Chapter 146 - - 146 - The Cold Reality of Power

Chapter 146: Chapter - 146 - The Cold Reality of Power

After Lucien finished explaining his plan to Zaria and Vex, he prepared to return to his inn. Vex walked him down the dimly lit stone hallway toward the exit while Zaria remained inside her room, preparing for bed. Vex wanted to speak with him in private. She was genuinely worried about Zaria, worried about her well-being, and deeply concerned that Lucien was pushing the young princess too far, too fast.

"You’re pushing her hard," Vex said quietly, keeping her voice low so Zaria wouldn’t overhear.

Lucien stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her, his expression entirely calm. "She can take it. Don’t worry."

"That’s not what I meant." Vex’s eyes turned sharp in the dim lantern light. "You’re making her complicit. In poisoning, in treason, in whatever comes next. She’s not like you. She hasn’t done this before. She’s too pure. What if she loses herself? I’m seeing that she’s admiring you as if she wants to become like you, like how you handle things."

"She’s going to be Queen," Lucien said with a warm, reassuring smile. "If she can’t handle the ugly parts, she won’t last a year. Remember, Vex, the throne will always be bloody. Now, whose blood it will be, that’s the real question. I know you want to share the burden, but this is something she needs to deal with herself. You are already doing too much for her."

"And you?" Vex asked, staring directly into his eyes. "What happens when she realizes how much of herself she’s giving up to keep up with you?"

Lucien paused at the door, his hand resting on the wooden frame. "Then she’ll either break or she’ll grow. Either way, I’ll know what I’m working with. But knowing how much endurance she has, I don’t think she will get broken. Because you are here, she will be fine, and I’m here as well to support her."

Vex stared at him for a long, heavy moment before shaking her head. "You’re really cold."

"I’m practical," Lucien replied smoothly. "And remember, Vex, we are not kids playing king and queen. We are literally trying to make her the Queen of this country."

"I know," Vex sighed, her tone softening. "Maybe it’s just too new for me and for her as well. But I know what you’re doing is for us."

There was something lingering in her voice—not judgment, but quiet curiosity, or perhaps the early beginnings of something deeper.

Without another word, Lucien stepped out into the cool night air.

Back in his private room at the Golden Leaf Pavilion, he prepared for the next phase of his grand design. Beside him on the wide bed, Maisy lay fast asleep, her soft, breathing form completely uncovered. Lucien sat up in the quiet dark, calling up his internal System interface. He needed to find a solution for whatever toxin was plaguing the king. Since he couldn’t simply rely on luck, he searched the System store for an antidote capable of curing almost any substance, ensuring he was prepared for any hidden trap.

System, is there any antidote that can cure all kinds of poison? Lucien asked in his mind.

A translucent blue prompt immediately surfaced before his vision:

[Absolute Purification Elixir - 2000 souls]

It’s quite cheaper than I thought, Lucien noted silently.

In an instant, the elixir appeared inside his void storage space. It was a legendary potion refined from rare heavenly herbs and primordial spiritual essence, possessing the miraculous ability to neutralize all forms of poison, regardless of their origin or potency.

A small line of text flickered at the bottom of the window:

[Warning: Only works for human realm masters.]

Oh, so it won’t work on Heavenly Realm Masters or Demonic Realm Masters, Lucien mused, closing the interface. Well, not that it matters right now, but I’ll keep it in mind.

He poured himself a fresh glass of wine, swirled the dark liquid, and smiled into the quiet room.

This is going to be the best week I’ve had, he thought.

The next morning, Lucien opened his eyes as the golden light of dawn filtered into the room, casting warm, lazy rays across the silk sheets. He turned his head and looked toward the open balcony doors, where Maisy was standing in her loose morning robe, resting her elbows against the wooden railing and quietly gazing out over the waking capital. The soft morning breeze ruffled her dark hair, framing her side profile against the soft pastel colors of the rising sun.

Slipping silently out of bed, Lucien moved across the plush carpet without making a single sound. He walked up directly behind her, his shadow enveloping her small frame before he reached out, sliding his hands gently around her waist. He drew her back against his broad chest, his hands dipping lower beneath the thin fabric of her robe to cup her rear with a firm, lingering grip.

Maisy gasped softly at the sudden warmth, leaning her head back against his shoulder. "You have woken up, Lucien?"

"Yeah..." Lucien murmured softly near her neck, his thumbs rubbing light circles against her skin as he gave her a little squeeze.

"It’s just morning. Didn’t you have enough of it yet?" Maisy asked, a small, breathless smile tugging at her lips as her tone turned playful and teasing. She shifted slightly against him, feeling the solid weight of his body pressed close behind her.

"I can never have enough of this," Lucien replied softly. He slid his hand lower, his long fingers trailing tenderly across her hips, slipping beneath the fabric to reach the delicate warmth between her thighs.

A soft, uncontrollable shiver ran straight down Maisy’s spine. Her breath hitched in her throat, her fingers instinctively tightening over his forearms resting against her waist. "I won’t be able to control it if you do something like this..."

"Oh? Then maybe I should stop," Lucien said, a low, teasing chuckle vibrating through his chest. He pulled his hand back just enough to rest his palm flat against her lower stomach, leaning his head forward until his cheek rested gently against the side of her neck.

Maisy closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a soft sigh as she looked back out toward the glowing horizon. "It’s beautiful."

"Yeah, it is," Lucien whispered softly, his breath brushing against her shell-like ear. "But not as beautiful as you."

