Chapter 449: Promise
"You—!"
Her mind screeched to a halt.
Heat.
Unbearable, furious heat surged to her face, spreading down her neck, burning through every nerve in her body.
Leaning in…
She had—
Her hands curled into fists, violently suppressing the memory of how close she had been—how she had been the one to reach for him first.
Her lips parted—ready to scream, ready to strangle him, ready to do something—
And then—
She saw it.
That flicker.
Beneath the teasing, beneath the amusement, beneath the insufferable Luca-ness of it all—
There was something else.
Something behind his smirk.
Something almost… expectant.
Like he was waiting for her anger.
Like he needed it.
Aeliana's breath caught.
And then, suddenly—everything clicked.
Her fury didn't vanish. No, it still burned, still boiled under her skin, but now—
Now, she understood.
She took a slow, deliberate breath, forcing herself to steady her trembling hands. Then, slowly, she leaned forward.
Lucavion's smirk twitched, but he didn't move.
Aeliana's voice dropped lower, laced with something sharp and knowing.
"You really did it on purpose, huh?"
His grin didn't falter. "Did what on purpose?"
Aeliana's glare was scorching.
It wasn't just anger now—it was demanding. Relentless. The kind of gaze that dug deep, forcing answers where there were none given.
Lucavion held her stare, his black eyes sharp, gleaming, but unreadable.
Those words you said.
Did you do everything on purpose?
Did you really mean all those things?
She was pushing forward. She had to.
Lucavion let out a quiet chuckle, his smirk widening slightly as he lifted a hand—casual, almost lazy.
"What do you think?"
It was an answer that wasn't an answer. A dodge, a deflection. His favorite way of twisting things around, letting her decide what to believe.
But this time—
She refused to let him.
Aeliana's jaw tightened.
"No," she snapped. "Don't evade the question."
She moved suddenly, her body tense as she stood up, breaking all distance between them. Her voice rose, her anger surging, her breath unsteady.
"Answer me!"
Lucavion blinked, watching her from where he still lay, as if mildly entertained by her outburst.
"Answer what?" His voice remained maddeningly smooth.
Aeliana's fingers curled into fists. "Did you mean all those things or not?"
A pause.
A slow inhale.
And then—
Lucavion's expression shifted.
It was subtle. Barely there. A small flicker in his eyes, something indecipherable just beneath the surface. Then, slowly—he sat up.
Their gazes remained locked, the space between them electric with tension.
Finally—
"…What if I say I did?"
His voice was softer now, quieter. No teasing, no mockery. Just a question.
"What will you do then?"
Silence.
Aeliana froze.
Her heart pounded.
'What will you do then?'
The words sank into her bones, curling into something she didn't know how to hold.
Aeliana stared.
Her breath felt too tight, her heartbeat a sharp, uneven rhythm pounding in her ears. The heat of her anger was still there—hot, furious—but beneath it, beneath all of it...
She felt lost.
'What am I supposed to do?'
If he really meant it—if he truly, deliberately, intentionally used her—then what? Would she hate him more? Would she strike him down right here? Would she walk away? Would she—
Her fingers twitched.
A deep part of her, a part she did not want to acknowledge, knew the answer.
She wouldn't.
She wouldn't walk away. She wouldn't strike him. She wouldn't leave.
She was too deep in this already.
And that—
That realization was unbearable.
Her fists clenched at her sides. Fury burned hot in her veins, but it wasn't simple anymore. It wasn't just the fire of rage—it was betrayal, frustration, confusion—all of it twisting together into something that made her feel small.
Aeliana inhaled sharply, the sound shaking slightly against the silence.
Her voice, when it came, was low, sharp, but unsteady.
"...Then I will never forgive you."
Lucavion's black eyes flickered.
For just a second—a fraction of a second—something passed through his expression. Something she almost caught, almost grasped.
Then—
He smiled.
Not a smirk. Not his usual arrogant, teasing, insufferable grin.
A smile.
Slow. Almost thoughtful. But not kind.
Aeliana felt something heavy settle in her chest.
'Why do I feel like… he was waiting for me to say that?'
She hated it.
She hated how uncertain she suddenly felt.
