“You don’t like Lucian, Miss Rose?” Celestia asked, her voice sweet, accompanied by an innocent smile that didn’t quite reach her sharp, watchful eyes.
Rose’s brows furrowed, her eyes narrowing as if she sensed an accusation hidden beneath the question. “What do you mean?” she asked, her tone cautious yet firm.
“Oh, I mean no offense,” Celestia replied lightly, though her gaze remained steady. “I’m just curious why his room is so far from everyone else’s. Why is he staying there all alone? It feels like the rest of you deliberately keep your distance.” Her words were soft, but the subtle jab was unmistakable.
Rose stiffened, hesitating for a moment. Her usual icy demeanor faltered as her eyes darted to Lucian. She wanted to speak but found herself tongue-tied. The vulnerability she had shown to Lucian in private now felt impossible to express in front of a stranger especially one as unnervingly poised as Celestia.
“No, I…” Rose began, her voice faltering.
“No what?” Celestia prompted, her smile turning ever so slightly teasing.
Rose’s fists clenched in her lap, and her composure broke. “I like him! No, I love him, damn it!” she blurted out, her voice uncharacteristically loud as her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red.
The room fell silent.
Both Olivia and Lucian stared at Rose in shock, their gazes fixed on her as she immediately turned her face away, attempting to hide her embarrassment. Her rosy cheeks and trembling hands betrayed her usual stoic front.
For a moment, Celestia’s face froze, her expression hardening as though the words had struck a nerve. Her eyes darkened briefly before she recovered, a polite smile once again curving her lips. This woman… I need to be careful, Celestia thought to herself. Sister or not, Lucian is mine. No one else not even her will take him away.
Rose, still flustered, cleared her throat and forced herself to speak. “Mother, I’ll be moving into the room beside Lucian’s. I’ll shift there today,” she said, her voice quieter now but resolute.
Olivia’s gaze turned to Rose, her expression unreadable.
Lucian blinked, his mouth slightly agape. What the hell is happening here? he thought, his mind racing to make sense of the sudden tension.
“No,” Celestia interjected, her tone calm but firm. “As I’ve already mentioned, I’ll be staying in the room beside Lucian’s.” Her sharp gaze shifted to Rose, her polite smile now tinged with a hint of challenge.
Rose turned to face Celestia fully, her eyes sparkling with defiance. “Apologies, Princess, but I think it would be more appropriate for your highness to choose another room. Staying beside Lucian’s might… create unwanted rumors,” she said, her smile almost too sweet.
Celestia chuckled softly, unfazed. “I don’t mind those kinds of rumors,” she replied smoothly, tilting her head slightly as if daring Rose to argue further.
Rose’s finger, which she had raised to emphasize her point, trembled slightly. Her frustration bubbled beneath the surface, though she managed to keep her voice steady.
What do you want, woman? Rose screamed in her head, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud. It would be too embarrassing and far too revealing.
Taking a deep breath, Rose crossed her arms and leaned back slightly, her voice firm. “Fine. Then I’ll move into Lucian’s room. I’ll stay with him directly.”
“What?” Lucian blurted out, his voice finally breaking through the tense silence. His eyes widened in alarm, his heart pounding in his chest. Why does it feel like I’m in the middle of a war zone?
Celestia’s smile didn’t falter, though her eyes sharpened. “I don’t think that’s necessary,” she said smoothly, tilting her head slightly toward Olivia. “Miss Olivia, surely you agree that it would make more sense for me to stay close to Lucian? After all, I am here for official business, and being nearby would be practical.”
Rose didn’t flinch, her gaze locking onto Celestia’s like a silent challenge. Sparks seemed to fly between them, an invisible battle waging in the air.
“Mother, I’ll stay in the room beside Lucian or in his room,” Rose repeated, turning her head just enough to glance at Olivia but never breaking eye contact with Celestia. “Surely you understand. He’s my brother.”
Lucian, still frozen in his seat, could feel the sweat forming on his brow. His instincts screamed at him to run, but he felt trapped. Why do I feel like I’m in danger?
Olivia leaned back slightly, observing the unspoken tension between the two women. Her lips twitched faintly, but she said nothing, letting the moment linger as if waiting to see how it would resolve itself.
The silence was thick, broken only by Lucian’s shallow breathing as he looked between them nervously.
“I don’t think Lucian would mind either way,” Celestia said finally, her tone light but laced with subtle authority. Her gaze shifted to Lucian, her smile softening. “Isn’t that right, Lucian?”
All eyes turned to Lucian, and he felt his heart drop into his stomach.
“Uh…” he stammered, his mind scrambling desperately for a response that wouldn’t add fuel to the fire.
In his head, a voice echoed mockingly. Mother of all chaos, I’m doomed.
