Chapter 1038: I’m Not Going to Seduce My Future Mom in Law

Chapter 1038 – I’m Not Going to Seduce My Future Mom in Law

Lux’s smile did not falter.

Fathers had excellent memory when it came to men seen near their daughters after suspicious mornings.

Then Lux’s gaze slid politely to Naomi’s mother.

[Subject: Celeste Delacour]

[Baseline Mood: Interest 48%]

[Approval: 22%]

[Amusement: 31%]

[Unexpected Positive Reaction: Rising]

[Commentary: Curious. Either your manners are working, or something else is.]

Lux’s eyes narrowed internally.

Something else?

The system flared again.

[Alert: Incubus Pheromone Leakage Detected.]

[Current Output: 10%]

[Cause: Recent full demonic manifestation, post-intimacy residual state, incomplete suppression after restorative sleep.]

[Recommendation: Reduce charm leakage unless your strategy is to make this family dinner significantly worse.]

Lux kept smiling.

Ah. That explained Mrs. Delacour.

She was too composed for something as simple as pheromones to rewrite her, but 10% leakage was enough to soften initial hostility. Enough to make curiosity warmer than it should be. Enough to make a mother think, unwillingly, that the dangerous man in front of her had an undeniably pleasant presence.

Lux’s smile remained pleasant.

Inside, he was pinching the bridge of his soul.

’Suppress pheromones’.

[Attempting.]

[Suppression successful.]

[Current Output: 7%.]

Lux thought, ’Make it zero. I’m not going to seduce my future mom in law.’

[My lord, you are an incubus, not a porcelain vase.]

’Zero’.

[Attempting harder.]

[Current Output: 5%. This is the best available without making you look spiritually constipated.]

Lux ignored that.

Naomi glanced at him, sensing something shift.

He squeezed her hand once.

Mr. Delacour’s eyes caught the movement.

His disapproval bar twitched upward.

[Disapproval: 84%]

[Commentary: Hand-holding detected. Hostile father module activated.]

Lux almost sighed.

Naomi’s mother stepped forward first. "Mr. Vaelthorn."

Her voice was smooth, refined, and much warmer than her face.

"Mrs. Delacour," Lux said.

"Celeste," she corrected, still watching him.

Mr. Delacour’s jaw tightened.

[Subject: Adrian Delacour]

[Disapproval: 87%]

[Commentary: He did not enjoy that.]

Lux bowed his head slightly. "Celeste, then. Thank you."

Naomi’s father finally spoke. "Mr. Vaelthorn."

"Adrian," Naomi said softly, warning tucked beneath politeness.

Her father’s eyes shifted to her.

For one second, his expression changed.

Softened. Only for her. Then returned to stone when he looked at Lux.

"Naomi said you may be able to assist us."

"I hope so," Lux said.

"Hope?"

"I prefer not to promise results before inspecting the situation."

A faint pause.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

[Trust: -10%]

[Commentary: Professional caution has improved the weather slightly. Still stormy.]

Celeste’s gaze sharpened with interest. "A cautious man?"

Lux smiled faintly. "An experienced one."

Naomi’s grip tightened around his fingers.

She knew that tone. It was the voice Lux used when stepping into work. Not Hell CFO fully, but close enough. The man who did not bluff when the situation mattered because real control did not need loud confidence.

Celeste’s emotional bar shifted.

[Approval: 29%]

[Interest: 56%]

[Commentary: She likes competence. Try not to accidentally seduce her.]

Lux mentally told the system to shut up.

The system wisely did not respond.

Adrian turned toward the entrance. "Come inside."

No welcome.

Just an instruction.

Yes.

This was going beautifully.

Lux followed with Naomi beside him.

The Delacour estate interior was exactly what he expected and somehow worse.

Old wealth.

Not the loud kind.

No unnecessary gold vomiting across walls. No vulgar fountains. No family crest every three feet like insecure nobles reminding guests that they had ancestors. The place was tasteful. High ceilings, polished marble, dark wood, large windows, oil paintings, fresh flowers placed by someone who understood both money and restraint.

Every step inside felt less like meeting girlfriend’s parents and more like entering a hostile audit.

And Lux knew hostile audits.

The air carried quiet pressure. Servants moved at the edge of halls without looking directly at him.

Lux’s system whispered across his vision.

[Estate Scan: Passive]

[Visible Threats: None]

[Hidden Wards: Multiple]

[Curse Residue: Detected (Distant)]

[Direction: Rear estate grounds]

[The battle tower is real. Because apparently breakfast meetings are too simple.]

Lux kept his eyes forward.

Celeste glanced at him. "You are looking at the walls."

Lux smiled. "They are beautiful."

"You noticed the wards."

Naomi looked at her mother.

Adrian stopped walking.

Lux paused.

Ah. So they were not pretending quite as much as he assumed.

Good. Or bad. Usually both.

Lux turned slightly toward Celeste. "I noticed some old protections."

Celeste’s eyes held his. "Most people do not."

"I am not most people."

Adrian’s face hardened.

[Disapproval: 90%]

[Commentary: That sounded arrogant. Accurate, but arrogant.]

Lux added smoothly, "Though I understand why you keep them subtle."

Celeste’s mouth curved faintly. "Do you?"

"Old families prefer outsiders to underestimate what is being guarded."

Her smile became more real.

Adrian did not smile at all.

Naomi looked between her parents, then at Lux, realizing this was already becoming a negotiation even before they reached the sitting room.

And Lux was calm now.

Completely calm.

The car tension had vanished beneath the polished surface of his professional self. His hand remained around hers, but his presence had changed. Sharper. Cooler. Not distant from her, but alert to everything else.

Naomi felt both comforted and sad.

Because she knew this version of Lux protected himself by becoming impressive.

And her parents, unfortunately, had just invited that mask to sit down.

They entered a formal receiving room.

Tea had been prepared.

Lux’s soul mourned coffee again, briefly.

The room overlooked the rear gardens, but heavy curtains blocked the direct view beyond them. That was not accidental.

Lux’s gaze moved to the curtains only once.

Adrian noticed.

Celeste noticed too.

Naomi’s fingers tightened.

Lux sat only after Celeste gestured.

Naomi sat beside him.

Adrian chose the chair directly opposite Lux, because fathers apparently enjoyed creating courtroom geometry.

Celeste sat slightly angled, where she could watch everyone.

A servant poured tea.

Lux accepted it with a polite nod.

He did not drink.

Adrian noticed.

[Disapproval: 91%]

[Commentary: He thinks you distrust the tea.]

Lux calmly lifted the cup and took one sip.

Lux set the cup down.

Adrian’s disapproval dropped by one percent.

A victory.

Tiny.

Pathetic.

But measurable.

Adrian spoke first. "My daughter says you have experience with curses."

Lux looked at him. "Yes."

"What kind?"

"Many kinds."

"That is not an answer."

"No," Lux agreed. "It is the safest answer before I know how much Naomi told you about me."

Naomi’s heart kicked.

Celeste’s eyes sharpened.

Adrian leaned back. "And what should she have told us?"

Lux smiled. "That depends on whether this conversation is about your daughter’s private life, your estate’s curse, or your opinion of me."