Aeliana's amber eyes burned into him, sharp and unrelenting.
Lucavion didn't look away.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other—her fury, her uncertainty, her demand for something, anything real—clashing against the calm, unreadable depth of his black irises.
Then—
"Is that so?"
His voice was quiet. Smooth. Too smooth.
Lucavion tilted his head slightly, the faintest shift of movement as his gaze flickered away.
"That is good then."
And just like that—he turned.
Aeliana's body locked up.
Her breath caught in her throat.
What.
"You—"
Her voice hitched.
Then, it snapped.
"WHAT?!"
Lucavion didn't even flinch at her outburst. He merely glanced back at her, golden eyes gleaming faintly, as if she was making too big of a deal out of this.
"You're just going to say that and turn your head?!"
"Yep."
His lips curled slightly, that infuriating nonchalance wrapping around him like armor.
"Is there anything else I'm supposed to say?"
Aeliana saw red.
"There is, you bastard!"
Before she even registered the movement, she was already storming forward—her hands grabbing his arm, yanking him back toward her.
Lucavion didn't resist.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't even try to avoid her grip.
He merely blinked, tilting his head slightly, as if mildly curious about what she was about to do.
But Aeliana didn't care.
Didn't care about his damn smirks. Didn't care about his usual evasive nonsense. Didn't care about the fact that her hands were shaking as they clenched around him.
All she cared about was the rage boiling in her chest. The raw, aching confusion that refused to let her go.
"All those promises you made."
Her voice shook.
"All those things you told me about not giving up on life."
Lucavion's smirk faded.
Aeliana's grip tightened.
"The promise about curing me!"
She pulled him closer, forcing him to look at her.
"What the hell are they about then?!"
Her heart was pounding.
She needed to know.
"Hmm…."
Aeliana's fingers were digging into his arm, trembling with frustration, with confusion—with everything he had forced her to feel.
Her voice had cracked.
Her breath was uneven.
And yet, even as she glared up at him, demanding answers, demanding something real, Lucavion—
Lucavion smiled.
It wasn't his usual smirk. It wasn't the playful arrogance she had come to expect from him.
No—this was different.
A slow, meaningful smile.
One laced with something quietly knowing—and just a little playful.
"Did you not notice?"
Aeliana's brows furrowed.
"Notice what?!"
Lucavion chuckled softly, the sound vibrating in his chest. Then—
He laughed.
Not loud. Not mocking.
Just a small, inward laugh, as if he found something about this moment deeply amusing.
Aeliana bristled.
'This bastard—'
And then—
He moved.
His hand flicked to the side, reaching into thin air—no, into his spatial storage.
Aeliana instinctively tensed, her grip on his arm tightening, half-expecting a trick—
But instead—
Lucavion pulled out something small.
Something round.
Something silver.
"Here."
He extended it toward her, palm open.
Aeliana's eyes flickered downward—
A mirror.
Her heart skipped.
Slowly, cautiously, she reached for it, her fingers brushing against the cool surface as she lifted it into her hands.
For a moment, she hesitated.
Then—
She looked.
And the second she did—
Her world stopped.
Her breath hitched.
Her amber eyes widened.
The mirror shook slightly in her grasp as she stared, as she processed what she was seeing—
No—
What she wasn't seeing.
No dark veins.
No sunken pallor.
No fragile, deathly thin complexion.
Her skin was—
Healthy.
Clear.
As if she had never been sick at all.
The mirror trembled in her hands.
Her pulse roared in her ears.
And then—
Lucavion's voice, soft and terribly amused, broke the silence—
"Congratulations."
She turned to him, her expression shattered, disbelieving.
"You're cured now."
Chapter 450: Promise (2)
Silence.
The dim light of the cave barely reflected off the mirror's surface, but even in the darkness, she could see it.
"...."
Her fingers trembled as they traced the edge of the mirror, her reflection staring back at her—foreign and yet unmistakably hers.
Her skin.
Smooth. Clear.
Not sickly, not pale—not the fragile, exhausted face she had seen her entire life.
Lucavion's voice hummed lightly beside her.
"Ah, wait... you can't see right."
