Shattered Innocence: Transmigrated Into a Novel as an Extra-Chapter 538: Misunderstanding, but cute

The soft chime of coins against the wooden table marked the end of their meal. Aeliana leaned back slightly, her fingers still idly tracing over the edge of the hairpin in her hair, the weight of it oddly grounding.

Lucavion stretched, exhaling lightly before rising to his feet. "Shall we?"

Aeliana didn't hesitate.

The moment they stepped outside, her hand found its place—gripping his right arm, looping comfortably around it, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Lucavion froze.

Ah.

Aeliana smirked. 'So it's like that, huh?'

He had gone stiff for a split second, his entire body tensing ever so slightly before he forced himself back into nonchalance. His usual lazy smirk flickered on his lips, but there was something else in his expression—something just barely restrained.

Heh.

This man.

This man who never lost his composure, who always teased and provoked with that infuriating arrogance—

Was weak to this.

Aeliana leaned in ever so slightly, pressing just a bit closer against his arm, her fingers tightening around his sleeve. "Something wrong?" she asked smoothly, tilting her head up to look at him.

Lucavion scoffed, turning his gaze forward. "You're acting suspicious."

"Oh?" Aeliana hummed, an amused glint in her golden eyes. "I'm just walking with you. Surely, that's not an issue?"

Lucavion glanced at her, his expression unreadable—but his smirk had wavered, if only for a moment.

'He really can't handle it, huh?'

She had suspected as much earlier—when she had held his hand, when he had gone momentarily speechless, when he had hesitated under her gaze. And now, with his entire arm claimed by her, his discomfort was palpable.

Not that he would ever admit it.

"How bold," Lucavion mused, voice low, casual—too casual. "Have I finally won you over?"

Aeliana exhaled lightly, amused. "You sound like a fool."

Lucavion chuckled, but the slight tightness in his grip—his barely-there hesitation—did not escape her notice.

'He really is terrible at handling this kind of thing.'

He could talk all he wanted, could tease her, could play at confidence—but when it was her making the advance? When she was the one leaning in?

He faltered.

And Aeliana found that absolutely, ridiculously endearing.

'Heh… What a funny man.'

The streetlights flickered as they walked, the night air crisp against their skin. People bustled around them, laughter and conversation drifting through the cool evening breeze. Aeliana didn't miss the occasional glance thrown their way—women eyeing Lucavion with faint intrigue, or men casting subtle looks at her.

But none of that mattered.

She had his arm.

And she wasn't letting go.

T he night stretched over Stormhaven like a velvet curtain, the last hues of twilight long faded beyond the distant ocean horizon. Even as darkness settled, the city remained alive—if anything, it thrived more under the moon's quiet glow.

The streets buzzed with soft, lingering warmth from the day, the ocean breeze carrying the scent of salt and distant embers from street vendors still at work. Families wandered past, children darting between their parents with bright laughter. Lanterns swayed above, casting shifting light over the cobbled roads, illuminating lovers walking hand in hand, whispering secrets only the night would hear.

Aeliana observed it all in quiet amusement, the idle hum of the world filling the space between them as she remained close—her hand still looped around Lucavion's arm, still claiming her hold without a shred of hesitation.

Lucavion, for his part, had long since abandoned any attempt to shake her off. He merely let her be, walking with his usual easy, measured steps, his free hand tucked lazily into his pocket. But Aeliana could still feel the tension beneath his nonchalance—the slight, unspoken awareness of their closeness.

It made her smirk.

"Now what?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Lucavion glanced at her, raising a brow. "What do you mean?"

Aeliana hummed. "What are your plans, I mean."

Lucavion exhaled lightly, looking ahead. "My plans…" He trailed off, then shrugged. "I don't have any. I'll just check upon Aether."

Aether.

Aeliana's fingers twitched.

Her golden eyes flickered toward him, narrowing just slightly.

Aether?

That was a name.

A name that sounded distinctly like it belonged to a woman.

And not just any woman.

She knew Lucavion—he was careful with his words, deliberate in how he carried himself. If he mentioned someone so casually, with such an easy familiarity, that meant…

'Is that her?'

The woman?

The one his master left behind?

His master's daughter?

Her grip didn't tighten, but she could feel the shift in her own thoughts, the way something subtle—something irritating—began curling at the edges of her mind.

