Chapter 789 – The Game Feel Incomplete

Lux’s heartbeat remained steady.

Too steady.

And that was starting to bother her.

Because even now, he wasn’t reacting.

Not truly.

He was participating.

But not responding.

And that made the game feel... incomplete.

So she leaned in a little more.

Pushed just a bit further.

Trying to force a crack.

Trying to make him slip.

Trying to win.

And then...

Voices.

Sharp.

Interrupting.

"Disgusting."

The word cut through the garden.

Lux didn’t turn immediately.

Vira did.

Slowly.

Gracefully.

Three of the nobles had approached.

Then four.

Then the rest followed.

The tension from earlier had finally snapped.

One of them stepped forward, jaw tight, glass still in hand. "I never thought Lord Vaelthorn would stoop this low."

Another scoffed. "Seducing Lady Karess for personal gain. What a joke."

Lux blinked once.

’...Ah. So we’re doing this now.’

He didn’t move away from Vira.

Didn’t correct them.

Didn’t defend himself.

He just stood there.

Exactly like someone who had nothing to prove.

Which, ironically, made it worse.

Because silence looked like guilt.

Or confidence.

And neither helped them.

One of the nobles scoffed loudly, stepping closer.

"Don’t play innocent, Vaelthorn. We all saw it."

Another crossed his arms, voice sharp.

"You walked straight past everyone else and went for her. No courtesy, no restraint."

A third added with a cold smile, "Typical Greed. See something valuable, immediately try to claim it."

"Was this your plan from the start?" one of them pressed. "Charm her, secure influence, and walk away richer?"

A quieter voice followed, more bitter than loud. "Or do you think you can just buy her attention like everything else?"

"Pathetic," another muttered. "Using seduction as leverage. How low does Greed fall these days?"

Vira?

She didn’t speak.

Didn’t clarify.

Didn’t correct the narrative.

Instead, she leaned slightly closer to Lux.

Her fingers still resting lightly against his chest.

Her expression soft.

Almost... indulgent.

Like she was allowing it.

She didn’t mind.

She was being pursued.

Which flipped the entire situation instantly.

Now, it looked like Lux had approached her.

Lux had leaned in.

Lux had crossed the line. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

The nobles reacted more.

Outrage.

Jealousy.

Ego.

All boiling at once.

"She invited all of us!"

"And yet he monopolizes her attention?"

"Typical Greed behavior."

"Buy his way into everything."

Lux exhaled quietly through his nose. ’This is getting loud.’

Vira, meanwhile, felt something entirely different.

Enjoyment.

Pure, quiet enjoyment.

Because this... This was the moment she liked most.

When control slipped.

When emotions surfaced.

She let the tension stretch just long enough.

Then...

She sighed softly.

A delicate, almost reluctant sound.

"Please..."

Her voice was gentle now, almost apologetic as she finally turned toward the nobles.

"Don’t misunderstand."

Several of them immediately looked at her, their expressions shifting, protective, attentive, eager to align.

Vira lowered her gaze slightly, playing the part perfectly.

"Lord Vaelthorn didn’t... do anything improper."

A pause.

"He only spoke to me about business."

That line landed.

Light.

Measured.

Carefully chosen.

She even added a faint, embarrassed smile.

"My teasing earlier was just that... a joke."

One of the nobles frowned immediately.

"A joke?"

Another shook his head.

"With respect, Lady Karess... that didn’t look like a joke."

Vira tilted her head slightly, her expression softening further.

"I assure you—"

But they were already talking over her.

"He approached you first."

"And he didn’t leave your side."

"That’s not business, that’s strategy."

A third demon stepped forward, voice sharper.

"He’s Greed."

Like that explained everything.

"He doesn’t do anything without calculation."

Vira’s eyes flickered faintly.

Not offended.

Not surprised.

Just... watching.

Another added, tone almost protective, "And he’s half incubus."

The word lingered.

Heavy.

Loaded.

"Charm, influence, seduction... those are his tools."

"He knows exactly what he’s doing."

"He’s manipulating the situation."

"Manipulating you."

Vira lifted her hand slightly, as if to calm them.

"You’re overthinking—"

But the response was immediate.

"No."

Firm.

Certain.

Because they weren’t just reacting.

They were certain.

What they didn’t know.

The villa itself was soaked in Envy.

The air.

The garden.

The subtle magic woven into every surface.

It amplified comparison.

Doubt.

Possessiveness.

They weren’t just defending her.

They were competing through her.

And in their minds, Lux had crossed the line.

"He isolated you. He redirected your attention. He’s trying to gain leverage through you."

One of them scoffed. "And now he pretends innocence."

Another nodded, gaze locked on Lux. "Classic manipulation. All charm, no honesty. And we’re supposed to believe this is just ’business’?"

They didn’t believe her.

Not for a second.

Vira knew that.

Of course she did.

Because this was exactly how she designed it.

And yet... She still played the part.

A small sigh.

A faint shake of her head.

As if she was disappointed they couldn’t see her "intent" to protect Lux.

But she didn’t push harder.

Didn’t defend Lux too strongly.

Just enough.

Just enough to look fair.

Never enough to change the narrative.

Lux glanced down at her briefly.

Just for a second.

Their eyes met again.

And in that single look...

He understood everything.

She was guiding it.

Not just manipulation.

Not just performance.

But genuine amusement.

’She’s enjoying this,’ he thought.

Of course she was.

Lux almost smiled.

Then...

One of the nobles stepped forward again.

Closer this time.

Voice sharper.

"If this is how it’s going to be..." He set his glass down with a small, deliberate click. "...then let’s stop pretending."

The others quieted slightly.

Listening.

Waiting.

The noble looked directly at Lux.

Eyes hard.

Challenging.

"Since it’s turned into a competition..." A pause. "...let’s make it one."

The air shifted.

Not playful anymore.

Not subtle.

Direct.

Raw.

Lux slowly lifted his gaze.

Still calm.

Still composed.

But now... Interested. Because why not? This could buy more times.

The noble’s lip curled slightly. "I doubt Lord Vaelthorn is that strong."

Another nodded. "After all..." A faint scoff. "Greed is only known for wealth. Only wealth. Tools for others."

They laughed. Mockingly.

Vira didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t stop them.

Didn’t defend Lux.

She simply watched.