Lucian stretched as he woke up, his body sinking back into the warmth of the bed for a moment before he sat up. “Wooow, what a sleep,” he murmured to himself, his voice still groggy. Rubbing the remnants of slumber from his eyes, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, yawning deeply.
Dragging his feet toward the bathroom, he let out a low whistle, his mood unusually light. The mirror greeted him with a disheveled reflection, but he didn’t care. The sleep had been good refreshing even. For the first time in what felt like forever, he didn’t wake up feeling weighed down by the burdens of yesterday.
Maybe the confessions of his mother and Rose, the moments he had longed for in his past life, had finally lifted a part of the invisible weight he carried.
“It feels… different,” Lucian muttered to himself as he splashed cool water on his face. His lips curled into a faint smile, and he let out another low whistle, a tune carrying his good mood. “This feels nice,” he added, drying his face with a towel.
Walking out of the bathroom, his spirits were high. The simple act of choosing his clothes felt like a fresh start. He opted for something simple and comfortable not the new clothes Rose and Olivia had gifted him yesterday, though. Those carried a significance he wasn’t ready to address just yet.
As he descended the stairs, his steps light and measured, he spoke softly to himself. “Hey, Max…”
[Yes, Host?] Max’s familiar voice echoed in his mind.
“I think… I’m leaving that depressed side of me behind,” Lucian whispered, his tone both tentative and hopeful.
[I’ve been telling you to do that from the beginning, Host,] Max replied, the hint of a sigh in his tone.
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Lucian said with a small chuckle, running a hand through his hair. “But… I think I finally get it. Maybe it’s not that bad to start over. To try again.”
His steps slowed as he reached the middle of the staircase, his gaze fixed on the lobby below. “I’ve already died once,” he murmured. “What could be worse than that? Maybe… maybe it’s time to enjoy this life. To be a little selfish. Do the things I couldn’t in my last life.”
[That’s good, Host,] Max said after a moment. [But just… don’t become the kind of person you hate while doing it.]
Lucian froze mid-step, the air around him suddenly feeling heavy. His fingers tightened on the banister as Max’s words settled in his mind.
“I would never,” Lucian said softly, his voice steady but filled with quiet resolve.
He knew exactly what Max meant. No matter how much he wanted to change, to take something for himself in this life, he would never become like those who had hurt him. He wouldn’t ignore the people who cared for him. He wouldn’t let himself betray the love and trust of those who offered it.
Max stayed silent, as if understanding that nothing more needed to be said.
With a deep breath, Lucian continued down the stairs, one step at a time. His thoughts swirled, but his heart felt lighter, clearer.
When he reached the bottom, he noticed them immediately. Olivia and Rose were sitting together on the sofa in the lobby, their eyes occasionally flicking toward the staircase. It was obvious they were waiting for him.
“Ah,” Lucian muttered under his breath, his gaze softening. “They’re… still here. Looks like they’ve set their work aside just to be here.”
The memory of yesterday’s events flashed in his mind Rose’s emotional outburst, Olivia’s heartfelt letter, the gifts they had given him. It stirred something in him, something he couldn’t quite name.
“Yesterday meant a lot,” he admitted quietly to himself. “To all of us.”
But as he stood there, his mind wavered. Should I join them? he wondered, his fingers fidgeting at his sides. Or should I just walk out?
He shifted on his feet, torn between the two choices. The idea of sitting with them felt daunting emotional, even but walking out felt equally wrong.
As he stood there, lost in thought, a gentle hand wrapped around his wrist.
Startled, Lucian turned his head and found himself face-to-face with Rose.
Her expression was calm, though her eyes betrayed a softness he wasn’t used to seeing. “Good morning, Lucy,” she said simply, her voice light but firm. Before he could respond, she tugged at his hand gently, guiding him toward the table.
“Let’s have coffee together,” she added, glancing at him over her shoulder.
Lucian blinked, still processing her words. Before he could think of an excuse or even argue, he found himself being led to the sofa. He sat down beside her, his movements automatic, his thoughts blank.
