Chapter 1178: Fortune and Calamity [Part 5]

"Lady Celestine."

"Yes, Your Grace?"

Lux glanced toward the musicians as they transitioned into something slower and elegant, strings weaving through the ballroom while couples began gathering across the polished marble floor.

He offered his hand. "May I have this dance?"

Celestine’s smile changed. A fraction warmer. A fraction more interested. "With pleasure."

She placed her hand in his.

Lux caught movement from the corner of his eye.

Aurelia.

Still standing where Celestine had left her.

Lux looked toward Lullaby and Yue. Then subtly shifted his gaze toward Aurelia.

No words.

None needed.

’Watch her.’

Yue understood immediately. She nodded once.

Lullaby gave the smallest sleepy tilt of her head.

Lux led Celestine onto the dance floor.

The moment his hand settled against her waist, he noticed how effortlessly she adapted to him. No nervousness. No hesitation. She’d been trained for this since childhood.

They moved.

Lux kept his steps measured, guiding rather than forcing, letting her follow his rhythm while making it feel as if she’d chosen it herself.

Seduction wasn’t about rushing.

Amateurs rushed.

They complimented too much, touched too quickly, stared too hungrily.

Lux had Lust in his blood. He knew better. Even without access to his real power, the principles remained. Attention. Distance. Timing. Give enough interest to invite curiosity. Then withdraw half an inch.

Celestine looked up at him. "You dance well."

"I’ve had practice."

"With many women?"

Lux smiled. "Would the answer affect your opinion of me?"

"Perhaps."

"Then I’ll keep you curious."

She laughed.

He turned her smoothly.

Her skirt swept across the marble, gold embroidery catching chandelier light. When she returned to him, Lux caught her slightly closer than before. Not indecent. Not improper. Just enough.

Her breath hitched. "You’re rather bold for someone who arrived uninvited."

"You noticed?"

"My father certainly did."

"He liked the silk."

"He loved the silk."

"Then I’m no longer uninvited. I’m an unexpected investor in his happiness."

Celestine laughed again. Across the ballroom, people watched them.

The mysterious foreign duke had walked into Lord Valessa’s birthday celebration carrying a gift worth more than some guests’ estates and immediately asked the famous Lucky Star to dance.

Rumors were probably reproducing faster than rabbits.

Lux lowered his voice. "Are you happy?"

Celestine blinked. The question had landed differently than the teasing before it. "Tonight?"

"Generally."

Her smile returned immediately. "That’s a strange question."

"Is it?"

"Most men ask what I enjoy. Flowers, jewelry, poetry."

"Those questions tell me what to buy." Lux guided her into another turn. "I asked something that tells me whether buying anything matters."

Celestine studied him.

Lux could practically see her recalculating him. "I suppose I’m happy."

"Suppose?"

"I have everything I could ask for."

"That wasn’t my question."

For half a second, her smile tightened.

Lux didn’t press. Instead, he drew her through another movement, letting the music fill the silence. "Beautiful estate," he said. "Wealthy family. Everyone adores you."

Celestine smiled. "So I’ve been told."

Lux leaned slightly closer. "And yet you said you suppose you’re happy."

Their faces were close now.

Close enough that she could smell him.

Close enough that another inch would turn flirtation into scandal.

Lux didn’t take the inch.

He let it remain there.

An unanswered question.

Celestine’s gaze flickered toward his mouth. Then returned to his eyes. "You’re very curious, Duke Vaelthorn."

"Dangerously."

"I’ve noticed."

"Should I stop?"

"No."

Lux smiled. "Good."

His hand shifted slightly along her waist as they turned. Nothing improper, but intimate enough to make her conscious of it.

Celestine leaned closer herself.

Lux changed direction. "So what does the Lucky Star want?"

Her eyebrow rose. "You’ve heard that title too?"

"The entire town has heard it."

"People like stories."

"They do."

"And you?"

"I like truth."

That answer made her watch him carefully.

Lux continued smoothly. "Do you enjoy being called that?"

Celestine hesitated. "It has benefited my family."

Not an answer.

Lux noticed. "So you’re useful."

Her expression flickered. "I didn’t say that."

"You didn’t have to."

He smiled before the statement could become an accusation.

"You’re proud of your family. And they seem proud of you."

"They are."

Lux turned her beneath his arm. Then, casually... "And your twin?"

Celestine missed half a step. Tiny. Anyone else would’ve overlooked it.

Lux didn’t.

She recovered instantly. "Aurelia?"

Lux smiled. "You have another twin?"

"No." Celestine laughed softly, but something had changed behind her eyes. "You’re curious about her too?"

’Too.’ Interesting choice of word.

Lux shrugged. "I’ve heard things."

"I’m sure you have."

"Most aren’t flattering."

Celestine sighed with practiced sadness. "My sister has had a difficult life."

There was sympathy in her voice. Almost rehearsed.

Lux kept dancing. "I heard you care for her."

"I do."

"They say you’re the only person who truly does."

Celestine’s gaze softened. "Aurelia needs someone."

Lux nearly smiled.

Not ’I need her’.

’Aurelia needs someone.’

Lux moved closer. "And that someone is you?"

"She trusts me."

"Only you?"

A pause.

"Mostly."

Lux let the music carry them several steps before continuing. "You’re very devoted."

"She is my sister."

"Which creates a problem."

Celestine frowned. "What problem?"

Lux stopped turning for one beat, bringing her close as the dance shifted into a slower passage.

His hand remained firmly around her waist.

Her fingers rested against his shoulder.

Their faces hovered dangerously near each other.

Lux lowered his voice. "Suppose I become selfish."

Celestine’s eyes flickered. "Selfish?"

"I’m a duke. It’s practically mandatory."

She smiled.

Lux leaned closer. Almost a kiss. Not quite. "I came here because I heard about the Lucky Star. Suppose my curiosity becomes interest. And suppose that interest becomes something considerably less polite."

Her eyes stayed on his. "Your Grace..."

Lux smiled. "Hypothetically... Suppose one day I decide I want to take you away from here."

That did it.

Something changed.

Her body became subtly rigid beneath his hand.

Lux continued as if he’d noticed nothing. "My kingdom isn’t particularly close. If you became my duchess, you’d live there."

Celestine stared at him.

Lux’s thumb moved once against her waist. "And naturally..."

His gaze drifted across the ballroom. Toward Aurelia. The blue-dressed twin stood beside Yue now.

Lux looked back at Celestine. "...I can’t bring a third person into our marriage, can I?"