Aerine glanced again at Mils, whose face had now gone pale.
"Mils, are you okay?" She suddenly got worried, ignoring Lucian for a moment. At this, Mils shook her head continuously, her eyes twitching and her lips mouthing at her.
Aerine's brow tightened, and she tried to make out the words.
Master.
That was what Mils was saying. Aerine shifted her gaze to Lucian in confusion. Since she knew it was the address only for him.
Lucian was still looking at her and waiting, and he seemed not to be impatient at all. Aerine was slightly bewildered by Mils' behavior, but gradually, she almost got it.
Aerine knew that Lucian was a powerful devil and that Elise and Mils were only a few of his subordinates. Her perspective was different from that of his subordinates.
They probably didn't think someone could talk with him casually or even call his name! Mils' reactions were one proof of that, and she did look uncomfortable with Lucian around.
Aerine cleared her throat, deciding not to ask Mils the obvious and then focusing her attention again on her contractor. Although he looked patient, Aerine still didn't want to take a risk.
"Ah... What are you doing here?" She repeated, conscious not to call his name casually again in front of Mils. However, she didn't know that talking like that with Lucian was enough for Mils to almost faint on the spot.
The fear and devotion that were engraved in their being for Lucian couldn't easily be erased.
Of course, Aerine didn't notice her expression any longer.
Lucian shrugged, and then he opened the car door, but he didn't step out of it yet.
"I'm free." He then simply answered without elaborating.
For Aerine, though, this was enough. She nodded and pondered, her eyes brightening.
"Do you want to come with us?" She invited, her tone filled with expectations. Aerine suddenly had this urge to be with him, and her fear of him was already loosening after that event last time.
With this, Mils almost cried with tears, but she couldn't object or even dared interrupt the conversation between them.
Lucian's brow arched, and his hands were crossed in his chest as he eyed Aerine.
"Can I?"
Aerine nodded without hesitation, completely disregarding Mils' opinion about this. Although she had not seen Mils' expression.
Not answering for a few moments, Lucian seemed to contemplate the invitation. Mils had her eyes shut as though praying that her master wouldn't agree.
It was not that she hated to be with him, but it truly would be uncomfortable for her if her master was around. She needed to always be conscious of her actions, and she couldn't act casually with Aerine too much then.
However, Lucian's answer completely shattered her hope.
"Then it's fine. I can accompany you for the day." Lucian agreed rather arrogantly.
Aerine only thought that his attitude was to be expected. However, in Lucian's mind, he had long wanted to spend time with Aerine, which is why he came here with Mils.
As a responsible contractor, he thought of spending time with his contractee and getting to know her more. This was his first time having one, and he didn't know much about how to maintain this kind of relationship, but it was fine, as he could make his own rules.
Aerine's smile brightened instantly, and she immediately shifted to Mils again, but then she froze after seeing her.
She only realized what she had done, but she could only say sorry in her heart and decided to pretend she didn't know Mils' real feelings at that moment.
"Ah... let's go?" She asked, her tone a bit low since she was guilty.
Mils narrowed her eyes, but as her master was watching them, she forced out a smile that appeared stiff.
"Let's go..."
Mils returned to the driver seat while Aerine sat beside Lucian in the backseat. The atmosphere was a bit strange, but it was only for Mils.
Aerine wasn't that casual yet for Lucian, but talking with him was already not for her.
Before driving, Mils slightly glimpsed in the rearview mirror for a bit to look at the two in the backseat; her eyes glowed slightly before she began driving.
For some reason, Mils was truly looking forward to the future. It seemed a change was indeed about to happen.
Aerine looked at Mils, sensing her mood, but seeing she was only driving, she let out a sigh of relief.
Sorry, Mils. Apologizing inwardly again, she glanced at Lucian next to her.
The man was only silently watching outside. Honestly, when he was not talking like this, Lucian really did have an imposing air around him, which shielded him from others who wanted to approach him.
Aerine knew that this was his natural aura, and Lucian didn't deliberately emit a powerful aura; it was only casually seeping out of him.
While watching Lucian, she didn't know that a few minutes had already passed. When he turned to face her and their gazes met, did Aerine wake up from her daze.
"Do you have something to say to me?" He calmly asked.
Aerine was slightly lost in his deep gaze and subconsciously nodded without thinking.
"What is it?"
Blinking, she recovered from that enchantment and averted her eyes a bit from the side. Aerine's cheeks warmed for some reason. She didn't know; perhaps she did acknowledge that Lucian's appearance was something else.
"Uhh..." Clearing her throat, Aerine thought of what to ask, her eyes roaming around the small space of the car before eventually meeting Lucian's gaze again.
The silence was stretched for a few seconds. Swallowing the unknown embarrassment, Aerine licked her lips. Lucian's eyes lowered slightly, looking at her pink lips, which were slightly wet, before lifting them again in Aerine's eyes.
His throat moved a bit.
"What is it? "He repeated the same words, but the tone was much deeper, almost as though a whisper that only both of them could hear.
Although Mils definitely heard it, goosebumps began to envelop her upon hearing this kind of tone for the first time. She bit her lips, her widening eyes focused on the road, pretending she didn't exist.
Aerine's cheeks flushed even further from this tone; she thought that it was truly warm inside the car. Gulping down, she answered him softly.
"Do you have somewhere you want to visit?" She almost wanted to hit her head with this question that he came up with on the spot.
Unlike her, Lucian has probably visited a lot of places already.
To her surprise, Lucian hummed, his gaze becoming deeper.
Aerine thought she would eventually become sucked into those eyes any minute now.
"Where? "She asked, low and almost in a daze.
"Your home."
This answer immediately woke Aerine; her eyes looked at Lucian in shock.
"Where?" She couldn't quite believe it the first time. Her heart was already pounding so hard in her chest.
"I want to visit that island. Can I? " This time, Lucian specified it.
Aerine's lips parted, gaping in disbelief. She didn't expect this, and she couldn't utter a word for a moment.