Max, help me! What do I do?! Lucian screamed internally, reaching out to the entity he trusted or perhaps just tolerated as his supposed guide.
[Host, I am busy Contact me later.]Max’s nonchalant voice rang in his head.
Max’s nonchalant voice rang in his head. Read latest chapters on empire
Lucian’s jaw twitched. Again?! You mfrr! Always abandoning me when I actually need you! he cried silently, cursing Max’s unreliability.
But Max had gone silent. Lucian clenched his fists briefly, knowing it was useless to keep asking. His gut told him to tread carefully, and if experience had taught him anything, it was to trust his instincts in moments like these. Don’t get involved. Just don’t meddle.
“Lucian, you’re okay with me taking the room beside you, right?” Celestia asked, her voice honeyed and sweet, though her smile carried an edge. She leaned closer, turning her face to him with an expression that seemed almost innocent.
But her lips moved silently, just enough for Lucian to catch the word she was mouthing: DARLING.
Lucian’s face went pale. Only he could see it, and the weight of that unspoken message hit him like a brick. Rose and Olivia, thankfully, couldn’t see her expression from their vantage points, but that didn’t lessen his panic.
“Ah… N-no uh, I mean, yes! Yes, you can, for sure!” Lucian stammered, his initial instinctive refusal quickly pivoting into agreement.
Rose’s teeth clenched audibly, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “Fine. Then I’ll take the other room next to yours,” she said, her tone laced with defiance. “We’ll put your room in the middle. And let me be clear I’m not happy about you agreeing to her request.”
To emphasize her point, Rose grabbed Lucian’s hand, pulling his attention toward her.
Lucian blinked, startled by the sudden gesture, while Celestia’s eyes narrowed into thin slits, her polite smile faltering ever so slightly.
“Or,” Rose added sharply, her voice softening just a fraction, “I can move into your room instead.”
Lucian’s eyes widened, his heart racing. “Ahhh, no, no! The room next to mine is fine! Done!” he said hastily, hoping to end the conversation before it spiraled further.
“Perfect. I’ll take the room on the right,” Celestia said smoothly, though there was a flicker of frustration in her eyes. She glanced at Rose, her composure intact but her irritation evident. This isn’t over, she thought.
“Then I’ll take the room on the left,” Rose countered immediately, still holding onto Lucian’s hand. She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t let go yet, but there was an odd satisfaction in holding onto him especially with that small smile tugging at her lips.
Celestia’s eyes flickered to Rose’s hand, still clasping Lucian’s, and her lips curled slightly in irritation. “Lucian, here,” she said abruptly, her tone light but firm. “I made this coffee just for you.”
She slid the black cup closer to him on the table, her expression softening as she gestured toward it. “It’s special just for you,” she added, her eyes glinting with determination.
Lucian’s gaze dropped to the table, where the black cup sat invitingly. But right beside it, a pristine white cup had also been nudged toward him likely by Olivia or Rose earlier.
Olivia’s sharp eyes darted to him from across the table, silently willing him to choose the white cup she had prepared. Celestia’s playful, yet dangerously sweet smile hovered in his peripheral vision, urging him toward the black cup.
Lucian’s throat felt dry as he realized the silent battle being waged before him. His eyes flicked between the two cups, their presence far more daunting than any morning coffee should be.
Why do I have two cups? he thought, his panic rising. And why does this feel like a test I’m destined to fail?
Everyone’s attention zeroed in on him, the room growing unbearably tense. Olivia’s gaze sharpened as if to say, Pick my cup. Celestia’s innocent smile practically screamed, Choose mine or else.
Lucian’s hand hovered uncertainly near the table, his indecision making the moment drag on unbearably. He could feel the sweat gathering at his temples.
“Ahhh…” he stalled, his voice barely audible.
Max! Lucian screamed internally, desperation clawing at him. For the love of everything, just tell me what to do!
[“Do whatever you want, host, but don’t even think about picking up a cup… it would be disastrous if you do. All I can recommend is that we avoid drinking coffee today,”] Max’s voice rang in Lucian’s head.
Max’s voice was calm, yet it carried a hint of amusement.
Lucian’s eye twitched. That’s your advice?! You’re a traitor, Max. A useless mfrr traitor!
But Max didn’t respond.
Lucian sighed deeply, dropping his hand back into his lap. “You know,” he said with forced nonchalance, “I think I’ll skip coffee today. I’m not really in the mood.”
The tension in the room didn’t abate, but at least the eyes boring into him seemed to soften marginally. Celestia’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second, while Olivia and Rose exchanged brief glances.
Lucian sat back against the couch, trying to ignore the sinking feeling that this small decision was only the beginning of something far larger.
Mother of all chaos, I survived.
—