Rose didn’t let go of his hand as they sat, her fingers loosely holding onto his. It was such a simple gesture, yet it left him momentarily frozen, unsure of what to do.
It wasn’t until Olivia cleared her throat a deliberate, pointed cough that both of them seemed to snap out of it.
Rose pulled her hand away quickly, her cheeks tinged with a faint pink as she avoided looking at Olivia. Lucian, for his part, scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, glancing at anything but the two women in front of him.
“Heh,” he muttered under his breath, a faint, sheepish smile on his lips.
Olivia raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching upward into the smallest of amused smiles. “Well,” she began, her tone light but teasing, “are we all awake now?”
Rose shot her a quick glare, though it lacked any real bite. Lucian let out a quiet chuckle, the tension easing slightly as he relaxed into the sofa.
For the first time in a long while, the air around Lucian didn’t feel heavy. It felt… warm. But still, there was a tinge of awkwardness lingering. Read exclusive content at empire
Olivia’s gaze lingered on him, her usual composed and cheerful expression firmly in place. Yet Lucian, even with his somewhat limited emotional awareness, could tell there was something else beneath her calm demeanor. Her eyes, though filled with affection, held a faint shadow of disappointment.
Ah… Lucian thought, suddenly realizing the reason. She expected me to wear the clothes she gave me yesterday.
Her subtle glances toward his outfit made it clear. He quickly looked away, pretending not to notice, though the guilt tugged lightly at his chest.
Suddenly
Click. Click. Click.
The sharp, rhythmic sound of heels echoed through the room, catching Lucian’s attention. Someone was walking toward them, the sound cutting through the calm atmosphere.
His brow furrowed as he turned slightly, the sound coming from behind him. From… the kitchen? he wondered.
Before he could look, his gaze caught his mother’s expression. Olivia’s face, which had been carefully controlled moments ago, now looked visibly strained. A faint tightness pulled at her jaw, and her previously disappointed gaze turned sharp.
Lucian’s unease grew. He turned to Rose, sitting beside him, and noticed her expression had shifted as well. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her brow furrowing slightly. There was a distinct tension in her demeanor now.
Something was definitely off.
Lucian’s thoughts raced. Who could it be? As far as he knew, there was no one else in the house besides the three of them. The household staff wouldn’t arrive until the afternoon or evening; Olivia had always preferred her mornings undisturbed.
Finally, curiosity and the mounting tension pushed him to turn fully toward the sound.
As he did, his eyes widened slightly. Emerging from the kitchen, a woman walked toward them with an air of elegance, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor.
She moved with practiced grace, a bright, confident smile playing on her lips. Her casual outfit blue jeans paired with a fitted white top only added to her effortless charm.
Lucian froze for a moment, his lips twitching involuntarily.
That face…
His stomach churned, and he immediately recognized her. What the hell is she doing here this early?!
His mind screamed the question, but his body remained still, frozen in a mix of confusion and dread.
The woman’s smile widened slightly as she approached, her eyes gleaming with amusement, as though she found the entire situation entertaining.
Behind him, Olivia’s expression darkened. She folded her arms across her chest, her demeanor shifting from calm and warm to icy and guarded.
Rose’s reaction was no less intense. Her hand, which had been resting lightly on the sofa, curled into a fist, her nails digging slightly into the fabric. A low, almost inaudible hum of irritation seemed to radiate from her as her sharp gaze locked onto the intruder.
Lucian, however, couldn’t bring himself to react outwardly. His lips parted slightly, as if to say something, but no words came out.
The woman, completely unfazed by the tension she had walked into, stopped a few feet away from them. Her smile was as radiant as ever, her posture relaxed and confident.
“Good morning,” she said cheerfully, her tone light and casual, as though this were the most natural thing in the world.
Lucian blinked, his brain scrambling for a response. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, all screaming the same thing:
Why is Celestia here?!
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