Chapter 302 – Infernal lody
The voice was warm. Velvet-smooth with just a hint of exasperated fondness. It floated through the air like perfu and power wrapped in the soft cadence of soone too elegant to yell, but too clever to ever need to.
Lux stood up slowly, still facing the piano. His fingers brushed over the final note again—just once—like sealing it.
Then he turned with that easy, sinful smile of his. The kind that curled at the edges. The kind that said ’I know what I’m doing. I just want to see how long it takes you to admit it.’
"Celestaria," he said softly. "I thought I’d need to wait a bit longer."
She stepped through the door that hadn’t even made a sound when it opened, light trailing behind her like it answered to her presence alone. Her robe shifted as she walked—pure white with faint traces of starlight along the hems, changing textures like silk and wind had a conversation about elegance and agreed she should wear both.
Her expression? Softly amused. But her eyes betrayed it— sharp, holding that slight flicker of worry she didn’t want him to notice.
She approached. "No. The eting just ended. And your little impromptu concert?"
She gave him a small smirk, the kind she rarely showed anyone else.
"The notes reached through the chamber wall. They realized... The lody wasn’t from here."
Lux’s smile faded just a touch.
Yeah. He figured.
He didn’t say anything. Just looked at her.
Because she was right.
This place—Celestaria’s office, the Upper Realm, the entire vibe of Heaven—was all calm, slow, composed. Harp strings and light flutes. Peaceful. asured.
What he played?
It wasn’t peaceful. Slowed down to fit this space, sure, but... not born from it.
Infernal music always carried weight. Tempo. Force.
Even when it whispered.
Even when it ached.
She caught it. Of course she did.
Celestaria’s voice softened. "I needed to see you before them."
Lux raised a brow but said nothing. Not yet.
Instead, he just smiled again. Tilted his head a bit, the white suit catching soft glow from the overhead lights, still clean and tailored and dangerously misleading.
Celestaria turned. "Co with . We’ll talk in my office."
"Hmm," he followed easily, hands in his pockets. "But if this is about to turn into an interrogation, I want better tea."
She gave him a look over her shoulder. "No promises. And it won’t be too private."
"Pity," Lux muttered under his breath.
She heard. Of course she did.
"Selena and Solara will be joining. I have a eting with them in... ten minutes."
Lux made a show of sighing. "The sun and the moon, huh? What a blindingly poetic schedule you have."
She rolled her eyes—barely. "Try not to provoke them. They’re both already on edge."
"Because of ?"
Celestaria didn’t answer.
Didn’t have to.
He smirked. "I’ll behave."
Her expression said she absolutely did not believe him.
They reached her inner office—simpler than the lounge room, but more personal. Less ceremonial. Warr light. Bookshelves lined with old records, relics, ledgers, celestial contracts wrapped in silver twine. The space slled like faint parchnt, sandalwood, and sothing floral but quiet. Her scent.
A smaller angel stepped in behind them carrying a glass of chilled milk and a plate with a few soft cream puffs, dusted lightly with starlight sugar.
Lux blinked in surprise.
The angel didn’t say a word, just bowed and placed the tray carefully on the side table near the couch where Lux was clearly expected to sit.
He gave a slow nod. "Thanks."
He took the glass first, sipped, and sighed in relief. "Better."
Celestaria sat across from him, her robe shifting from its formal divine texture into sothing simpler, softer—still elegant, but suddenly more... therapist chic. She crossed one leg and rested her elbows gently on the armrest.
"So," she said, tone casual but eyes sharp. "What kind of trauma dump are you bringing today?"
Lux snorted. "Straight to the heart of it, huh?"
"I don’t have much ti."
"Fair." He took another sip. "I got attacked."
She didn’t blink. "By?"
"Bounty-class angels. Three."
Her eyes narrowed. Slightly.
"I killed two," Lux continued, grabbing a cream puff with a relaxed flourish. "Let the third one go. Wanted to send a ssage."
Celestaria’s expression didn’t change, but her fingers tightened just slightly around the edge of her chair.
He bit into the pastry and chewed slowly before finishing. "Didn’t make it. They killed him before he reached your borders."
She didn’t respond right away.
Then she said, low and tight, "So they’re accelerating."
"Yup."
He set the plate down and stood, slowly walking toward the edge of the office—where the curtains were drawn just enough to reveal the skyline of the Upper Realm. Everything up here was too pretty. Too clean.
"And," he added, "I just want to report two nas. Inference, not accusation—yet."
"Go on."
Lux didn’t turn. "They were in Aurealis. At the exact ti Selena and I were attacked. Convenient timing."
He turned now. Walked slowly toward her, each step deliberate.
"My first suspect," he said, "is Seraphim Kaelis."
Celestaria’s brows dipped slightly. "Ambitious. But not stupid."
"Exactly." He stopped in front of her now. Close. Close enough that the milk-glass aura between them pulsed. His tone dropped just a little. "My second?"
Celestaria waited.
"Seraph Aelius."
That made her flinch. Barely. But it was there.
"...Aelius?"
"Yeah." Lux’s voice turned sharp now. Cold and quiet like a dagger against silk. "Archon-level. A seat-holder in Aurealis’ Crown Council. Not public. Masked behind foundations and charities. But I followed the trail."
He leaned forward just enough, eyes locked to hers, voice lowering.
"And the money reeks of him."
Celestaria’s gaze didn’t break. But it shifted. Sothing danced behind her lashes—worry, guilt, sothing close to protectiveness.
Lux tilted his head. "What about you?"
She blinked. "What?"
He smiled, razor-sharp now. "How’s your investigation?"
Celestaria was silent for a beat too long.
Not surprised.
Not evasive.
Just... weighing.
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