The Old Steward bowed beside his ear, whispering beside Luka’s ear to avoid letting Vivienne know the current issue.

"My Lord... Sir Cedric has vanished from the guest wing."

Luka’s fingers trembled, slightly brushing the edges of his tankard of ale.

The sweet, dark red ale bubbled in his eyes for a moment before he lowered it back to the table with a soft tap. His expression remained calm, but the warmth in his eyes faded so quickly that Vaun, standing behind him, straightened her back as if he drew his blade.

Of course, an elf wouldn’t miss the whispered words; Vivienne herself also seemed to have noticed the subtle change.

Her pretty smile remained untouched, yet the darkness of her purple eyes shifted from Luka to Levi for a moment.

"Oh my, has something happened, dear husband?"

Luka didn’t answer at first, his eyes just shifting in her direction as he thought to himself.

"When did this happen, Levi?"

"This morning, my Lord. He managed to slip away from the attendants we attached to him after asking for water, only to find the chamber empty."

"Hmm..." Luka brushed his chin before glancing at the distant stable, visible from the window. "What about his horse? Has he not just returned to the capital?"

"Still in the stable, My Lord."

As a knight with the backing of the Queen, Luka couldn’t act impulsively, so part of him hoped that Cedric had left to report on the disrespect he’d shown towards the annoying little knight.

"Then what about his weapons, armour and other items?"

"Taken with him."

The colour of Luka’s eyes cooled further upon realising that Cedric wasn’t aiming to leave Babylon as he’d hoped and instead was likely snooping around for a certain reason.

Levi hesitated.

That hesitation gave a slight glimpse at the old man’s thoughts.

"One of the younger maids saw him near the passage between the guest wing and the inner sleeping quarters."

The dining hall became quiet.

Even the faint movement of the servants seemed to slow. Vaun lowered her eyes, but Luka could feel her eyes focused on his back as if waiting for his order. Vivienne sat opposite him without moving, her fingers lightly touching the side of her cup.

He didn’t plan to let her know, but from the way she rubbed the lip of her mug, it was clear she’d heard or pieced together the gist of the situation.

"My, what a bold knight Sir Cedric is."

"It would appear so, if he’s searching for something. I hope it’s not what I think it is, or the Queen might just lose one of her knights."

"Oh my, you seem to understand where he’s gone."

"Of course, he’s likely lingering around my knight like a dirty insect."

Vivienne lifted her cup and took a small sip, her voice still soft and refined. "Well, those dirty eyes he used to look upon Lady Galatea yesterday were no more the manners of a starving dog sniffing meat through a butcher’s window."

His mind immediately went to his chamber, thanks to the night they spent together, Galatea remained there unconscious and naked beneath the sheets.

Her sword might be near the bed, but her body was in no state to deal with a fool wandering toward her with vulgar intentions.

A slow, seething heat churned in Luka’s chest as he gripped his fists tightly beneath the table. Cedric had already offended him once. Luka let that pass because Babylon could not afford a public scandal before their foundation had become impervious.

"Levi."

"Yes, my Lord."

"Seal the guest wing quietly with knights, and also block all entrances to the wing leading to mine and Lady Vivienne’s rooms. Do not alarm Cedric if spotted; ensure the servants note which rooms and doors he touches or enters, though. Should he enter my wing, apprehend him without question."

The old steward bowed.

"At once."

"Vaun."

"Master?"

"Find Luvia and have her join you in maid attire, help Levi and the knights with the search, although I do not plan to make the Queen my enemy. If her dog cannot keep his thoughts in line, I shall not bother being polite."

Vaun’s silver eyes lifted to meet his, her pale pink lips trembling as she nodded.

"As you command, Master."

Vaun turned to leave, while Vivienne watched with her lips pursed. She made a soft whistle, slowly sliding her gaze back to Luka. "You’re quite attached to this knight of yours, it’s quite... strange. Is she but a mere knight, or do you see her as a woman?"

Luka looked at Vivienne across the table, examining her carefully.

’Is she jealous?’

The question was spoken softly, almost playfully, but the faint tension in her fingers betrayed her. Her nails scraped the cup’s edge, feigning delicate restraint, and though her smile remained enough to fool any noble gathering, the darkness behind her eyes had not faded, but grown deeper.

"Galatea is my knight."

Vivienne’s smile curved into an eerie arc as she tilted her head.

"That was not my question, dear husband."

His eyes remained cold, immune to her growing aggression. "I shall not lie to you, and admit she is my woman too."

The room became silent upon his words.