Before she could even question him, his hand moved—fingers flicking with an effortless grace.
And then—
Light.
A soft, gentle glow spilled from his palm, washing over them in a quiet, steady starlight.
The cave brightened.
The mirror in her hands gleamed.
And in that moment, she saw everything.
Her skin.
Smooth, radiant, as if she had been sculpted from untouched light.
Her cheeks, no longer sunken with sickness.
Her eyes—clear, bright, golden amber, like molten fire instead of dull exhaustion.
Her lips, her nose, the sharp lines of her jaw—
All of it.
Whole.
Healthy.
Like she had never suffered at all.
"Ah…"
The world blurred.
Her vision swam, her breath stuttering in her chest.
She felt it before she realized it.
A single tear—warm, silent—slipped down her cheek.
"Wh-what…"
Her fingers curled tightly around the mirror, as if it might disappear if she didn't hold on.
From beside her, Lucavion's voice came, smooth and steady.
"See?"
Her throat closed.
Her body shook—not from fear, not from sickness, but from something so much heavier.
"Am I…"
Her voice cracked.
"Am I really cured?"
Lucavion's golden gaze met hers.
He nodded, slow, deliberate.
"Yes. You are."
Aeliana's fingers clenched tighter.
"Really…?" Her voice wavered, breathless. "This is not a dream, right?"
Lucavion tilted his head slightly—and then smirked.
Mocking. Teasing.
"Can't you feel it?"
Aeliana staggered.
Her knees felt weak, her body light, her thoughts fraying at the edges.
"Really?"
The words tumbled from her lips, whispered, raw, desperate—
As if saying them out loud would make it real.
And then—
Memories.
Crashing down like an avalanche.
The countless treatments. The endless, suffocating expectations.
The voices of doctors, healers, alchemists—
"This medicine should help."
"She might improve with time."
"There is a new treatment from the capital—"
"We cannot guarantee results."
"We have done all we can."
And the worst of them—
"I'm sorry. There's nothing more we can do."
She had long stopped hoping.
She had long stopped believing.
And yet—
And yet—
It had been Lucavion who had ignited that hope again.
Only to shatter it.
To make her doubt.
To make her hurt.
Her fingers tightened around the mirror.
Her lips trembled.
And for the first time—
She didn't know whether to scream at him—
Or cry.
She couldn't believe it.
She refused to believe it.
This had to be a trick. A lie. Another cruel, elaborate deception.
Lucavion was a master at twisting words, at playing with people, at making her feel things she didn't want to feel.
So how could she trust him now?
Her grip on the mirror tightened, her heart slamming against her ribs.
'He's lying.'
'He has to be lying.'
He had given her hope before—only to rip it away.
What if this was just another game?
What if he was using her again, feeding her false dreams just to break her down later?
Aeliana's breath shook.
"I…" Her voice wavered, filled with something raw, something vulnerable.
"I don't… believe you."
Lucavion didn't look offended.
Didn't look surprised.
Didn't even try to argue.
Instead—
He smiled.
A small, knowing smile. One that made something deep inside her chest tighten.
And then—he spoke.
"Can't you really feel it?"
Aeliana blinked.
Lucavion tilted his head slightly, his black eyes gleaming as he continued, his voice smooth, patient—as if he was waiting for her to understand on her own.
"Like how easily you can move?"
Her breath hitched.
"Normally, before—" his voice was quiet, steady, "whenever you needed to move, you would be slow and tired. And I—"
His lips curled slightly.
"I would have to carry you. Most of the time."
Aeliana's fingers twitched.
"But now, isn't it different?"
Lucavion's eyes never left her.
"Can't you feel the vitality?"
"Like now, you can finally feel the strength in your body?"
His words sank into her skin.
"You can finally breathe clearly. Without coughing. Without feeling like your lungs are burning. Without struggling to take in air."
Aeliana stilled.
"Like how you no longer feel the need to scratch yourself?"
Her eyes widened.
"Have you not noticed those?"
And suddenly—
Everything clicked.
That strange feeling she had woken up with. The lightness in her limbs. The absence of pain.
The way she had stood up so easily.
