When she heard Smelian say he wanted to speak with her alone, Lu Xia couldn’t help but worry that something was wrong with him.

And something that no one else could know, at that. It sounded serious.

Lu Xia nodded. "Wait for me, then. I’ll go change my clothes."

"There’s no rush." A smile touched Smelian’s eyes when he saw her agree. He was handsome to begin with, but his smile made him look impossibly gentle.

It drew the glances of many people nearby.

One had to admit, the males of the Rafaelde Family were quite handsome.

No wonder they were so popular among the many females of the Empire.

Unaware of what was on their minds, Lu Xia greeted Admiral Snop and gave some instructions to the researchers at the No.2 Institute. Only then did she go change and leave with Smelian.

On the way, Lu Xia messaged the old butler, telling him not to prepare dinner for her and Smelian. She also sent a quick note to

Graces, letting him know that she and Smelian would be home late.

Graces’s reply was simple: "Got it. Be safe."

He didn’t ask what she and Smelian were doing out alone, simply reminding her to be safe.

After reading the reply, Lu Xia turned off her terminal and asked the man beside her, "Where are we going for dinner?"

"I’ve already booked a table. You just have to follow me." Smelian kept things slightly mysterious. Lu Xia nodded, happily accepting his proposal.

The restaurant Smelian had booked was incredibly stylish. The atmosphere was first-class, and the decor was wonderful. A waiter led them to a private room where they could gaze out at the scenery below through enormous floor-to-ceiling windows. A soothing, gentle violin solo drifted through the air. The room offered privacy without feeling stuffy, making it the perfect spot for a date.

Lu Xia rarely had the opportunity to dine at a place like this, so she found the experience quite refreshing.

"Is this place hard to get a reservation for?" Although she’d never been here, she could tell from both the ambiance and the staff’s professionalism that it was a high-class establishment. It clearly wasn’t the kind of place just anyone could walk into.

"It is. I made the reservation a month in advance. We only just got the confirmation today."

Smelian’s answer surprised Lu Xia. She hadn’t expected him to have started preparing for today so long ago.

"So, what was it you wanted to talk about?" ’For him to be so meticulous, she wasn’t sure she could handle whatever it was.’

"We can talk after dinner. Don’t worry, it’s nothing too serious." Smelian saw that the young female seemed a bit tense, so he smiled reassuringly and changed the subject. "I hear their steak and seafood are both excellent, so I ordered a bit of both.

I hope you like it."

Since he clearly didn’t want to talk about it yet, Lu Xia let it go. ’He’ll have to tell me eventually,’ she thought, ’so a little while longer won’t hurt.’

’The ambiance here is lovely, so the food can’t be too bad. I might as well relax and enjoy the meal for now.’

As it turned out, Smelian was right. The seafood and steak were both delicious and the ingredients were fresh. Lu Xia ate until she was thoroughly satisfied.

She had also enjoyed a glass of wine with her meal, and now a delicate pink blush graced her fair cheeks, making her seem all the more vibrant.

Smelian’s eyes had held a smile all evening. As he gazed at Lu Xia, his golden pupils were so full of tenderness they seemed to overflow.

Setting down her glass, Lu Xia looked at Smelian. "Now that dinner is over, can you tell me?"

Smelian smiled and nodded, deciding not to drag it out any longer. ’Duke Lu Xia is rather impatient,’ he thought. ’It’s quite cute.’

Just as Lu Xia thought he was finally going to speak, Smelian suddenly stood up, walked over to her side, and, under her puzzled gaze, knelt on one knee before her. "Duke, could you bestow your favor upon me, as you have upon Graces?"

It had been a long time, but the word "favor" had appeared once more.

This time, however, Lu Xia understood its meaning instantly.

The heat in her cheeks seemed to intensify.

’I can’t believe it,’ she thought. ’After everything Smelian prepared for tonight, *this* is what he wanted to talk about?’

"Smelian, isn’t our current relationship good enough?" ’Isn’t it fine to just maintain the status quo,’ Lu Xia thought, ’where we can all get along peacefully?’

Smelian looked at her, his gaze exceptionally firm. "It’s not. Xiaxia... may I call you that?"

Lu Xia nodded. It was just a name; she didn’t mind.

The smile returned to Smelian’s eyes. "I know I don’t hold the same place in your heart as Graces does, but I want the chance to truly stand by your side, to receive your favor. I don’t want to be just a bystander, watching from the sidelines. To be honest, I’m a little jealous of the preference you show Graces. I hope you’ll look my way, too. Please?"

As he spoke, Smelian’s tone grew pleading.

While he spoke, Smelian gently took Lu Xia’s hand and pressed it to his cheek.

His golden eyes gazed up at her, filled with entreaty. ’Only someone with a heart of stone could refuse him right now,’ Lu Xia thought.

"I’ve always thought you all deserve better options. You don’t have to be tied to me. Your current status is a shackle, but I feel like that can be changed. Maybe after you become a Gene Fusion Expert, even if we were to dissolve our arrangement..."

"Xiaxia, are you trying to end our relationship? D-don’t you want me anymore?" Smelian’s face was a mask of disbelief, his complexion instantly paling as if he’d never imagined Lu Xia would cast him aside.

"No, that’s not it. I was just speaking hypothetically. I didn’t say I’d actually do it. I just thought... perhaps you might want your freedom?"

"I don’t!" Smelian’s reply was sharp and immediate. He pressed his cheek fully into her palm. "I want to be by your side, just like Graces. I want your favor. I want it so badly. Please, don’t refuse me. Even if you can’t say yes right now, could you at least think about it? Don’t be so quick to say no, alright? Just leave me a little hope, Xiaxia. I will do whatever it takes to satisfy you."

Faced with such a desperate and pleading Smelian, Lu Xia felt her resolve waver. She proactively cupped his face in her hands, meeting his gaze earnestly.

"Are you really that jealous of how close Graces and I are?"

"It’s more envy than jealousy. I know he was the first to be by your side, so he deserves whatever affection you give him. I shouldn’t compare myself to him, but I can’t control my own heart. I want you to see me, too. Even a little bit of warmth from you

would be better than being left out in the cold. That’s why I prepared all of this tonight—I was hoping I could make you happy, and that maybe... just maybe, you would agree?"

Smelian made no attempt to hide his intentions, as if he meant to lay himself completely bare before Lu Xia today, showing her his truest, most vulnerable self.