Maisy let out a small, breathless laugh, her heart fluttering as she turned her head slightly to look up at him. "Oh? And what do you find so beautiful?"

"Everything," Lucien said clearly, without a shred of hesitation.

He gently turned her around in his arms so she was facing him directly. Leaning down, he pressed a warm, slow kiss onto her flushed cheek, his lips lingering against her smooth skin. "Your eyes... your pale cheeks... your hair..." He reached up with one hand, his fingers running slowly through her silky tresses, savoring the soft texture before sliding his hands down her back to press her frame flush against his own once more.

"Your stomach," he murmured, his palm gliding down the smooth curve of her waist and pressing over her belly. "Your rear," he whispered, pressing himself firmly against her from behind so she could feel the undeniable, rising heat of his desire. He slid his hand lower, reaching down between her thighs to press lightly over her clothes right against her center. "This is my favorite," Lucien confessed softly, his touch deliberate and teasing. Maisy instinctively widened her stance just a fraction, her legs yielding to give his hand easier access as her pulse quickened.

Maisy looked back up at him over her shoulder, a sweet, pouty expression forming on her lips. "So you only like my body?"

"I’m not finished yet," Lucien said, his eyes softening as a genuine smile touched his lips. He gently turned her around once more so she was looking straight into his eyes. "And... I didn’t mention the thing that I love the most. The thing that gives me happiness every day when I see it. It gives me a reason to fight. It gives me a reason to live."

Maisy’s heart skipped a beat, a deep, rosy flush spreading rapidly across her cheeks as she stared up at him in nervous, breathless anticipation. "Wh-what is it?"

"Your smile," Lucien said softly.

Before she could process the quiet weight of his words, Lucien leaned down and captured her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. Maisy gasped into his mouth, her arms flying up to wrap around his neck, pulling him as close as humanly possible. The kiss deepened naturally, her fingers tangling into his dark hair as she poured all her devotion into every touch, melting completely into his firm embrace.

When they finally separated for air, both of them breathing softly, Lucien looked down at her radiant, flushed face. "Want to come with me?"

Maisy blinked, her dark eyes wide with curiosity and wonder. "Where?"

"Just come," Lucien smiled softly.

Lifting his right hand, he casually slashed his fingers through the empty air. Space itself groaned and ripped open, revealing a dark, swirling rift in reality. Holding her hand tightly in his own, he stepped through the portal, pulling her gently along with him.

When Maisy opened her eyes on the other side, the sunlight of the city was completely gone. She found herself standing inside a grand, subterranean mountainous cavern that stretched far into the distance. Right before them lay a broad, crystalline underground lake that glowed with a breathtaking, vibrant cyan light. The surrounding ancient rock formations, jagged stalactites, and crystal clusters embedded in the cavern walls hummed with the same soft azure luminescence, painting the vast cavern in a dreamlike, magical glow.

"It... it’s so beautiful, Lucien!" Maisy gasped, her hands coming up to her chest as she stared at the shimmering waters in pure, unadulterated awe.

"I know," Lucien said quietly, stepping up beside her and taking in her amazed expression. "This place is in an ancient breach. When I first came here, it was far too dangerous, so I never got a chance to truly appreciate its beauty. I wanted to appreciate it now with my beautiful woman."

Maisy’s cheeks burned bright red at his words, her eyes darting away in shy, overwhelming delight. "I’m not beautiful, Lucien?"

"Well, too bad. I declared it already," Lucien chuckled playfully.

He bent down in a swift motion, scooped up a big handful of the cool, glowing cyan water, and splashed it directly onto her robe.

"Wh-what are you doing, Lucien!" Maisy squealed in delight, her laughter echoing off the ancient cave walls.

She quickly bent down, scooped up her own handful of glowing water, and splashed him back before turning to run across the smooth, shallow shore. Lucien laughed aloud—a rare, genuine sound—as he chased right after her through the glowing spray. As Maisy turned back with a playful grin to throw more water, her boot slipped on a smooth, wet river stone, and she lost her balance. Lucien reached out to catch her, but her momentum pulled him down as well, both of them splashing into the cool, shallow edge of the subterranean lake.

The water was only a few inches deep, but both of them were completely soaked, their wet clothes clinging to their skin as their shared laughter filled the quiet cavern. As the ripples on the glowing cyan surface slowly settled, Maisy realized she was sitting right on top of his lap, her damp dark hair falling forward over his chest, their faces mere inches apart. Her gaze locked onto his lips, her chest heaving softly, and without a single word, she leaned down and kissed him deeply. Lucien wrapped his strong arms securely around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest as they lost themselves completely in each other beneath the tranquil cyan light.

It was midnight now.

Lucien, Zaria, and Vex stood fully prepared in the dark alleyway near the palace grounds, ready to make their move to see the King.

The isolated palace wing where the King was kept under strict house arrest smelled heavily of bitter medicinal herbs, stale incense, and lingering decay.

Lucien moved effortlessly through the deep shadows like a ghost, with Zaria keeping close at his side and Vex tracking a single step behind them. The three of them had slipped into the royal compound through a secluded servant’s entrance, guided entirely by the detailed map and guard schedules Vex had spent the past two days gathering.

The King’s private wing was heavily fortified, guarded by Queen Veyra’s personal hand-picked cultivators—elite warriors all at the peak of the Vein Opening Realm, selected specifically for their absolute loyalty and their absolute silence.