The way she had yelled at him without gasping for breath.
The way her body wasn't shaking, aching, screaming at her to stop.
Her hands weren't trembling.
Her chest wasn't tight.
She felt whole.
And the realization—
Knocked the air from her lungs.
Her breath shuddered.
Her fingers dug into the mirror, gripping it so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
She could feel it.
She could feel it.
The strength in her body, the energy flowing through her limbs, the complete absence of the weakness, the pain, the exhaustion that had been her reality for so long.
And yet—
She couldn't stop shaking.
She couldn't control her face, couldn't stop her lips from trembling, couldn't hold back the way her vision blurred—
Tears.
They welled up too fast, too suddenly.
She bit down on her lip, desperately trying to keep herself together, to keep from breaking, to keep from—
"You don't need to hold it in, you know."
Lucavion's voice was quiet. Smooth. Unshaken.
"It's just me and you here."
Aeliana froze.
Her vision swam. Her fingers curled tighter.
Lucavion watched her, his black eyes steady, calm, knowing.
And then—he smiled.
"But if you don't want me," he added lightly, teasing but not cruel, "I can turn my head and close my ears."
That—
That was what broke her.
A choked sound escaped her throat, and before she could stop herself—
Her legs gave out.
She fell to her knees.
And the tears came.
Unstoppable. Relentless.
The kind of tears that weren't loud, weren't dramatic— but simply poured.
Down her cheeks. Onto her hands. Onto the mirror.
She couldn't stop them.
She didn't know how to.
Lucavion tilted his head slightly, his voice quiet, soft—but still carrying that infuriating amusement.
Then, softly—too softly—
"See?"
His voice reached her through the haze of her shaking breaths.
"Haven't I kept my promise?"
Aeliana squeezed her eyes shut, her fingers tightening on the mirror, her breath shuddering as another sob escaped.
Lucavion's voice lowered, smooth, steady—assured.
"Aren't you cured?"
A broken, breathless sound left her lips.
And then—
She sobbed.
Chapter 451: Promise (3)
The sobs came harder now.
She crouched on the ground, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, the mirror still clutched between her trembling fingers.
She couldn't stop.
She didn't want to stop.
Because—
Because it was gone.
The pain.
The exhaustion.
The sickness that had chained her for years, that had clung to her skin like an inescapable curse, that had stolen so much from her.
Gone.
Completely, entirely gone.
A broken gasp escaped her, her shoulders shaking violently.
'All this time…'
All this time, she had been fighting it.
Every breath had been a struggle. Every step had been a battle. Every single day, she had lived knowing she was weak.
That no matter how much she fought, how much she wanted to live, her body would never let her.
She had been dying for so long that she had forgotten what it felt like to be alive.
But now—
Now, she was free.
A strangled cry broke past her lips as the realization sank deep, deep into her bones.
She could breathe.
She could move.
She could finally, finally—
Live.
Tears streamed down her face, uncontrollable, unstoppable.
She was happy.
For the first time in so long—
She was truly, completely happy.
And it was too much.
She sobbed into her hands, her body curling inward as the weight of it all crashed over her. The suffering. The hope. The despair. The relief.
Lucavion said nothing.
But he didn't leave.
Didn't turn away.
Didn't mock her.
He simply stood there—silent, waiting.
As if he had known all along that this moment was inevitable.
Her breath still trembled, but slowly—slowly—she raised her head.
Tears still clung to her lashes, warm streaks trailing down her cheeks, but she forced herself to look.
And there he was.
Lucavion.
Leaning casually against the cavern wall, his arms crossed against his chest, his black eyes gleaming in the dim light.
And—he was smiling.
Not his usual mocking smirk. Not the arrogant, insufferable grin that made her want to strangle him.
No—this smile was quieter.
Steady. Knowing. Amused, but not unkind.
He was simply watching her.
Watching her fall apart and come back together all at once.
And then—
Something inside her clicked.
Aeliana's amber eyes widened.
'It's thanks to him.'
Thanks to this man.
It was him who had fought against that impossible beast.
It was him who had refused to let her die.
It was him who had stood in front of her, bleeding, battered, but unmoving.
