Chapter 665 – Daddy Finally Snapped
The next morning ca.
And again, Lux opened his eyes before seven.
He exhaled.
"...Yup," he muttered, voice gravelly. "Still can’t sleep past seven."
His hand dragged over his face as he turned onto his side, blinking blearily toward the ceiling. Infernal gold light peeked through the translucent obsidian-glass windows, catching the edge of the silk sheets still tangled around his waist.
His whole body ached.
In the good way.
"...Though I did sleep like... what, five?" He let out a dry chuckle. "Mira’s fault. Well, my fault too..."
He pushed himself upright, rubbing a hand over his chest. Yeah, he felt good. Bone-deep good. The kind of good that ca after hours of indulgence, of touch, of heat and raw release. Mira hadn’t just ’kept up’ with him.
She’d ruined him back.
And she was still asleep.
Lux glanced beside him and there she was.
Sprawled across the silk sheets, tangled in her own hair and the scent of sex and heat and sweat. Naked. Perfect. Breathing slow and steady, one hand curled near her cheek, the other still resting on the faint mark his mouth had left on her breast the night before.
He looked at her for a mont.
Longer than he should’ve.
Then sighed.
"...I really overdid it."
The guilt crept in, soft, quiet, annoying. He had stamina. Demon-physique. He recovered fast.
Mira, though? Mortal and dragonblood hybrid or not, she had limits.
"Greedy bastard," Lux muttered to himself. "Can’t keep your pants on after midnight."
Careful not to wake her, he reached into his dinsional inventory with a flick of his fingers. A soft green shimr rippled as the small bottle of red-gold potion dropped into his palm, condensed stamina blend, courtesy of Sloth’s top apothecaries.
He set it on the nightstand.
Then conjured a small piece of parchnt and scribbled a note with his finger using minor magic.
"Drink this. It’ll help your sore body. I’ll owe you breakfast." - Lux.
He folded the paper and left it beside the vial.
Then leaned down, brushing Mira’s hair from her face with surprising tenderness.
He kissed her forehead gently.
She didn’t stir.
Good.
She needed the rest.
Lux stood, stretching with a satisfied groan. He was still very, very naked, and he didn’t bother covering up as he walked to the bathroom. The warm stone tiles greeted his feet, and the enchanted rainfall shower kicked on the mont he stepped inside.
Steam filled the chamber in seconds.
"System," he said under the hiss of water, brushing his wet hair back. "Show the mortal newsfeeds. Filtered. Focus on ."
[Processing request...]
[Displaying top twenty headlines ntioning "Lux Vaelthorn" and "Vincent Albrecht"]
His eyes narrowed as the holographic panels opened in front of him in a curved interface.
"Vincent Albrecht Disowned by Albrecht Conglorate Patriarch"
"Lux Vaelthorn Returns: Real Billionaire, Real Power, Real Problem"
"Stock Plunge: Albrecht Holdings Crashes After Impersonation Scandal"
"Public Apology: Vincent’s Father Denounces Son on Live Broadcast"
"’We Were All Fooled’: Finance World Reacts to Impersonation Scandal."
Lux raised an eyebrow. "So... daddy finally snapped, huh?"
He flicked through more.
Pictures of Vincent, disheveled, pale, chased by paparazzi, flooded the headlines.
One clip showed Vincent trying to escape a hotel surrounded by caras. Another had a quote from the real estate CEO who had hosted him at a party.
"He said he was Vaelthorn. We had no reason to doubt it... until last night."
Lux smirked.
Then laughed, low and amused, as the water rolled over his back.
"That’s the thing about fakes," he muttered. "They can only borrow a throne. But they can’t carry its weight."
His eyes glead.
Because this wasn’t just about reputation.
It was about legacy.
And Vincent?
Was about to learn what happened to people who tried to steal from Greed.
The water shut off with a soft hiss as Lux stepped out of the shower, droplets rolling down his shoulders and spine. A towel wrapped loosely around his waist, steam still clinging to his skin like fog. The holographic interface floated in front of him, still cycling through headlines, social dia posts, livestream reactions.
Lux leaned against the marble sink, arms crossed. Calm. Calculating.
"System," he said quietly. "Public sentint analysis."
[Processing...]
[Public Perception Index: 87% favorable toward Lux Vaelthorn]
[Sympathy Rate: 72%]
[Anger toward Vincent Albrecht: 91%]
[Tag frequency: ’Fake,’ ’Fraud,’ ’Pathetic imitation,’ ’Don’t disrespect Vaelthorn.’]
Lux huffed a small amused breath. "So the court of public opinion has already sentenced him."
[Correct.]
[Recomndation: You may capitalize further on this narrative.]
He tilted his head. "I know."
He dismissed the interface with a wave and walked back into the bedroom. Mira was still asleep, curled into the sheets, peaceful now. The stamina potion and note sat untouched beside her. Good. She’d wake when her body was ready.
Lux stepped into a loose shirt and black slacks, then moved toward the balcony doors.
A flutter of shadow crossed the railing.
Then claws.
Then a familiar weight landed lightly beside him.
A raven with tallic feathers and crimson circuitry eyes tilted its head.
Corvus.
"You should ss him up more than this," Corvus said calmly, voice filtered through the artificial-modulated link. "This is rciful."
Lux didn’t even glance at him. "This isn’t rcy. This is inevitability."
Corvus clicked his beak once. "I heard Vincent ssed around with married won while pretending to be you."
Lux finally turned, eyebrow lifting. "And?"
Corvus’s wings rustled. "You’re not bothered?"
Lux scoffed quietly. "They cheated. They lied. They made their own choices. That’s not my responsibility."
"Cold."
"Accurate," Lux corrected.
Corvus hopped closer along the railing. "There’s more."
Lux’s gaze sharpened slightly. "Go on."
"Rumor says he got soone pregnant. Or at least... that’s her claim."
Lux blinked once.
Then actually winced.
"...You’re kidding."
Corvus shook his head. "Dead serious. She’s already talking to tabloids. Selling the story."
Lux dragged a hand down his face. "He pretended to be for barely a week. There is no way—"
Corvus tilted his head. "Biology doesn’t care about tilines when obsession is involved."
Lux stared at him flatly. "Don’t say that like it’s poetic."
"I’m a raven," Corvus replied. "Everything I say sounds poetic."
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