Chapter 784 – Envy House

The Envy House villa was enormous.

Lux knew that before he even stepped through the front gate.

But seeing it in person still made him exhale slowly through his nose.

"Of course it’s this big."

The entire place looked like someone had taken a palace, added three more wings to it, then wrapped the whole structure in unnecessary elegance just to make a point.

Envy architecture was always like that.

Not loud like Wrath.

Not indulgent like Lust.

Not intimidating like Pride.

Just... beautiful enough to make everyone else uncomfortable.

Tall pillars lined the main courtyard, polished so perfectly they reflected the pale infernal sunlight like mirrors. The walls were layered with dark jade stone and intricate silver carvings of ancient demon houses, every line so precise it almost looked like the building itself was judging anyone who walked past it.

Lux rubbed his temple as he stepped inside.

His head still felt weird.

Not painful.

Just... buzzing.

The primordial blessing humming inside his core like someone had installed a second furnace in his chest.

Warm.

Pleasant.

And mildly distracting.

He flexed his fingers again without thinking.

’Okay. Still weird.’

A pair of Envy House servants approached immediately.

Tall demons, elegant posture, green-accented uniforms. Their movements were smooth enough to make it clear they had been trained to look like they belonged in a painting.

They bowed.

"Lord Vaelthorn."

Lux nodded politely.

The polished CFO mask had already slipped back into place.

Calm posture.

Measured expression.

Perfect infernal business composure.

"Welcome to the Karess Villa."

One of them gestured toward the inner halls.

"Lady Karess of Envy has been expecting you."

Of course she had.

Lux resisted the urge to sigh.

"She is currently in the garden."

Lux nodded again.

"Thank you."

They escorted him through the villa.

And the deeper he went inside, the more Lux realized something.

This place wasn’t just big.

It was strategically big.

Envy demons loved visual competition.

Every hallway opened into another elegant courtyard.

Every courtyard framed a different sculpture or fountain.

Every fountain somehow reflected the surrounding architecture perfectly.

Lux glanced at one of the marble statues as they passed.

It was beautiful.

Annoyingly beautiful.

Lux exhaled slowly.

’They built the entire villa to make visitors feel slightly inadequate.’

Classic Envy move.

The servants led him through a final archway.

And the garden opened before him.

Lux stopped for half a second.

Okay.

He would admit it.

This part was impressive.

The garden stretched across a massive open terrace overlooking a glowing emerald lake far below the cliffs. Floating lanterns drifted above carefully arranged hedges and flowering vines. Long tables had been arranged beneath delicate silk canopies, each decorated with crystal glasses and silver trays of infernal fruit and wine.

Soft music drifted through the air from a quartet of demons playing string instruments near a marble fountain.

And in the center of it all...

A small gathering.

Lux narrowed his eyes slightly.

Ah.

So that was the afternoon tea.

Except...

Something about the composition of the group made him pause.

Because the "small gathering" looked less like a tea party...

And more like a noble demon fashion show.

Tall demons.

Handsome demons.

Well-dressed demons.

Lux scanned the group automatically.

Seven of them.

All male.

All nobles.

All very clearly trying to look casually impressive while standing around holding wine glasses like they had been born with them.

Lux blinked once.

Then again.

’...Wait.’

His brain ran a quick visual count.

Seven nobles.

One host.

Lux slowly realized something.

Lady Karess was the only woman present.

Which meant...

Lux rubbed his temple again.

This isn’t tea.

This is a competition.

One of the servants stepped slightly forward.

"Lord Vaelthorn has arrived."

Every head turned.

Smoothly.

Simultaneously.

Lux felt the attention hit him like a spotlight.

Seven pairs of aristocratic eyes.

Evaluating.

Comparing.

Measuring.

Lux stood there calmly, one hand sliding casually into his coat pocket.

Inside, his brain was already running commentary.

’Ah. Yes. I have walked into a noble peacock convention.’

At the center of the gathering, Lady Vira Karess looked up.

She was seated elegantly at the head of the garden table, emerald silk draped across the chair like liquid light. Her hair flowed down her shoulders in deep dark waves, eyes sharp and bright like polished gemstones.

She smiled when she saw him.

A slow smile.

The kind that meant she had been waiting for this exact moment.

"Lord Vaelthorn."

Her voice carried easily across the garden.

Lux stepped forward.

The nobles parted slightly, making space without quite realizing they were doing it. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Lady Karess."

He gave a polite bow.

Just enough respect.

Not submissive.

Not arrogant.

Perfectly balanced.

Vira leaned her chin lightly on her fingers, watching him approach with open amusement.

"You came."

Lux allowed a faint smile.

"You invited me."

She gestured toward the table.

"And you accepted."

Lux glanced briefly at the surrounding nobles.

Then back at her.

"I was curious."

One of the nobles coughed quietly behind him.

Another adjusted his collar.

Lux could practically feel the subtle tension building in the group.

Seven demons.

One host.

And now...

A new arrival.

The most politically inconvenient bachelor in Hell.

Lux exhaled slowly.

’This afternoon is going to be very annoying.’

But he smiled politely anyway.

Because if there was one thing Lux Vaelthorn was very good at...

It was surviving rooms full of powerful people pretending they weren’t competing.

And right now...

This garden was absolutely a battlefield.

Just one with wine glasses instead of swords.

Lux could feel it in the air the same way he could feel a market about to crash.

That tight, polite tension.

Seven nobles standing just a little too straight. Every smile just a little too rehearsed. Every movement subtly calculated to look effortless while actually being very deliberate.

Posture wars.

Charm wars.

Subtle wealth flexes.

Lux had seen this before.

Too many times.

Except usually the "reward" at the center of the battlefield was political influence, trade access, or a strategic alliance.

Here?

Lux glanced at Lady Vira Karess.

Yeah.

The reward was clearly her.

Lux suppressed a sigh.

’Fantastic.’