It was him who had given her hope.
It was him who had freed her from this curse.
It was him—
Who had given color to her meaningless life.
Aeliana's chest tightened.
Her fingers curled, her heartbeat pounding, roaring in her ears—
And before she could even think—
SWOOSH!
She moved.
No—she leaped.
"Eh—?"
Lucavion barely had time to react before her arms wrapped around him.
Tightly. Desperately.
The impact forced him back against the cavern wall, his body momentarily tensing—because she never did this.
She never touched him first.
But right now—
Right now, she couldn't stop herself.
She buried her face against his chest, her fingers clutching at the fabric of his coat, her body shaking again—but this time, not from sadness.
From something warmer.
Something she didn't know how to name.
And then—her voice came.
Soft. Fragile. Raw.
"Thank you."
Lucavion stiffened slightly.
But Aeliana didn't let go.
Her fingers tightened, her breath shaky, her tears wetting the fabric between them as she held on.
"Thank you for everything."
And for the first time—
She meant it.
Lucavion stood still.
Aeliana's arms were wrapped around him, her body pressed against his, her warmth spreading through his coat.
He didn't move.
Didn't push her away.
Didn't tighten his hold either.
Instead, his arms hovered awkwardly in the air, his hands flexing slightly—as if unsure where to put them.
And then—
He spoke.
"Why are you thanking me?"
His voice was smooth, but beneath it—something else.
Something unreadable.
"Didn't you say you would never forgive me ever again?"
Aeliana didn't answer.
Didn't even flinch.
She just buried her face deeper into him, snuggling closer, her breath warm against his skin.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of his coat, holding on as if she was afraid to let go.
He could feel her now.
Her soft, steady breathing.
The way her body melted slightly into his.
And yet—
Something was missing.
Something off.
Lucavion exhaled quietly.
His black eyes lowered, flickering with something that he refused to acknowledge.
"Hey…" he murmured, his voice dropping slightly.
His lips barely moved.
"Little ember."
Aeliana didn't react.
Didn't move.
Didn't pull away.
Lucavion tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable as his golden earring caught the dim starlight still lingering in the cavern.
"Are you not going to answer?"
Aeliana finally moved.
She raised her head slowly, amber eyes gleaming in the light—soft, yet burning.
Her chin rested against his chest, her breath warm against his skin.
Lucavion watched her—watched the way her gaze shifted, hesitated, searched.
And then—
She saw it.
A small spark in his black irises.
Fleeting. Subtle.
As if he was—
Waiting.
Or maybe…
Maybe it was just an illusion.
Lucavion tilted his head slightly.
"You?"
Aeliana swallowed.
Her throat felt tight. Her chest too full.
And then—
"I won't…"
Lucavion's lips twitched.
"You won't?"
Aeliana gripped his coat tighter.
Her voice was small, barely above a whisper, but unshaken.
"I will never forgive you."
Lucavion blinked.
Then—
His lips curled slightly.
"Is that so?"
Aeliana's breath hitched.
Her gaze flickered.
From his black eyes—to his lips.
Her heart pounded.
"I will never forgive you," she whispered again.
Lucavion's voice was low, smooth, unreadable.
"I get that."
"I will never forgive you."
"I see."
"You will never be forgiven."
Lucavion didn't reply immediately this time.
For a moment—
A brief, quiet moment—
His black eyes lowered slightly, something flickering behind them.
Then—
Aeliana inhaled sharply.
And finally—
She said it.
"That is why…"
Her fingers curled tighter.
Her breath brushed against him.
"You are always going to be stuck by my side."
Silence.
Lucavion's lips parted slightly, as if to say something—
But he didn't.
He only stared.
And then—
He smiled.
"You are quite a spoiled young lady, you know that right?"
"Hehehehe…"
Chapter 452: Promise (4)
"You are quite a spoiled young lady, you know that, right?"
Lucavion's voice was smooth, teasing, his lips curling into an infuriatingly amused smile.
And then—
"Hehehehe…"
Aeliana felt him.
His body—firm, solid, yet strangely cold beneath her touch.
But—
She wasn't cold.
Even with his unnatural chill, even with the way his skin carried an almost eerie lack of warmth—she felt warm.
