Just as Aeliana’s finger remained poised against Lucavion’s nose, a low, sharp grr cut through the air.
Her body reacted before her mind caught up, instincts kicking in as she swiftly retracted her hand—just in time.
A small white paw swiped at the space where her finger had just been.
Aeliana blinked, her gaze snapping toward the culprit.
Lucavion’s damn cat.
Perched on his shoulder, the feline now had its ears flattened, its sharp, intelligent eyes locked directly onto her. Its tail flicked once—slow, deliberate.
There was nothing playful about its reaction.
It hadn’t been a harmless bat of the paw.
That had been a warning.
Aeliana narrowed her eyes, fully turning her attention to the creature.
The cat did not back down. It met her gaze with an unsettling stillness, its pupils narrowing slightly as if analyzing her, assessing her.
And for some reason—
Aeliana felt something off.
Something she couldn’t explain.
Her mana, still faintly humming beneath her skin from earlier, reacted—not in a volatile way, but as if it had suddenly noticed the presence of something else.
Something wrong.
Her expression didn’t change, but inwardly, she bristled.
This cat wasn’t just a cat.
And whatever it was…
It was watching her.
Aeliana didn’t like that.
Not one bit.
The fact that this damn cat had dared to swipe at her, to warn her as if she were the intruder here—unacceptable.
Her eyes narrowed further, sharp and unyielding. But before she could retaliate, Lucavion let out a low chuckle and reached up, running a slow, casual hand along the feline’s back.
“Easy,” he murmured, his tone amused yet soothing. “She’s like that. Often hostile.”
The cat’s tail flicked again, but it didn’t swipe a second time. It merely continued staring at Aeliana with those eerie, knowing eyes.
Aeliana scoffed, crossing her arms. “I didn’t take you for someone who couldn’t control a mere cat.”
Lucavion’s smirk didn’t falter. “I don’t control people,” he said smoothly. “If that’s what you thought of me, I must say—I’m quite hurt.”
Aeliana’s expression remained deadpan.
“…”
She refused to dignify that with a response.
Instead, she let her gaze flicker back to the cat, still perched on Lucavion’s shoulder like some self-important guardian.
[I don’t like this woman.]
Lucavion barely suppressed a smirk as Vitaliara’s voice rang in his mind, sharp and displeased.
‘Oh?’ he mused internally, tilting his head slightly as he ran a lazy hand along Vitaliara’s back. ‘This is what finally sets you off? Not the countless women I’ve teased before?’
[Shut up.]
Lucavion chuckled to himself. He already knew why.
The moment Aeliana had stepped forward—closer than anyone else had dared—Vitalaira had reacted instantly. She had never been one to tolerate threats, and in her eyes, Aeliana had crossed the invisible boundary of what was acceptable.
‘So?’ Lucavion continued, his internal voice light with amusement.
[Is this the Aeliana that you talked about?]
‘Yep.’
[…This woman? This irritating woman?] Vitaliara scoffed. [She’s Aeliana?]
Lucavion nodded slightly, his fingers still trailing lazily over Vitaliara’s fur. ‘She is.’
A long, heavy pause.
Then—
[She was that veiled woman?]
‘Yes. She was.’
Immediately, a low, sharp grrrr rumbled through their connection, and Lucavion had to bite back another chuckle.
Vitaliara’s tail lashed behind him, her fur bristling.
Lucavion hummed, taking another long, slow glance at Aeliana, who was still glaring at Vitaliara as if she were trying to decide whether or not to throw hands with a cat.
[I don’t like her.] Vitaliara huffed, her golden eyes flicking toward Aeliana with clear disdain. [She looks worse than that knight woman.]
Lucavion raised an eyebrow, suppressing another smirk. ‘You mean Valeria?’
[Humph.]
Lucavion chuckled under his breath. ‘And what exactly makes Aeliana worse?’
Vitaliara flicked her tail sharply, a clear sign of irritation. [She’s just… annoying.]
‘Oh?’
