinge of embarrassment, I remained silent, pondering the trifle of the question. After all, it seemed commonplace for everyone to wear lipstick, including Claire herself, albeit in a striking shade of red. Each day, she paraded around with an air of elegance reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe.

“Yes,” I curtly replied, prompting an idiotic grin to spread across her face.

The tinkling of bells resonated through the air, glorifying the arrival of a visitor. Lucian’s gaze met mine, and a smile appeared on his lips. In that instant, my heart quickened its pace as if inextricably bound to a familiar rhythm.

“Aha, now I understand,” Claire playfully teased.

“Pardon?” I questioned, taken aback by her insinuation.

Lucian settled into his customary seat, and I seized my notepad.

“You go there and retrieve his number... I mean, his