And that—
That was weird.
Her fingers curled slightly against his coat, her body pressing just a little closer—testing it, feeling it.
But still, she didn't feel cold.
It was as if something was wrapping around her, keeping her warm despite the contrast between them.
Her brows furrowed slightly, but before she could dwell on it—
RUMBLE!
A loud, undeniable sound echoed through the cavern.
Aeliana froze.
Her arms instinctively tightened, and for a moment, she thought it was her.
But—
No.
That wasn't her stomach.
The sound had been too deep, too loud—
And then—
"Ahaha…"
A voice followed.
Lucavion's voice.
Low, a little awkward—a bit too casual.
Aeliana's eyes snapped up to him.
Lucavion's black eyes gleamed, his smirk faltering just slightly, and then—
"I guess I am a little bit hungry."
Aeliana blinked.
Then blinked again.
And then—
She stared.
Because—
Because was he actually embarrassed?
Lucavion—the arrogant, insufferable, impossibly composed man standing in front of her—
Looked a little sheepish.
Aeliana felt something rise in her chest.
Something strange. Something unfamiliar.
And then—
Satisfaction.
A slow, amused smile curled on her lips.
'That's right. This bastard isn't untouchable after all.'
She would enjoy this.
Slowly, hesitantly, she pulled back.
Her arms loosened, her fingers unclenching from his coat, and inch by inch, she separated from him.
The absence of his touch left a strange feeling in her chest—something light, something lingering.
But she ignored it.
Instead, she lifted her gaze, her amber eyes scanning his face, taking in every detail.
Lucavion stood there, his usual smirk still in place—but something was off.
His skin.
Paler than before.
Not deathly pale, not sickly, but—weaker.
More drained.
Something in her chest tightened.
She had been raised as a noble. Before she had fallen sick, she had been taught everything there was to know about the body, about medicine, about survival.
And she remembered.
Even though Awakened were stronger than normal humans—they were still bound by the rules of the world.
They could go longer without food, water, sleep—but they weren't immune to the toll battle took on their bodies.
Especially when injured.
Especially when they forced their bodies beyond their limits.
Aeliana's fingers twitched slightly.
'That's right…'
Even though potions heal wounds, they don't create the healing out of nowhere.
The body does.
Regeneration takes energy. It pulls from internal reserves, consuming strength, nutrients, resources from within.
If a body is too depleted, no matter how many potions are poured into it—
It won't heal properly.
Lucavion had fought the Kraken.
Lucavion had pushed himself past his limits.
Lucavion had bled. Had endured. Had survived.
And now—
Now, he was paying the price.
Aeliana exhaled slowly.
Lucavion's smirk twitched slightly as he noticed her staring. "What? Do I have something on my face?"
Her eyes narrowed.
'Idiot.'
Of course, he would act like nothing was wrong.
But Aeliana knew better.
She felt strong.
Stronger than she had ever felt in her entire life.
Her body—once fragile, weak, always teetering on the edge of collapse—was now light, steady, powerful.
Something coursed through her veins, something new, something undeniably there.
Whether it was a lingering effect of her illness, her bloodline, or something else entirely—she didn't know.
But it didn't matter.
Because one thing was certain—
The tables had turned.
Lucavion had spent all this time taking care of her.
Watching over her. Carrying her when she couldn't move. Enduring her temper, her rage, her suffering.
And now—
Now, he was the one who needed to recover.
He wasn't collapsing, not yet, but Aeliana knew the signs of depletion.
And for once, it was her turn.
Her turn to do something.
Her turn to repay even just a little of what he had done for her.
Aeliana exhaled sharply, squaring her shoulders.
Then—
"Luca."
Lucavion blinked. His black eyes flickered with amusement.
"Calling me by name now? How bold."
Aeliana ignored his usual nonsense, lifting her chin. "Take out the utensils and ingredients from your storage."
Lucavion's brow arched.
"...Why?"
Aeliana frowned. "What do you mean why?"
Lucavion tilted his head, clearly enjoying her irritation. "Usually when people ask for something, they provide a reason."
Aeliana crossed her arms, staring him down. "I will cook."
