Chapter 848 – Fake Rumors [Part 4]

For a brief moment, the haze lingered, like a man waking from deep intoxication, unsure where the dream ended and reality began. Then it sharpened. Not completely, not cleanly, but enough.

Recognition flickered.

"...Your Majesty?" Lux muttered, voice still rough, still dipped in that careless drawl. His lips curved into something halfway between a grin and a smirk. "What are you doing here?"

Kaelmor didn’t move.

Still seated. Still composed. One leg crossed over the other as if the chaos around them was nothing more than background noise to a far more interesting conversation.

His eyes rested on Lux.

Measured.

Amused.

"Wandering," Kaelmor replied lightly. "I was bored."

A small pause.

"So I decided to look around the mortal realm."

Lux blinked once... then laughed.

Not loudly.

Not wildly. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

But with a loose, easy rhythm that fit far too well with the persona he was wearing.

"Well," Lux said, spreading his arms lazily, gesturing to the entire club like a host presenting his kingdom, "then you came to the right place."

Before Kaelmor could respond, Lux leaned in.

Close.

Too close for comfort.

And casually grabbed him by the shoulder.

Not aggressive.

Not respectful either.

Just... familiar.

"Look at them," Lux said, pulling Kaelmor’s attention forward.

Kaelmor allowed it.

For now.

His gaze shifted.

The stage.

The dancers.

Frozen moments, bodies mid swaying, music pulsing, tension building.

One woman’s fingers hooked under the strap of her bra, pulling it away from her shoulder.

Another, lower, teasing the edge of her waistband, inch by inch.

The crowd leaned in.

Hungry.

Waiting.

Lux exhaled, almost satisfied just watching.

"Beautiful, right?" he murmured.

Kaelmor didn’t answer immediately.

His eyes lingered on the scene for a second longer before drifting back to Lux.

"Predictable," he said calmly.

Lux snorted.

"Yeah? That’s the point."

He leaned back again, arms stretching across the seat like he owned the entire place.

"I already had s*x," Lux added casually. "A lot of s*x."

He tilted his head slightly, grin sharpening.

"Can’t even count how many."

Kaelmor’s gaze didn’t change.

Didn’t flicker.

Didn’t react.

Lux continued anyway.

"But..." he said, lifting a finger as if presenting something profound, "I’ve got a goal now."

A pause.

His grin widened.

"I wanna f*ck a hundred women in one night."

Lux chuckled under his breath.

"Oh yeah," he added, almost dreamily. "That’d be nice."

He glanced sideways at Kaelmor.

"Good cardio too."

Then, without missing a beat.

"Wanna join?"

Kaelmor turned his head slowly.

Looked at him.

Really looked this time.

There was no judgment in his expression.

No disgust.

No approval either.

Just... curiosity sharpened into something quieter.

"No," Kaelmor said simply.

A beat.

"I’m not a Lust demon."

Lux raised an eyebrow.

Kaelmor continued, tone smooth, almost conversational.

"I enjoy power," he said. "Control. Influence."

His lips curved faintly.

"S*x is... inefficient."

Lux laughed again.

Soft.

Amused.

"Damn," he muttered. "That’s a sad way to live."

Kaelmor’s smile widened just a fraction.

"Is it?"

Their eyes met.

For a moment, the club seemed distant.

Muted.

Like something far below the surface.

Lux broke it first.

"Relax," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "This isn’t Hell."

He leaned back again, posture loose, completely at ease in the chaos.

"I’m on vacation."

The word lingered.

Kaelmor noticed.

Stored it.

Measured it.

Lux exhaled slowly.

And for just a second, the act slipped.

Not completely.

But enough.

"I’m tired," Lux added, quieter now.

Not slurred.

Not exaggerated.

Real.

"I feel like I don’t want to work for... I don’t know... another hundred years."

He laughed lightly, but it didn’t carry the same weight as before.

"I just wanna live my life."

Silence.

Not just external.

But between them.

Also silence.

Kaelmor watched him.

Carefully.

Because that one line...

Didn’t fit.

Not entirely.

It could be another layer.

Another mask.

Another piece of the performance.

Or.

It could be a truth.

And Kaelmor hated that he couldn’t immediately decide which.

"A century," Kaelmor repeated softly.

Lux shrugged.

"Why not?"

He grabbed a bottle from the table, took a careless sip, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"I’ve done enough," Lux added. "Built enough. Fought enough."

A pause.

"Let someone else handle the mess for a while."

Kaelmor’s fingers tapped once against his knee.

Light.

Thoughtful.

"And yet," Kaelmor said quietly, "the world doesn’t seem to agree with your... vacation."

Lux smirked.

"World’s not my problem tonight."

Kaelmor leaned slightly closer.

Not invasive.

Not aggressive.

Just enough to narrow the distance.

"An ancient dragon is gone," he said. "An enforcer team eliminated."

His eyes held Lux’s.

"Power consumed."

A beat.

"And you are here."

Lux didn’t flinch.

Didn’t hesitate.

Didn’t even look particularly interested.

"Sounds like a ’you’ problem," Lux replied lightly.

Kaelmor smiled.

Slow.

Sharp.

Amused.

"Yes," he said. "That’s what concerns me."

Because Lux wasn’t defensive.

Wasn’t cautious.

Wasn’t even pretending to care.

And that, that either meant he was an exceptional liar...

Or completely uninvolved.

Kaelmor leaned back again, posture relaxing.

His gaze drifted briefly across the club, taking in the excess, the indulgence of it all.

"You really came all the way here just to watch me party?" Lux asked.

Kaelmor’s smile returned.

Polite.

Harmless.

Dangerous.

"I came to confirm something," he said.

Lux raised an eyebrow.

"And?"

Kaelmor stood.

Slowly.

Smoothly.

Like the decision had already been made long before he moved.

"I confirmed that you are... exactly where you appear to be."

A pause.

"But not necessarily what you appear to be."

Lux smirked.

"Sounds complicated."

Kaelmor’s eyes gleamed faintly.

"I enjoy complications."

He stepped away from the table.

Before leaving, he stopped.

Just slightly.

Then spoke again.

"Do enjoy your... vacation," Kaelmor said lightly.

Lux lifted his bottle in a mock toast.

"Oh, I will."

Kaelmor inclined his head.

Then added, almost absent-mindedly.

"...While you still can."

Not a threat.

Not quite.

Just a statement.

He continued walking.

Blending into the crowd.

Vanishing as easily as he had appeared.

Behind him, Lux leaned back into the seat again.

The time continued.

The music surged.

The dancers continued.

The crowd roared.

Everything resumed.

Perfectly.

Seamlessly.

But then... Lux’s eyes flickered.

Just slightly.