She didn't ask outright.

Of course she wouldn't.

That would be ridiculous.

But—

"…Aether?"

She said the name smoothly, carefully, as if merely repeating it for clarity. But she knew better. She knew herself.

And she knew the way Lucavion's gaze flickered toward her for a split second, sharp, amused, as if he sensed it.

That brief flicker of jealousy.

Aeliana kept her expression neutral, her golden eyes steady.

Lucavion's lips twitched.

'Tch. This bastard.'

He knew.

She knew he knew.

But he didn't say anything—just let the silence linger for a moment too long before finally exhaling, tilting his head slightly as if debating how much to say.

"Aether's… complicated," he mused, voice light.

Aeliana kept her posture relaxed, but her grip on his arm remained.

"That so?" she murmured.

Lucavion hummed in response, his dark eyes unreadable. "You could say we have an understanding."

Aeliana nearly scowled.

She wasn't a fool.

That kind of phrasing—an understanding—was the exact type of vague nonsense a man said when he wanted to make something sound more mysterious than it actually was.

Which meant one thing.

He was enjoying this.

She inhaled lightly, steadying herself, refusing to react beyond a simple, unimpressed look.

"Mm. And what exactly is that understanding?" she asked smoothly.

Lucavion turned his gaze back toward the road, a faint smirk playing at his lips.

"I suppose," he said, voice effortlessly casual, "you'll just have to meet her and see."

Aeliana's eye twitched.

'Heh. Oh, I see how it is.'

Fine.

Fine.

Two could play at that game.

She simply smirked back, tilting her head slightly, her fingers brushing deliberately over his sleeve, her touch feather-light.

"Alright," she murmured, her voice smooth. "I'd love to meet her."

They walked through the lively streets, the sound of chatter and laughter blending with the distant crash of ocean waves. Aeliana kept her gaze forward, but her mind lingered on that name.

Aether.

The irritation curled inside her, subtle yet persistent, like a splinter buried too deep to ignore. She wasn't the type to let something as small as a name bother her, and yet—

She exhaled through her nose. Damn him.

The way he had phrased it. The way he had smirked. The way he knew exactly what he was doing, dragging this out just to see her reaction.

'Bastard.'

"So," Aeliana said after a beat, her tone deceptively smooth, "where is she?"

Lucavion hummed, tilting his head as if in thought. "She's in Stormhaven."

Aeliana narrowed her eyes. "…And where in Stormhaven?"

Lucavion's smirk widened. "That," he mused, voice lazy, "you'll find out soon enough."

Aeliana resisted the urge to kick him in the shin.

Her fingers twitched against his sleeve, but she forced herself to keep her expression neutral. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of a reaction—not a real one, anyway.

Lucavion, of course, looked entirely at ease. His posture relaxed, his dark eyes holding that ever-present glint of amusement, as if this was all just an entertaining little game to him.

And maybe it was.

But that didn't mean she had to play fair.

She let out a light scoff, shifting her grip on his arm, but her gaze flickered around them as they walked.

The city felt more alive than before.

Perhaps it was the late hour, or perhaps it was the way the lanterns cast a golden glow over everything—but the streets seemed fuller, the air richer, humming with life.

There were families gathered at vendor stalls, lovers strolling arm in arm, groups of friends laughing as they moved from tavern to tavern. Children ran ahead of their parents, weaving through the crowd with playful shrieks. The scent of grilled meats and sweet pastries mingled in the air, carried by the salty ocean breeze.

And yet—

Aeliana felt them.

The gazes.

It wasn't overwhelming, but it was there—a weight pressing against her awareness, faint but unmistakable.

She was used to it, in some ways. People looked at her, whether she wanted them to or not. A noble upbringing had ensured that much.

But this was different.

More eyes than usual.

She flicked a glance at the crowd, sharp and assessing. Some men, passing by, letting their gazes linger on her for a second too long. Some women, whispering to one another, casting sidelong glances her way.

She exhaled, her grip tightening slightly around Lucavion's arm.

'Annoying.'

And yet—

There was something else.

Aeliana caught another group of women nearby—three of them, standing near a café terrace, their expressions unreadable. They weren't looking at her.

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They were looking at—

Aeliana blinked.

Lucavion.

A small, irritated flicker stirred in her chest.