Chapter 60 – Midas Touch
He took the receipt when it ca, flicked a black obsidian card out of his sleeve, and paid without blinking. And of course, he also left so tips.
Then without a word, he lifted the bags with one hand.
Flowers tucked under his arm.
Jewelry boxes slid into his coat pocket.
Then he walked out of the boutique like a man heading to war.
Smiling. Just a little.
Lux carried the bags with ease—three in one hand, one tucked under his arm with the flowers, and the small velvet jewelry box hidden in his coat pocket. The mont the car ca into view, the driver stepped out like he’d been trained in royal service. One glance at the bags was enough.
The man jogged forward with silent urgency and a polite bow. "Allow , sir."
Lux handed them off without ceremony. "Thank you."
By the ti he opened the door to the backseat, Rava had already straightened up, trying—failing—to act like she hadn’t been zoning out replaying traumatic kraken-childhood flashbacks and stolen tentacle kisses on loop. She t his eyes a half-second too late, her expression neutral but her fingers betraying a twitch of surprise.
"Thanks for waiting," Lux said smoothly as he slid in beside her.
Then, with almost absurd grace, he reached into the crook of his arm and pulled the flower bouquet forward.
He handed it to her. Just like that.
No dramatic fanfare. No smirk.
"For you."
Rava blinked.
Stared at the bouquet.
Pale blush roses. A few lilies. Trimd in gold-dusted leaves. Arranged like the kind of high-end apology husbands gave when they missed anniversaries.
She took it slowly. "...Why?"
Lux rested an elbow on the backrest, turning his body slightly toward her like this was a casual late-night cab ride instead of an escalating emotional ambush in a luxury car.
"You said," he replied, "that I needed flowers, diamonds, and a branded bag to call this a date."
She flushed.
He smirked.
"I couldn’t find a good bag," he went on, voice low. "Not really my area of expertise. But..."
He reached into his coat. The motion was fluid, casual. But when he pulled the small box from his pocket and flipped it open—just a crack, just enough to check the contents—it was like the temperature shifted in the car.
Rava tilted her head slightly, curiosity flickering behind her eyes.
Lux cupped the open box with one hand. Covered it with the other.
’Midas Touch.’
[Skill Activated: Midas Touch – Transmute Selected Object]
[Target: Jewelry Item, Moissanite Silver Earrings – Shell Pattern]
[Transmutation Request: Gold (Base), Diamond (Accent)]
[Status: Approved]
[Transmuting...]
The box shimred faintly in his hand, like the air itself blinked. The light bent for a mont, as if gold rembered what it ant to be royal.
Then—silence.
The glow faded.
He turned to her. Calm. Maybe even a little amused.
And opened his hand.
The earrings inside were the sa shape, but different.
Transcendent.
Smooth, matte-finished gold ford into delicate shells, with small diamond insets placed where the curve pinched. Refined. Sharp. Real.
He held them out in his palm, like he was offering sothing holy.
"I think they suit you."
Rava inhaled sharply.
For a second, she just stared. Like her brain needed a reboot. Like her kraken soul short-circuited.
"Lux," she whispered. "You didn’t have to—"
"I know," he cut in softly.
And then, just for fun, he leaned in slightly. Not too close. Just enough for her to catch the heat from his voice.
"But I wanted to."
Her cheeks ward.
Dammit.
This wasn’t just flirting anymore. This was preditated seduction wrapped in charm, money, and magic.
"I—" She hesitated. "You do know this isn’t how normal dates work, right?"
"Sure," he said. "But I’m not normal. Neither are you."
She opened her mouth. Closed it.
Her fingers touched the edge of the box. Lightly. Carefully.
It was warm.
The earrings practically pulsed with the aura of a gift not ant to be returned.
"Do you want to put them on for you?" Lux asked, casual but smug.
She rolled her eyes, flustered. "No, I can do it."
But her hands trembled just a little when she reached for the box.
He didn’t miss it.
The way her fingers paused over the velvet box said everything.
A subtle twitch of her wrist, like she wasn’t sure whether to open it or launch it into deep space just to protect herself from whatever ca next.
Lux noticed. Of course he did.
He didn’t smile. Didn’t tease. Just leaned in slightly, his voice steady and low.
"But just so you know... this wasn’t random. I didn’t grab them because they were shiny and convenient."
She glanced up at him—cautious, guarded.
"I walked past the jewelry section," he continued, eyes locking with hers, "and stopped the second I saw them. I didn’t think they might suit you. I knew they were yours."
His hand slipped into his coat pocket. He pulled the box free again and opened it slowly—like it deserved a little reverence.
"I an that," he said quietly.
His tone didn’t waver. No smile. No charm act. Just... real.
Rava looked down at the earrings again.
And yeah, they were beautiful—warm gold and delicate diamond nestled in a design that whispered of tidepools, hidden reefs, and glimrs under moonlit waves.
But more than that—
He hadn’t bought a random gift.
He saw sothing.
And thought of her.
Not a placeholder.
Not a prize.
Her.
And gods, it was stupid how much that hit.
Because no one ever did that.
Everyone else saw her wealth, her last na, her bloodline. They calculated her worth like a portfolio. Like a damn business rger.
Lux?
He didn’t care about any of that.
He saw Rava.
Kraken limbs and all.
She swallowed and reached up, fumbling a little as she unlatched one of her old earrings.
Her hands shook.
Of course they did.
Lux noticed. Instantly.
"May I?" he asked, voice dropping into sothing smooth enough to make diamonds nervous.
Rava didn’t answer.
She just... nodded.
And she hated how warm her face was getting.
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