Chapter 557 – Sleeping Beauty [Part 1]
Lux stared at her for a mont.
Then, very softly, he smiled.
"You’re braver than you look."
She huffed. "I know."
Eros snorted behind them. "You two make feel ancient. And I’ve been married for a hundred years."
Lux laughed for real then. A rich, low sound that made Ely’s stomach flutter.
"Eros," he said. "You always were a softie."
"Shut up," Eros muttered, standing. "Co on. If Zoltarin’s involved, I need to update so wards. You too, spreadsheet boy."
Lux followed with a sigh. "Please don’t call that in front of my soon-to-be girlfriend."
"She already knows you’re terrifying. Now she should know you’re boring too."
"I am not boring."
"Tell that to your Excel sheets."
"I use infernal ledgers, thank you very much," Lux replied with a flat tone and a face that could audit a kingdom.
Eros snorted and gave him a look that said ’you’re still the sa smug bastard’, but his wings twitched and folded again, more relaxed now that the conversation drifted back toward familiar territory.
They’d walked from the koi garden pavilion toward a vine-draped archway that led into what looked like a hidden estate within the forest, a blend of elven and infernal architecture, moonwood pillars carved with sin runes, enchanted lanterns pulsing with soft pink light.
"Anyway," Lux said, hands in his pockets, tone slipping into sothing calr. "I didn’t co here just to drop a royal-grade Hell bomb on your nice dostic fantasy like I’m so demonic staffer reporting up the chain."
Eros gave him a side-eye. "Then what, you miss ? Ca for a sleepover?"
Lux exhaled. "I need your help."
Eros stopped walking. That alone was a sign of how rare that sentence was.
He turned. "What kind of help?"
Lux glanced at Ely for a second. She was still trying to catch up to this entire reality but stood close, silent, listening like a student at a forbidden class.
"Lust network," Lux said.
Eros blinked. "...Excuse ?"
"I know you still have access."
Eros cringed like he’d bitten into a rotten peach. "Oh co on, Lux."
"You’re still connected," Lux said, eyes narrowing. "Even if passively. I know your sigil’s embedded in the sublayers. Old Lust inheritance, maternal side. You didn’t delete it."
"Delete it? What am I, mortal? You think I can just unsubscribe from LustNet like it’s an erotic newsletter?" Eros threw up his hands.
"I think you left it open enough that I can borrow it."
Eros grimaced harder. "And what do you want with it? What, watching porn? Want to replace the weekly Hardcore Demon Lord BDSM with Three Succubi MILFs feature with your cold-ass face?"
Lux didn’t blink. "You’re deflecting."
Eros rolled his eyes, then muttered, "Though, real talk, if soone did mod your face onto that series, I would absolutely watch it. For the cody value. Watching the untouchable Hell CFO choke out three MILFs in thigh highs with his financial statents? Iconic."
Lux deadpanned. "Thank you for the ntal trauma."
"Anyti."
Lux ignored him. "Zoltarin could twist Lust House interests against Greed. If I don’t stabilize the network or have a route in, I’ll lose more than just artifacts or coin. I’ll lose leverage."
Eros snorted. "You have leverage. You’re Greed’s crown brat. People still can’t figure out if they want to kill you, kiss you, or let you run the world."
"And what if Lust House flips?" Lux asked. "You know how it works. Sex first, money later. Pleasure before politics. If he offers them power and legacy instead of structure, they’ll bite. They always do."
Eros looked genuinely thoughtful now. His mouth quirked, and he muttered, "Still sounds like a Tuesday back ho."
"Eros," Lux said, this ti serious. "I don’t know his full plan. But I know his pattern. If I don’t prepare for every angle, I’m dead. Again. And this ti, the whole system goes with ."
Eros clicked his tongue, then sighed. "Fine. I’ll give you access."
Lux exhaled in relief.
"But," Eros added, drawing the word out like a hook, "it won’t be free."
Lux raised a brow. "Na your price."
"You owe . Again."
"Last ti I paid good money for that PR job you did," Lux said. "You even bragged about it. Called it your ’magnum moan opus’ or whatever."
"It was!" Eros grinned. "Did you see the numbers? The engagent rate? I turned your boring, uptight reputation into InfernalNet’s sexiest misunderstood tyrant CFO. Even got a trending tag ’DaddyDebtCollector.’ That’s art."
"I still have nightmares."
Eros winked. "You’re welco. I’m a professional despite the glitter."
Lux grunted. "Fine. Tell your price."
"I don’t need money," Eros said. "I need sothing for my bride."
That made Lux pause.
And frown.
Because when a demon says bride and favor in the sa breath, it usually ans blood, forbidden relics, or stolen celestial contract seals buried under a volcano.
"...Spill," Lux said cautiously.
Eros didn’t answer imdiately.
He just turned and began walking toward the eastern side of the estate, where the sky began to curve with enchantnts, showing stars even though it was still day.
"Follow ," Eros said over his shoulder. "You’ll see."
Lux fell into step beside him. Ely hesitated, then followed too, feet crunching softly over the flower-strewn path.
"Do I want to know what she needs?" Lux asked.
Eros smirked. "No. But you’re gonna find out anyway."
The corridor of trees curved into a stone bridge that led to a secluded section of the estate, where lilac vines hung from branches and wind chis whispered like distant voices. The scent of jasmine and burnt cinnamon filled the air.
Ely clutched her sleeves. "This place feels... alive."
"It is," Eros said. "Wards tied to emotion. It sings when she’s happy."
"And if she’s not?" Ely asked.
He shrugged. "It screams."
Eros stopped in front of a low pavilion draped in silk curtains, pale blue and violet. A breeze lifted them gently, revealing a glass coffin or maybe it was a shrine. A resting place that blurred the line between love and obsession.
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