In her room after leaving Marquis’ side, Valeria rested in the quiet, her thoughts a labyrinth of possibilities and uncertainties. Marquis Ventor’s words lingered in her mind like echoes in a vast chamber, their implications weaving through her musings. She had excused herself with grace, but now, as she stared at the faint glow of the lamp on her bedside table, the weight of the situation bore down on her.
For reasons she could scarcely explain, her thoughts drifted to Lucavion. His infuriating smirk, his cavalier attitude—it all seemed to clash with the serious atmosphere that surrounded her. And yet, there was something grounding about his presence, a strange kind of clarity he brought, even amidst the chaos he seemed to thrive in.
Valeria sat up straighter in her chair, her fingers lightly drumming on the armrest. The thought of seeking out Lucavion had taken hold of her, persistent and unrelenting. Despite her initial annoyance, she couldn’t deny the peculiar ease his presence often brought her—a reprieve from the weight of courtly games and veiled intentions.
‘Yes, let’s go and see him,’ she thought decisively, rising to her feet. But then, she faltered.
‘Where is he?’
The realization brought a faint frown to her lips. She hadn’t the faintest idea of Lucavion’s current whereabouts, a testament to his maddening tendency to come and go like a breeze—unpredictable and untrackable. Sighing softly, she reached for the small bell on her desk and gave it a gentle ring.
A maid appeared promptly, her expression calm and deferential. She curtsied lightly as she stepped into the room. “You rang, my lady?”
“Yes,” Valeria said, keeping her tone composed. “I wish to see Lucavion. Could you find him for me?”
The maid’s eyes flickered with a subtle knowing gleam, and her lips curved into a faint but unmistakable smile. “Of course, my lady,” she replied smoothly. “In fact, I was informed that you might wish to do so. If you’ll allow me, I can take you to him directly.”
Valeria’s brows rose slightly at the maid’s words, but she kept her expression neutral. ‘Informed?’ she wondered, but chose not to question it aloud. Instead, she simply nodded. “Lead the way.”
The maid curtsied again before turning on her heel, guiding Valeria through the grand hallways of the Ventor estate. The route was unfamiliar, winding through quieter corridors where the polished stone floors seemed to swallow their footsteps. They moved swiftly, and before long, the maid stopped in front of a door, turning to Valeria with a practiced bow.
“This is the room, my lady,” she said. “If you require anything further, do not hesitate to call upon me.”
Valeria inclined her head, dismissing the maid. As the servant retreated down the hall, Valeria turned her attention to the door. She raised her hand to knock, but something made her pause.
From behind the door came faint sounds—muffled voices, indistinct but unmistakably human. She tilted her head slightly, straining to make sense of the noises. The rustling of movement followed, accompanied by what could only be described as squirming.
Her hand froze mid-air. The noises weren’t loud, but they carried an unusual energy, an almost chaotic rhythm that made her hesitate.
She took a step closer, her brows knitting together as she tried to discern the source of the commotion. The sounds grew a shade clearer—fragments of laughter, the scrape of a chair, and what sounded suspiciously like someone muttering under their breath.
Valeria’s grip tightened slightly at her side. Her instincts, honed through years of training and experience, whispered caution. And yet, she couldn’t quite bring herself to knock or open the door.
‘What on earth is going on in there?’ she wondered, her heart ticking faster despite her efforts to remain composed.
For now, she lingered outside, waiting, listening, and grappling with the strange blend of curiosity and apprehension that kept her rooted to the spot.
******
Valeria inhaled deeply, steadying herself as her gloved fingers hovered over the door handle. The chaotic sounds behind the door—laughter, rustling, and the occasional soft mutter—created an odd warmth in her chest. It was foreign, unwelcome, and yet impossible to ignore. Her frown deepened.
‘Why does this bother me so much?’ she thought, the question echoing through her mind. Yet she couldn’t answer it. All she knew was that the thought of Lucavion smiling like that—laughing like that—with someone else felt… wrong.
Before she could second-guess herself further, Valeria straightened her back and pushed the door open, stepping inside with measured authority.
The room was cozy but far from neat. Lucavion lounged on a plush chair near the fire, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, his signature smirk firmly in place. Beside him, the healer—graceful and serene—stood with her arms crossed, a playful smile teasing her lips.
The two turned toward Valeria as the door creaked open, their conversation halting mid-laugh. For a fleeting moment, Lucavion’s smirk faltered as his gaze met Valeria’s, her icy demeanor transforming the room’s atmosphere in an instant.
“Ah, Valeria,” Lucavion said smoothly, his voice light, though his sharp eyes studied her carefully. “To what do I owe this unexpected visit? Miss me already?”
Her gaze flicked to the healer, who offered a polite nod but stepped back, clearly sensing the tension in the air. “I didn’t realize you were… entertaining company,” Valeria replied, her tone clipped. She didn’t glance at Lucavion, focusing instead on the healer as if assessing a potential threat.