Lucavion stared.
Then—
A slow grin crept onto his face.
"You? Cooking?"
"Yes."
"You don't need to do anything," he stated firmly.
Lucavion leaned against the cavern wall, his smirk deepening. "You've already gotten what you wanted, haven't you?"
Aeliana's eyes narrowed.
"You're cured. You're safe now. It's not like you need—"
"Just take them out, you bastard."
Lucavion paused.
His mouth twitched, as if biting back a laugh.
"Aeliana—"
"Who said you were allowed to refuse?"
Lucavion opened his mouth again—
"Bu—"
"Shut up."
Lucavion blinked.
Then—
He laughed.
A small, amused chuckle, shaking his head as he reached into his spatial storage.
"Bossy," he murmured. "I liked you better when you couldn't move."
Aeliana glared.
"Just take them out before I break your nose."
Lucavion laughed.
Not his usual smug, arrogant chuckle—no, this one was light, genuinely entertained.
He held her gaze, his black eyes glinting, watching as Aeliana glared up at him, her irritation burning hotter by the second.
He could tell.
She was fired up.
More than just wanting to help, more than just trying to not seem helpless—
She wanted to do this.
And that—
That was new.
Lucavion sighed dramatically, lifting his hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay. Whatever you want."
Aeliana narrowed her eyes. "Damn right."
Lucavion let out another amused breath before reaching into his spatial storage.
With a flick of his fingers, various utensils and fresh ingredients appeared, neatly arranged before her—a mix of dried meats, vegetables, flour, spices, and even a small pot.
Aeliana eyed them, her arms crossing as she examined everything.
Satisfied, she nodded once.
Lucavion, still watching, smirked. "What, no complaints? You approve of my selection?"
Aeliana shot him a look.
"Don't do anything. Just rest."
Lucavion raised an eyebrow. "Rest?"
"Yes."
"You? Ordering me around?"
Aeliana grabbed the nearest wooden spoon and pointed it directly at his face.
"Sit. Down."
Lucavion stared at the spoon.
Then back at her.
Then back at the spoon.
And then—he grinned.
"Scary," he muttered, but he sat down anyway.
Aeliana huffed. "Good. Now stay put, or I'll throw this at your head."
Lucavion leaned back, crossing his arms behind his head.
"Noted, little ember. Noted."
Chapter 453: No title
The fire crackled, its warm glow flickering against the cavern walls. The scent of rich, seasoned meat, fragrant herbs, and perfectly steamed rice filled the air, blending into something warm and comforting.
Aeliana had worked effortlessly, moving between the different dishes, adjusting flames, stirring pots, tasting seasonings—as if she had been doing this forever.
Lucavion had watched the entire thing unfold, seated comfortably with his arms crossed, only helping when necessary.
And now—
Now, they sat side by side, their plates piled high with food.
The meal was impressive—even Lucavion had to admit.
Aeliana had made a massive portion of fluffy, fragrant rice, roasted Stormfang Beast legs, crispy Firecrest Bird wings and thighs, and a hearty, herb-infused stew filled with vegetables and slow-cooked meat.
It was a feast.
Lucavion took a bite of the Stormfang leg, chewing thoughtfully before finally speaking.
"Wow…" He glanced at her, black eyes glinting with amusement. "You really look like a chef."
Aeliana grinned.
Then—
"Heh."
She lifted a finger and tapped it against her nose, smugly.
"You may not know it, but I am talented at everything."
Lucavion snorted. "Oh?"
His smirk deepened.
"Well, not that talented at being humble."
Aeliana shot him a glare. "You're one to talk."
Lucavion blinked. Then—
"…Ahaha…"
He laughed, his shoulders shaking slightly.
And then, nodding in agreement—
"You're right."
The fire crackled softly, filling the cavern with its low, rhythmic warmth.
They sat together, eating in silence—a silence that, under normal circumstances, Aeliana wouldn't have minded.
Most of her meals had always been like this.
Quiet.
Lonely.
A simple necessity, something to get through rather than something to enjoy.
She should be used to it.
She was used to it.
And yet—
Right now, she minded.