[Yes. The way she stands there, acting all self-important, pushing her way into things that don’t concern her.]
Lucavion tilted his head slightly. That’s an interesting way to phrase it.
Vitaliara was always prickly when it came to women approaching him—but she would never openly admit it. Instead, she dressed up her objections in something else.
‘Hmmm…’ Lucavion hummed, his fingers idly stroking along her fur. ‘You sound particularly invested.’
[Shut up.]
Lucavion’s smirk deepened.
Before he could tease her further—
Footsteps approached from the hall.
“Sir Lucavion,” Anne’s voice rang out as she stepped closer. “The carriage is ready.”
Lucavion turned his attention toward her, but before he could respond—
Anne’s gaze suddenly flickered to the side, and the moment she caught sight of Aeliana, she stiffened.
A brief pause.
Then, her brown eyes widened slightly.
“M-My Lady…”
She immediately bowed her head in respect.
Lucavion raised an eyebrow. Interesting.
Aeliana’s expression remained composed, but a flicker of curiosity passed through her gaze. It was clear she didn’t recognize Anne.
Which made sense.
Aeliana had been isolated while she was recovering from her illness, and those tending to her would have been experienced senior maids—ones familiar with handling her condition.
Anne, on the other hand…
Lucavion glanced at the younger maid, who still seemed slightly nervous.
She must have been assigned elsewhere.
Lucavion smirked, watching the unspoken exchange between them.
Well now… this just got even more interesting.
Aeliana’s gaze flickered toward the young maid, observing her carefully.
She was young—far younger than the senior maids who had attended to her during her illness. Her face was unfamiliar, but there was something about her eyes… something vaguely reminiscent of a person Aeliana should remember.
A relative, perhaps? The daughter of one of the older maids who had once served her?
It was possible.
But at the moment, the girl looked more nervous than anything.
Aeliana exhaled softly, accepting the greeting with a slight nod. “You may rise.”
Anne immediately straightened, though the nervousness didn’t fade entirely.
Aeliana tilted her head slightly, watching her. The girl was clearly uncertain, and while Aeliana had no patience for incompetence, she also knew that every servant had to learn eventually.
And hesitation wouldn’t serve her here.
Aeliana took a step forward, her tone measured but firm. “Your name?”
Anne stiffened slightly but quickly answered. “A-Anne, my lady.”
Aeliana hummed thoughtfully. “And how long have you been in service here?”
Anne swallowed before replying, “Almost two years, my lady.”
Aeliana arched a brow. Two years… yet she had never seen her before. That meant she had to have been assigned elsewhere.
Most likely away from the main wing.
Or perhaps—away from her.
Aeliana studied her for another moment before speaking again. “
Aeliana’s gaze flickered briefly toward Lucavion before returning to Anne.
The girl was nervous, that much was clear. But what caught Aeliana’s attention wasn’t just her nervousness—it was the way she kept sneaking glances at him.
Subtle. Careful.
But noticeable.
Aeliana’s amber eyes narrowed slightly.
Ah.
So she was the one assigned to serve him.
Her lips curled into something almost unreadable before she turned fully to Anne, her voice smooth but pointed.
“This guy… did he bother you?”
Anne blinked, caught completely off guard.
“Eh?”
Lucavion immediately let out a soft chuckle, his smirk deepening. “Aeliana, you wound me,” he drawled lazily. “Why would you assume I was the problem?”
Aeliana didn’t even spare him a glance. Her sharp eyes remained locked onto Anne, who was now looking between the two of them, clearly struggling to process how she had suddenly become the center of this conversation.
Anne opened her mouth, hesitated, then quickly shook her head. “N-No, my lady! Sir Lucavion did not—um—he was very… polite.”
Lucavion sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. “See? Polite. I would never dream of causing trouble.”
Aeliana finally turned her gaze toward him, her expression flat.
“…Really?”
Lucavion grinned. “Really.”
Aeliana stared at him for a moment longer before exhaling through her nose, unimpressed.
“Hmph.”
She didn’t believe him for a second.