Chapter 484 – What’s with The Confusion?
It wasn’t relief. Not exactly.
More like... the sigh a lion gives after walking out of a zoo enclosure it never belonged in.
The lobby was quieter now. Just murmurs. Scattered guests lingered like the aftermath of a performance they didn’t fully understand—so clutching their heels, others whispering to their companions, trying to make sense of the scene they’d just witnessed.
A few dared to glance Lux’s way. Most looked away imdiately.
He didn’t even notice them.
His stride was smooth. Steady. Not rushed. Like the floor obeyed him.
Next to him, Sira moved like a storm in heels. Controlled chaos in a silk dress.
"What do you think?" he asked softly, not breaking his gaze from the dark marble ahead.
Sira didn’t blink. "I still want to kill him."
He tilted his head. "I ant the Lamia."
"Oh." She frowned for half a second. "Right. Her."
They walked past a massive dragon-carved pillar. The valet bay shimred in the distance. Air tasted like city smoke and expensive perfu. The sky was already lting into late afternoon amber.
"I still don’t trust her," Sira muttered.
"She didn’t look surprised when we summoned our barriers."
Sira went silent.
Then—
"You’re right," she said. Quietly. "That’s... unusual."
Lux’s eyes flicked sideways. "Do mortals have similar power to us?"
"I an, it’s just a barrier. Not exactly war cris."
"But it wasn’t enchanted glass or tech. That was mana. Old-style."
"And the way she didn’t flinch at your aura—"
"Exactly," Lux said. "Unlike before."
They stopped near the valet podium, pretending to wait for the car.
In reality, they were thinking the sa thing.
Jeremy might’ve been a loudmouthed idiot with decent siren blood and bad fashion sense.
But that Lamia?
She was different.
Too calm. Too poised. Like she’d seen worse and slept through it.
And that dark ruby circlet she wore sothing about it pulsed wrong. Not celestial. Not infernal. But sothing.
"Corvus," Lux said, his voice barely above a hum.
A shimr in the air, a flicker near the ceiling lights—then the small black bird materialized on a nearby ledge.
"What now?" the familiar croaked, tail feathers twitching.
"Lylith Seravelle," Lux said. "Investigate her."
Corvus blinked. "You already saw her before. What’s with the confusion?"
Lux’s gaze narrowed. "That’s the problem. I did see her before. And yet—today feels different. Off."
He rubbed his temple. "She should’ve been more rattled. Or respectful. Or at least... amused. Not that calm. That wasn’t right. And that ruby—"
"I’ll check it," Corvus sighed, already lting into smoke and feathers. "Might take a bit. That gem feels layered."
And then he was gone.
"Hmm." Lux adjusted the cuff of his black suit jacket, exhaling slowly again.
They were just about to approach the valet when—
"Lux Vaelthorn."
The voice wasn’t loud. But it cut through the marble and whispers like a scalpel.
Three individuals stepped forward. All dressed sharply. One wore a slim earpiece, another had a Lamia house crest ring. The third carried a black envelope—sealed in wax with the sigil of Lylith Seravelle.
The crowd fell into curious silence.
"She wishes to speak with you," the one with the crest said. "Her Majesty Lylith requests your presence. Privately."
Sira smirked.
"Talk of us (the devils)," she murmured.
Lux opened his mouth to decline, tone already sharpening—
But Sira cut in, voice smooth as wine over a dagger.
"Lead the way."
He turned to her, brow slightly lifted. "You serious?"
"Why not?" she whispered back. Her smirk darkened, voice dropping a notch. "If sothing happens, we know what to do..."
He almost laughed.
Of course she wanted chaos.
She always did.
Lux sighed. "Alright. But if this goes bad, I’m blaming you."
She winked. "That’s fine. You can punish later."
He arched a brow.
The three emissaries pretended not to hear. Which was probably for the best.
They were led past the velvet cordons, deeper into the private wing of the building—past security checkpoints and into the upper floors reserved for high-tier guests.
The air shifted.
Quieter.
Cooler.
Less public.
Lux could feel it. The mana here was still. Like deep water. Controlled. Expensive.
They passed rows of frosted-glass doors, each with soundproof seals and enchanted privacy runes. Eventually, they stopped in front of a silver-inlaid black door guarded by two tall, silent Lamia warriors in formal robes.
One bowed.
"Her Majesty is inside."
Lux nodded.
Sira just walked in.
The room was a lounge.
Lavish, but cold.
Long curved windows let in golden hour light. The walls were black velvet and gold filigree. A circular couch in the center. A glass table with untouched wine. A few glass decanters glimred under soft light.
Lylith sat alone.
Or at least appeared to.
She wore a different dress now. Blood red silk, off-shoulder, with a thigh slit that reached sin. The ruby pendant still hung from her throat, gleaming like a threat.
She looked like a goddess trying to play mortal.
Too perfect.
Too symtrical.
Too composed.
"Mr. Vaelthorn," she said smoothly. "Lady Sira. Thank you for coming."
Lux inclined his head, but didn’t speak. He wanted to see what she’d do first.
"I wanted to thank you," she said, rising. "For your... intervention. That auction was spiraling into sothing unpleasant. I had no idea the Delmars were so... reckless."
Liar.
But a skilled one.
Lux could feel it in the way she walked. Not just confidence. Not just grace.
Command.
Sira sat down on the edge of the couch like a queen at war. Legs crossed. Arms loose.
Lux remained standing.
"I find it curious," Lylith said after a pause, "how you both handled yourselves."
"Handled ourselves?" Sira asked, one brow cocked.
"Yes." Lylith’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. "Barrier magic. That level of precision. It’s... rare."
Lux tilted his head. "You sound impressed."
"I am."
There was a silence then.
Heavy.
Lux finally walked forward. Not far. Just close enough to let the tension stretch.
"Your ruby," he said quietly, "where did you get it?"
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