Chapter 290 – It’ll Ruin My Reputation
The dining room was quieter now, the frenzy of servants reduced to soft clinks as dishes were replaced with fresh platters.
Naomi was already finishing a warm croissant, flaking crumbs onto her plate, with bacon and eggs beside it.
Rava had chosen soup—clear broth with soft vegetables—and so eggs too, her tentacles lazily curling around her teacup. They looked more alive than they had an hour ago, but Lux could see it in the stiffness of their shoulders, the way their smiles were tempered. They were sore. And he knew why.
Naomi brushed her fingers along her napkin, then sighed. "Guess we need to prepare ourselves then."
Rava nodded, sipping her tea. "Ti to go to work."
Naomi glanced at Lux apologetically. "My car will arrive in an hour."
Lux stood abruptly, chair scraping against the polished floor. "Wait."
The two blinked at him, surprised, as he reached into his dinsional pocket. Ether shimred, and a small glass vial materialized in his hand—its surface black crystal, faint glyphs glowing across it, the liquid inside shimring like molten ruby.
[You just took out 1 Infernal Stamina Recovery Potion.]
[Description: A legendary post-battle drink favored by high-ranking demons. Thick, dark, and laced with volatile soulfire. Drinking a full dose is not recomnded for mortals. Cannot be consud by celestial beings.]
Naomi and Rava exchanged a wary glance.
He gestured to Lyra, who appeared soundlessly, her porcelain puppet trailing behind. "Two empty glasses," Lux ordered.
Lyra bowed, disappeared, and returned within seconds, setting them neatly on the table before stepping back.
Lux popped the vial open, its sharp, tallic scent mingling with the breakfast air. He poured carefully, only a finger’s width into each glass. The potion hissed faintly when it touched mortal-made glass, fizzing before settling into a steady crimson glow.
"You two might need this," he said softly. "I an... last night I was a bit..." His smirk faltered, replaced by sothing almost guilty. "...too much. And I know you’re sore, so—this will help."
Rava leaned forward, eyes narrowing at the liquid. "That’s safe?"
Lux’s golden gaze t hers firmly. "Safe. I guarantee it. You have my word."
Naomi studied his face for a mont, then, without hesitation, lifted her glass. She sniffed it, grimaced at the tallic tang, and then—
In one swift gulp, she downed it.
The effect was imdiate. Her back straightened, her shoulders eased, her lips parted with a soft gasp. Color returned to her cheeks, the fatigue lting from her expression like fog under sunlight. She blinked rapidly, then let out a soft laugh.
"Oh my gods," she breathed, touching her arm. "It’s... gone. All of it. The soreness. The heaviness. I feel like—I could dance."
Lux chuckled. "Told you. Efficient."
Rava smirked, lifted her glass, and mimicked Naomi. The potion hit her tongue, her tentacles twitching in surprise at the burn, but within seconds her tiredness unraveled. Her lips curved as she stretched her arms overhead, the stiffness gone.
"Well damn," she murmured. "You weren’t kidding. I feel like I could wrestle a kraken."
"You are a kraken," Lux teased.
"Exactly," she said, smirking as her tentacle flicked at him.
Lux leaned back, satisfaction humming through him. He’d spent two hundred years managing deals, contracts, debts—but nothing felt as good as seeing relief bloom across their faces. He didn’t say it, but the guilt in his chest loosened. Just a little.
Naomi brushed crumbs off her robe. "Ti to bathe."
Rava pushed her chair back as well, stretching, tentacles swaying lazily. "Yeah, I need to fix my hair. I feel like dusa."
Lux moved before they could leave. He caught Naomi’s hand gently, stopping her in her tracks. She blinked up at him, startled.
"Wait," he said.
He reached into his dinsional space again, the air rippling. This ti, when his hand erged, it held a small velvet box.
Naomi tilted her head, suspicious but curious. "What’s this?"
Lux flipped it open. A delicate bracelet glead inside—gold intertwined with faint silver runes, simple but elegant, designed to fit her wrist like it had always belonged there.
"A bracelet," he said, his voice steady. "It fits you."
Her brows furrowed imdiately. "Lux... I told you. I don’t—"
"This isn’t for last night," he interrupted firmly, pressing the box into her hand. "I bought it for you. Just because I wanted to."
She stared at him, lips parting, then closing again. For a mont, her pride flared—then softened. Finally, she smiled faintly, taking it. "Fine. Thank you."
She leaned up, pressed a soft kiss to his lips, and then stepped back. "I’ll wear it."
He grinned, relief flickering behind his eyes.
Rava raised a brow, smirking knowingly. "Spoiling already. Typical Greed."
"Shut up," Lux muttered, though his smirk betrayed him.
Naomi slipped away first, heading toward her room to shower and get ready for work. Rava followed at a more leisurely pace, her tentacles swaying behind her like she had all the ti in the world.
Lux lingered, watching them go, his chest strangely tight. For a mont, he almost felt... normal.
And then a voice cut the quiet.
"Well, well."
Lux turned.
Sira stood in the archway, still draped in one of his shirts, hair tangled, eyes glinting like polished ruby. She leaned lazily against the doorfra, arms crossed, smirk sharp as ever.
"Never thought I’d see this side of you," she drawled. "Should I cry... or be happy for it?"
Lux blinked, caught off guard. Then he chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Depends. Which reaction costs less furniture?"
Sira’s smirk widened, though her gaze softened for just a mont. "You’re changing, Lux. Whether you like it or not."
He looked at her, red eyes eting her prideful eyes. For once, he didn’t have a slick coback. Just a slow smile, warm and tired.
"Maybe," he admitted. "But don’t tell anyone. It’ll ruin my reputation."
She laughed—low, rich, dangerous—and padded toward him, her hand brushing his cheek as she leaned in. "Your secret’s safe... for now."
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