Chapter 1041: Life is Business

Chapter 1041 – Life is Business

Naomi’s lips parted slightly.

Adrian glanced at her, but only briefly. Then his eyes returned to Lux. "If you intend to keep her at your side, then we need to discuss what that means for the Delacour family."

Lux stared at him.

For one rare moment, he looked genuinely surprised. Just one still, sharp pause.

Because he had misread the battlefield.

He thought Adrian’s problem was that Lux was dangerous.

That he was a demon.

That Naomi might be hurt, corrupted, dragged into Hell’s politics, or broken by loving someone like him.

But no.

That was only part of it.

Maybe not even the largest part.

Adrian Delacour looked at his daughter and saw love. Yes.

But beneath that love, he also saw family value.

A bargaining position.

A social asset.

An heir of influence.

Naomi’s hand trembled once inside Lux’s.

Lux’s thumb moved over her knuckles. Then his face went calm again. "I see."

Adrian leaned forward again. "You appeared in her life without background, without family structure we can negotiate with, without visible alliances we can measure. Now you claim to be something beyond human society entirely."

His jaw tightened.

"If that is true, then your value is not smaller."

Naomi whispered, "Are you serious?"

Her voice hurt.

Naomi looked at her father as if she was seeing something old finally become clear. Something she had felt before in small ways. In arranged introductions. In careful reminders about family reputation. In the way her choices were always discussed with polite words like future, stability, duty.

"I’m not with him because I know he is a Greed prince," Naomi said quietly.

Adrian’s eyes shifted to her.

Naomi’s fingers tightened at her side, but her voice did not break. "I’m with him because he is who he is."

For a second, even Lux went still.

Adrian’s expression tightened. "That is too naive, Naomi."

Naomi flinched again, but this time she did not look away. "I raised you as Delacour’s heiress," Adrian continued, his voice controlled, almost cold. "I thought you already understood that everything must have value. Everything must have benefits." He leaned back slightly. "All of life is business. Including relationships."

Naomi stared at him.

Celeste lowered her gaze.

That tiny movement said enough.

This was not only Adrian’s belief.

It was the house’s language.

The Delacour way.

Naomi’s voice came thinner. "So you’re planning to take advantage of Lux."

Adrian’s eyes sharpened. "Proving his value," he corrected. "And determining the benefit if we allow you to remain with him."

The words struck harder than before.

Allow.

Lux felt Naomi’s hand tremble near his.

Something inside him went quiet again. Quiet in the way a vault became quiet before locking.

Adrian’s face tightened, but he pressed on.

"You chose a man outside our world, Naomi. Then we must decide what that choice costs. If Mr. Vaelthorn wants to stand beside you, then he should be willing to offer proper compensation. Business ties. Protection arrangements. Investment access. A formal agreement."

His gaze returned to Lux.

"Something that proves this relationship benefits more than only the two of you."

Lux did not answer immediately.

He looked at Naomi first.

At the hurt she was trying to swallow.

At the dignity she forced back onto her face because she was still a Delacour, still trained to bleed privately and smile publicly.

Then Lux’s gaze returned to Adrian.

His smile appeared. "No," Lux said softly. "Now I understand."

Adrian frowned.

Lux leaned back in his chair.

"You were not afraid I would treat Naomi as an asset."

His eyes gleamed faintly.

"You were offended because you thought I received one without paying."

The room went silent.

Adrian’s face tightened.

For a second, he looked like he wanted to deny it immediately. To stand, to raise his voice, to call Lux arrogant, disrespectful, dangerous. Anything.

But Celeste spoke first. Her voice was quiet. "Adrian." That single word carried warning.

Lux’s gaze shifted to her.

Celeste did not look at Naomi. That was what made it worse. She looked at Lux, composed and pale, as if this was not cruelty but procedure.

"We are not selling our daughter, Mr. Vaelthorn," she said softly. "But Adrian is right about one thing. Families like ours survive through structure. Through alliances. Through benefits. Through knowing what each relationship brings or costs."

Naomi’s face went still.

Lux’s gaze slid to her. "No," Lux said softly. "He means profit."

Celeste fell silent.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

Lux leaned back.

The movement was slow, almost lazy, but the air around him became sharper than any blade. The Greed prince did not need his wings now. Did not need horns. Did not need demonic pressure.

This was a language he knew.

This was his native battlefield.

Contracts.

Compensation.

Value.

Ownership disguised as concern.

Adrian watched him warily. "Business relationships require profit."

Naomi turned toward Lux, fear flickering across her face.

Lux looked at Adrian with a faint smile. "You are right about one thing, Mr. Delacour. But you made one mistake." His smile sharpened. "You assumed Naomi is part of the transaction."

Adrian’s jaw hardened. "She is Delacour."

"She is Naomi."

The answer came instantly.

Quiet.

Absolute.

Lux leaned forward. "If you want business with me, ask for business. If you want investment, pitch an investment. If you want protection, negotiate protection. If you want access to my network, offer something worthy in return." His eyes glowed faintly gold. "But do not wrap it around your daughter and call it family duty."

Naomi’s throat tightened.

Adrian looked angry now. Truly angry. "You speak as if you know my family."

"I know assets," Lux said.

The room went silent.

His voice lowered.

"I know how people talk when they are convincing themselves a person is not a person because calling them valuable sounds prettier."

Celeste’s fingers tightened around her cup.

Lux did not look away from Adrian. "And I know how daughters look when they realize love has been mixed with accounting."

Naomi looked down.

That was the worst part.

He was right.

And Adrian knew it.

For a moment, the room held only breathing. Then Adrian said coldly, "So you offer nothing."

Lux smiled. "No."