Chapter 453: No title

The fire crackled, itswarm glow flickeringagainst the cavern walls. The scent ofrich, seasoned meat, fragrant herbs, and perfectly steamed ricefilled the air, blending into something warm and comforting.

Aeliana had workedeffortlessly, moving between the different dishes, adjusting flames, stirring pots, tasting seasonings—as if she had been doing this forever.

Lucavion had watched the entire thing unfold, seated comfortably with his arms crossed, only helping when necessary.

And now—

Now, they satside by side, their platespiled highwith food.

The meal wasimpressive—even Lucavion had to admit.

Aeliana had made a massive portion offluffy, fragrant rice, roastedStormfang Beast legs, crispyFirecrest Bird wings and thighs, and ahearty, herb-infused stewfilled with vegetables and slow-cooked meat.

It was a feast.

Lucavion took a bite of theStormfang leg, chewing thoughtfully before finally speaking.

"Wow…"He glanced at her, black eyes glinting with amusement."You really look like a chef."

Aeliana grinned.

Then—

"Heh."

She lifted a finger andtapped it against her nose, smugly.

"You may not know it, but I am talented at everything."

Lucavion snorted."Oh?"

His smirk deepened.

"Well, not that talented at beinghumble."

Aeliana shot him a glare."You're one to talk."

Lucavion blinked. Then—

"…Ahaha…"

He laughed, his shoulders shaking slightly.

And then, nodding in agreement—

"You're right."

The fire crackled softly, filling the cavern with its low, rhythmic warmth.

They sat together, eating insilence—a silence that, under normal circumstances, Aeliana wouldn't have minded.

Most of her meals had always been like this.

Quiet.

Lonely.

A simple necessity, something to get through rather thansomething to enjoy.

She should be used to it.

She was used to it.

And yet—

Right now, she minded.

The silencebothered her.

Itfelt wrong.

She didn't understand why.

Her fingers clenched around her spoon, her amber eyes flickering toward Lucavion—watching him, studying him, trying to piece him together.

And before she could stop herself—

"You… who the hell are you?"

Lucavion's handpaused mid-motion, his black eyes lifting toward her, dark and unreadable.

For a second, his expression was blank, as if he were trying to figure outwhat she meant.

Then—

His lips curled, just slightly."What?"

Aeliana didn't hesitate.

"Your strength, your aptitude—everything about you is not normal. You defeated that Kraken, a monster that even my father would have struggled against, and you—"

"Not by myself."

Lucavion's voice wasquiet, but firm.

Aeliana frowned."What?"

Lucavion exhaled slowly, setting his plate down.

"If not for you, I would have died there."

Aelianafroze.

"What are you—"

"You may not notice it clearly, but it was thanks to your connection that the Kraken was that strong."

His black eyes locked onto hers, steady, unwavering.

"And it was also thanks to your appearance in the expedition that the Kraken attacked."

Aeliana's breathhitched.

It wanted her?

Thatthing—

Thatbeast—

Had targeted thembecause of her?

Lucavion continued."The Kraken was after you, yes. But more than that—"

His voice lowered.

"It was also after me."

Aeliana's handscurled into fists.

"Then—"

Lucavion nodded."Yes."

"It was because you fought that thing inside your body that the Kraken weakened."

His voice was calm, unshaken, as if he were merely stating a fact.

"If not for that… I would have lost. And you—"

His golden earring glinted as he tilted his head slightly.

Lucavion's black eyes didn't waver.

"You would have become one with the monster."

Aeliana's breathstilled.

"And you would have brought calamity onto your own people inside the dukedom."

Her fingerscurled tighteraround her spoon, her entire body going rigid.

She wanted to refute it.

Wanted to say it wasn't possible—wanted to deny that she could have ever become something like that.

But she couldn't.

Because she knew.

Sheremembered.

The way thepainhad surged through her, like somethingalive, like somethingtrying to consume her from the inside.

The moment where she hadwanted to give in.

To let go.

To juststop fighting.

Lucavionkept speaking, undeterred.

"Therefore… it was not only due to me, but it was also due to you that the Kraken was able to be defeated."

Aelianalooked at him.

Really looked at him.

At the way he sat there, arms resting lazily against his knees, his usual relaxed posture giving the illusion that hewasn'tsomeone who had just faced death.

Her mind flashed back—

To thebattle.

To thepain.

To that moment—when she had wanted to die, over and over again.

But then—

Then, there washim.

Lucavion.

Standing. Bleeding.

Fighting.

Hisbones shattered. His body torn apart. His eye—

And yet—he still stood.

Still fought.

Still smiled.

Still threw himself at death like it was nothing.

Aeliana swallowed.

Her voice came outlow, quiet. Almost unsure.

"…You really?"

Lucavion tilted his head slightly."I really?"

His lips curled slightly, butit wasn't mockery.

Justamusement.

As if he found her disbeliefmore interesting than the fact that he had survived.

And somehow—that only made her more confused.

'What the hell is this guy?'

Aeliananarrowed her eyes.

"You really aren't good at changing the subject."

Lucavion's smirk twitched slightly, as if amused by the accusation.

But Aeliana knew.

Knew thathe was trying to divert the conversation.

She had grown up among nobles.

Even as a child—**before her illness took everything from her—**she had beentrained to see through deception.

Business meetings, aristocratic gatherings, political discussions—she had been a part of them all.

And this man—

Thisridiculous, arrogant, infuriating man—

Was trying to divert.

"I had no such intention,"Lucavion said smoothly, tilting his head."I just wanted to correct something."

Aeliana scoffed."Don't take me for a fool."

Lucavionchuckled.

But she wasn't done.

"Regardless of who the Kraken was beaten thanks to, your prowess was there. I could see it. Someone young like you, with that kind of strength…"

She paused, her amber eyessearching him.

"Even the most talented people in our Empire would have a hard time reaching that level. Yet—"

Her voice dropped slightly.

"I have never heard of someone named Luca in the Empire."

Silence.

It was a single silence.