The healer smiled, entirely unruffled. “I was just finishing here, my lady,” she said gently. “Our charming Sword Demon insisted he needed my assistance. A touch dramatic, but he does keep things lively.” Her tone was good-natured, but Valeria’s chest tightened at the casual way she spoke of him.
“I see,” Valeria said curtly, stepping further into the room. “Thank you for your services. I’ll take it from here.”
The healer’s brows rose slightly, but she inclined her head gracefully. “Of course. I’ll leave you two to talk.” With that, she gathered her things and exited the room, her presence leaving a faint ripple of calm that Valeria refused to acknowledge.
The door clicked shut, and the silence that followed was sharp and electric. Valeria turned her gaze to Lucavion, her eyes narrowed. He leaned back in his chair, entirely unbothered, watching her with the same maddeningly relaxed expression he always wore.
“Well?” Lucavion drawled, breaking the silence. “I assume you came here for a reason other than chasing my poor healer away. Or am I finally seeing a jealous side of our noble knight?”
Her cheeks flushed faintly, and she immediately stiffened, her voice colder than she intended. “Don’t flatter yourself. I came to check on your condition after the last match. Clearly, you’re doing just fine.”
His smirk widened, and he tilted his head as if contemplating her words. “So concerned about me, Valeria? I’m touched.” He paused, then leaned forward slightly, his tone dipping into something softer, almost teasingly intimate. “But tell me… was it really my health you were worried about? Or something else?”
The question hung in the air, heavy and loaded. Valeria’s jaw clenched as she struggled to form a response. The truth—a truth she barely understood herself—gnawed at the edges of her carefully constructed walls.
“Bastard… That is why talking to you is a waste of time,” Valeria hissed, her frustration bubbling to the surface as she crossed her arms. “You never stop provoking people.”
Lucavion chuckled, his smirk unwavering. “What can I say? It’s my charm. Though, I have to admit, your reactions are particularly entertaining.”
She glared at him, her eyes flashing with irritation. “You’re infuriating, you know that? Always twisting words, always smug. Do you ever take anything seriously?”
Lucavion leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he studied her with that same maddeningly casual intensity. “I take plenty of things seriously, Valeria. I just happen to enjoy ruffling feathers—especially yours.”
Valeria groaned softly, closing her eyes for a moment as she resisted the urge to say something she might regret. She had come here intending to check on him, to ensure he wasn’t pushing himself too hard. But now, faced with his insufferable attitude, she felt her resolve unraveling. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
“Why do I even bother?” she muttered under her breath, shaking her head as she turned toward the door. “I should have known better.”
Lucavion’s voice stopped her mid-step. “Wait.”
It wasn’t playful this time, nor was it mocking. His tone carried a weight that made her pause. She turned to face him, her brows knitting together as she caught the faintest shift in his expression—a softness that was so unlike him it caught her off guard.
“What now?” she asked, her voice quieter, almost hesitant.
His gaze met hers, steady and unflinching. “Stay,” he said simply, the usual teasing edge absent from his voice. “You came all the way here. No sense in leaving so soon.”
Valeria hesitated, her thoughts warring with the inexplicable pull she felt in that moment. He was still the same Lucavion—cocky, irreverent, maddeningly smug—but something in his eyes made her pause. There was a sincerity there, hidden beneath the layers of mockery and bravado, that she hadn’t expected.
“I…” She faltered, unsure of what to say. A part of her wanted to leave, to regain her composure and escape the unsettling tension that had settled between them. But another part—a quiet, stubborn part she couldn’t quite ignore—wanted to stay.
With a small sigh, she relented, stepping back toward the chair beside him. She sat down stiffly, her posture straight and guarded, as if bracing herself for whatever he might say next.
Lucavion’s smirk returned, though it was softer now, less sharp. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“Don’t push your luck,” Valeria replied sharply, though the faintest hint of color rose to her cheeks. She glanced away, focusing on the crackling fire as she fought to steady her breathing.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them was different now—not sharp and electric, but warm and oddly comfortable. Lucavion leaned back in his chair, his gaze lingering on her profile as if trying to decipher her thoughts.
“You know,” he said after a while, his tone quieter, “you don’t always have to be so guarded. It’s okay to just… be.”
Valeria’s eyes flicked to him, surprised by the sudden shift in his demeanor. “And what would you know about that?” she asked, her voice softer than before.
Lucavion shrugged, his smirk turning into a small, genuine smile. “More than you think.”
She studied him for a moment, her defenses wavering as she considered his words. And as the firelight danced across his face, illuminating the faint traces of weariness hidden beneath his usual bravado, Valeria felt the weight of her own guardedness begin to lift—if only just a little.
For now, she stayed.