Vaun had already left, and Levi moved to follow his orders, leaving only the few servants pretending not to hear and the shriek of Vivienne’s nails dragging against the wooden tankard in her grasp.

Luka took another sip of ale before continuing.

"Though it shouldn’t matter, our relationship is no more than a convenient engagement for the moment, right, Lady Vivienne?"

All sound and movement stopped.

Vivienne’s nails no longer scraped the tankard. Her fingers tightly wrapped around it until they turned pale and stiff. Yet the smile on her lips did not falter, creating a bizarre dissonance as her eyes burned with dark fury.

"A convenient engagement..."

Luka knew it sounded harsh, but he wouldn’t lie even if they’d spoken earlier. His feelings towards this woman weren’t at the level he felt for Galatea.

He would marry her, sleep with her and produce an heir if needed.

But the truth stood that Vivienne Aldebaran still lacked sufficient importance as a woman.

It was her status and the past feelings that made him so respectful.

Luka watched the colour drain from her face, then return as a faint flush beneath her eyes. He had struck something sensitive. Perhaps more sensitive than he intended, but he did not take the words back.

Vivienne’s jealousy was obvious, and if he allowed it to grow without boundaries, then Galatea, Luvia, Vaun and every woman around him would become a target of her twisted affection.

Vivienne lowered her gaze to the ale.

"Is that what my dear Luka thinks?"

"For now."

"For now..." she repeated, tasting the words as if they were poison hidden in honey. "Then may I take that as it could change... that I still have a chance?"

After asking, she laughed.

It was modest, elegant and carried none of her childishness.

Vivienne fluttered her lashes with a sharp flick, then finally looked up.

"I came here with grain, medicine, healers and coin, disobeying my father and staining my reputation, yet you call it convenient."

The sourness oozed from her tone.

A bitter woman’s complaint, yet Luka didn’t rise to her words.

"I do not deny your efforts, sacrifice and the danger you face now, thus I have accepted your demands and have no issue with playing lovers."

Vivienne’s smile cracked, like a porcelain doll.

It was only a faint twitch at the corner of her lips, yet Luka felt the air in the room drop several degrees. The woman’s purple eyes remained fixed on him, trembling with something caught between anger, pain and a possessiveness that refused to be humiliated.

"Playing lovers..."

Her voice was still beautiful.

Despite how twisted and creepy it sounded.

"My, what a cruel choice of words. I wonder, Lord Luka, does Lady Galatea know that you speak of women who bare their hearts as if they were pieces upon a board?"

"Spare me your theatrics, Vivienne. We aren’t angels; this is just how things are done in our world. If you want me to whisper sweet nothings, to hold and cherish you, I will do so. However, do not force your emotions onto me and attempt to create a sense of guilt." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Then perhaps I must learn quickly as well."

Vivienne lowered her gaze to the tankard again, her fingers loosening before the wood could crack under her grip. Her breathing remained even, but the faint colour beneath her eyes betrayed how deeply his words had cut.

"Do not misunderstand me, Vivi."

"Oh? Then kindly explain, my lord. For this foolish lady seems to have heard that her beloved calls her devotion a convenience."

Her lashes lifted.

Luka leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping just enough that the servants near the wall could not pretend to hear clearly.

"If you were only convenient, I would use you, marry you, bed you, and leave your heart to rot as long as Babylon prospered. That would be simple."

Vivienne’s lips parted faintly.

"But I have not done that. I am telling you the truth because I do not plan to soothe you with pretty lies today and betray you with ugly truths in the next moment."

Luka continued.

"You are not Galatea. You are not Luvia. You are not Vaun. I will not pretend my feelings for you are the same when they are not. But I also said for now."

Vivienne’s fingers tightened with each word.

She held her breath as if waiting for his next, almost choking herself.

"For now...?"

"Yes, for now. Just because I do not feel that way in this moment doesn’t mean I will never cherish you or hold you in higher regard than what you offer. I am not a cold, calculating monster, but a man with red hot blood flowing through his veins."

A faint, dangerous sweetness returned to her face.

"Then there is still room for me to crawl deeper into your heart?

"Then there is still room for me to crawl deeper into your heart?"

Vivienne’s smile slowly returned, sweeter and far more dangerous than before.

"Good. That is enough, Luka. If there is room, I shall enter. If there is a wall, I shall climb it. If another woman stands there, I shall smile at her crumbled figure as I trample over hera nd throw myself into your arms."

Her fingers pressed against her chest as her purple eyes shone.

"So please cherish me someday, dear husband."

She tilted her head.

"Before I become too impatient."