The silence bothered her.
It felt wrong.
She didn't understand why.
Her fingers clenched around her spoon, her amber eyes flickering toward Lucavion—watching him, studying him, trying to piece him together.
And before she could stop herself—
"You… who the hell are you?"
Lucavion's hand paused mid-motion, his black eyes lifting toward her, dark and unreadable.
For a second, his expression was blank, as if he were trying to figure out what she meant.
Then—
His lips curled, just slightly. "What?"
Aeliana didn't hesitate.
"Your strength, your aptitude—everything about you is not normal. You defeated that Kraken, a monster that even my father would have struggled against, and you—"
"Not by myself."
Lucavion's voice was quiet, but firm.
Aeliana frowned. "What?"
Lucavion exhaled slowly, setting his plate down.
"If not for you, I would have died there."
Aeliana froze.
"What are you—"
"You may not notice it clearly, but it was thanks to your connection that the Kraken was that strong."
His black eyes locked onto hers, steady, unwavering.
"And it was also thanks to your appearance in the expedition that the Kraken attacked."
Aeliana's breath hitched.
It wanted her?
That thing—
That beast—
Had targeted them because of her?
Lucavion continued. "The Kraken was after you, yes. But more than that—"
His voice lowered.
"It was also after me."
Aeliana's hands curled into fists.
"Then—"
Lucavion nodded. "Yes."
"It was because you fought that thing inside your body that the Kraken weakened."
His voice was calm, unshaken, as if he were merely stating a fact.
"If not for that… I would have lost. And you—"
His golden earring glinted as he tilted his head slightly.
Lucavion's black eyes didn't waver.
"You would have become one with the monster."
Aeliana's breath stilled.
"And you would have brought calamity onto your own people inside the dukedom."
Her fingers curled tighter around her spoon, her entire body going rigid.
She wanted to refute it.
Wanted to say it wasn't possible—wanted to deny that she could have ever become something like that.
But she couldn't.
Because she knew.
She remembered.
The way the pain had surged through her, like something alive, like something trying to consume her from the inside.
The moment where she had wanted to give in.
To let go.
To just stop fighting.
Lucavion kept speaking, undeterred.
"Therefore… it was not only due to me, but it was also due to you that the Kraken was able to be defeated."
Aeliana looked at him.
Really looked at him.
At the way he sat there, arms resting lazily against his knees, his usual relaxed posture giving the illusion that he wasn't someone who had just faced death.
Her mind flashed back—
To the battle.
To the pain.
To that moment—when she had wanted to die, over and over again.
But then—
Then, there was him.
Lucavion.
Standing. Bleeding.
Fighting.
His bones shattered. His body torn apart. His eye—
And yet—he still stood.
Still fought.
Still smiled.
Still threw himself at death like it was nothing.
Aeliana swallowed.
Her voice came out low, quiet. Almost unsure.
"…You really?"
Lucavion tilted his head slightly. "I really?"
His lips curled slightly, but it wasn't mockery.
Just amusement.
As if he found her disbelief more interesting than the fact that he had survived.
And somehow—that only made her more confused.
'What the hell is this guy?'
Aeliana narrowed her eyes.
"You really aren't good at changing the subject."
Lucavion's smirk twitched slightly, as if amused by the accusation.
But Aeliana knew.
Knew that he was trying to divert the conversation.
She had grown up among nobles.
Even as a child—**before her illness took everything from her—**she had been trained to see through deception.
Business meetings, aristocratic gatherings, political discussions—she had been a part of them all.
And this man—
This ridiculous, arrogant, infuriating man—
Was trying to divert.
"I had no such intention," Lucavion said smoothly, tilting his head. "I just wanted to correct something."
Aeliana scoffed. "Don't take me for a fool."
Lucavion chuckled.
But she wasn't done.
"Regardless of who the Kraken was beaten thanks to, your prowess was there. I could see it. Someone young like you, with that kind of strength…"
She paused, her amber eyes searching him.
"Even the most talented people in our Empire would have a hard time reaching that level. Yet—"
Her voice dropped slightly.
"I have never heard of someone named Luca in the Empire."
Silence.
It was a single silence.