Chapter 293: [293] "After the afterparty"

The engine of the black Porsche roared as Luc navigated the winding road with a relaxed grip on the steering wheel.

The headlights swept across the towering trunks of the pines, illuminating the familiar path toward the twin house. The clock on his dashboard read 2:14 AM.

The Cup de France afterparty, hosted in a private, multi-level venue secured by Valérie Laurent, had been one of excessive luxury, and endless champagne.

The entire SC Valois organization had celebrated like a club that had just announced its arrival to the European elite. But eventually, the adrenaline that had fueled them began to hollow out.

The quiet inside the car was necessary relief.

Juliette sat in the passenger seat, her head resting against the cool glass of the window. She had abandoned her heels somewhere in the backseat and pulled her knees up, wrapped comfortably in Luc’s jacket.

In the back, Hugo Blanc and Talia sat shoulder-to-shoulder. The teenager looked remarkably at ease.

"I still cannot imagine the scale of that party," Talia said, breaking the silence. Her voice was quiet, respectful of the late hour. "There were literal ice sculptures of the trophy. And I am certain I saw one of your defenders drinking directly from one of those over expensive bottles."

"That was probably Ekberg," Luc replied, keeping his eyes on the road. "And you are thinking too much about the cost of the bottle. Valérie doesn’t do anything below extravagant sometimes."

"Wild," Hugo added from the back. "The venue had three separate VIP tiers. It split the squad. Celebrations of that magnitude should be done together to maintain cohesion."

Juliette turned her head slightly, peering over the seat at the eighteen year old. "Hugo, you spent the entire night sitting in a corner explaining things to Talia while the rest of your teammates were dancing on tables. If you didn’t enjoy it, that is on you."

"I was later forced to enjoy it. Earlier, I was simply avoiding the drunk zones," Hugo defended smoothly. "Cillian spilled a drink on the dance floor. It became a slip hazard. I had to be careful."

Talia laughed, her bright laugh filled the small cabin. "He really did draw a diagram on a napkin, Juliette."

"I hope you kept the napkin," Luc smirked, tapping the brakes as the final curve of the driveway approached. "It’ll be worth money when he wins the Ballon d’Or in five years."

The Porsche rolled into the wide, paved driveway of the twin house. The motion-sensor security lights flickered on immediately, bathing the dark stone and natural wood exterior in a welcoming glow. The property was quiet.

Luc killed the engine. The sudden absence of the low rumble made the silence of the woods feel even more profound.

They all stepped out into the cool earliest morning air. The humidity of the capital had not reached this far out.

Luc walked around to the trunk, popping it open to retrieve his bag. The silver medal, the tangible proof of the night’s conquest, was tucked safely inside one of the side pockets. Juliette walked up beside him, slipping her hand naturally into his.

"I don’t want to go to sleep yet," Juliette admitted, looking up at the clear, star-filled sky. "My ears are still ringing from the stadium cannons. If I lie down now, I’ll just stare at the ceiling."

"We can sit out back," Luc suggested. "The patio heaters are hooked up."

"Let’s do that," Hugo said, walking around the side of the car with Talia. "The transition from ’that’ kind of environment to rest and relaxation is often detrimental to the sleep cycle. A period of just letting it sink in would actually be nice."

"You could just say you want to hang out with us, Hugo," Talia teased gently, bumping her shoulder against his.

Hugo did not correct her.

They passed the front doors, walking around the side of the property through the manicured grass, heading straight for the shared backyard. The surface of the swimming pool was still, acting like a dark mirror reflecting the patio lights.

Luc pulled the covers off the patio furniture, arranging four chairs around the low, circular fire pit table in the center. He hit the ignition switch, and a controlled ring of blue and orange flames flickered to life, throwing warmth into the cool air.

Juliette disappeared into the right unit for a moment, returning with a tray carrying four glasses and a bottle of sparkling water.

They took their seats. Luc stretched his legs out, feeling the deep relief. The cup final win was finally registering in him.

He took a glass of water from Juliette, drinking it slowly.

For a few minutes, nobody spoke. They just sat around the fire, listening to the crackle of the flames and the faint rustle of the wind moving through the high pines. It was amazing.

The environment was serene.

Talia leaned back in her chair, observing the two players. She looked at Luc, who was staring into the fire, his face relaxed but carrying the weight of leadership. Then she looked at Hugo, sitting, his hands resting on his knees.

"So, what happens now?" Talia asked, breaking the quiet. "You won the cup. Second in the league. The season is over. Do you just... stop playing football?"

"For a few weeks...or less," Luc answered, a faint smile touching his lips. "We get some weeks of mandated rest. No training, no important meetings, no fitness tests. Just recovery."

"And after those weeks?"

"Pre-season conditioning begins," Hugo stated, his tone shifting. "The mentality drops rapidly without continuing. We have to rebuild capacity before things begin in July. The cycle simply restarts."

"That sounds exhausting," Talia noted, wrapping her jacket a little tighter around her shoulders.

"It is," Juliette agreed, taking a sip of her water. "But it’s what they signed up for. And next season, the schedule is going to be even worse. Champions League fixtures mean playing every three days across multiple countries. The load is going to double."