Aldric's faint smile did not waver as his keen eyes remained fixed on Lucifer. The room was heavy with a tense silence, the flicker of candlelight dancing across the walls, creating shadows that seemed almost alive. Seraphina sat poised, allowing the unspoken standoff between Aldric and Lucifer to unfold.
"Coincidences, you say?" Aldric finally broke the silence, his voice carrying a weight of skepticism mixed with curiosity. "The elven empire and ours share a long history of intertwined fates. Incidents are... not uncommon. But if you're implying a larger connection, then speak plainly. I do not entertain riddles, Sir Gloom."
Lucifer's glowing purple eyes narrowed slightly. "The incidents are no mere accidents, Your Grace. There is a force at work, manipulating events from the shadows—both in the elven empire and within your own borders. Assassinations, disappearances, whispers of forbidden magic… they are all threads of the same web."
Aldric's expression darkened, his calculating mind piecing together the implications. Valerius shifted uncomfortably, his hands clasped tightly behind his back, as if restraining himself from interjecting.
"And you claim to hold knowledge of this force?" Aldric pressed, his voice sharper now.
"I am the force," Lucifer said casually.
Aldric's expression shifted instantly, his faint smile vanishing. The room seemed to grow colder, the flicker of candlelight barely cutting through the oppressive air. Valerius stiffened, his posture tense as his gaze snapped to Lucifer, eyes wide with disbelief. Seraphina suppressed a smirk, watching the tension coil tighter. She had seen Lucifer's confidence unsettle even the most composed individuals, but this was a spectacle she relished.
"You are the force?" Aldric repeated slowly, his tone measured but with a razor-sharp edge of incredulity. "A bold claim for a... servant."
Lucifer tilted his head slightly, a wry grin tugging at his lips. His purple eyes gleamed with a faint glow, like coals in the dark. "A servant? Hardly. Call me a disruptor, if you will. I have no allegiance to your kingdom, nor to the elven empire. My actions are my own, and my power is not bound by the petty politics of this realm."
Aldric leaned forward, his elbows resting on the polished oak table as he clasped his hands together. "If you are what you claim, then why align yourself with her?" He glanced toward Seraphina, his piercing gaze narrowing. "Why would one with such power concern themselves with mortal affairs?"
Lucifer chuckled softly, the sound echoing faintly in the heavy silence. "Because, Your Grace, even gods have their amusements. And mortals—" his gaze swept across the room, lingering on Aldric's son for a moment longer than necessary, "—are often the most entertaining pieces on the board."
The Duke did not flinch, but the tightening of his jaw betrayed his growing unease. "Amusement is a dangerous motivator," he said coldly. "And I do not tolerate threats, direct or implied."
"Neither do I," Lucifer replied, his voice low and calm but carrying an unmistakable weight. "And yet here we are, having this conversation, because I offer something you cannot afford to ignore: the means to untangle the web that endangers your realm. Whether you believe me or not is irrelevant. What matters is that you act—before the trap tightens around your throat."
The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the faint crackle of the enchanted candles. Aldric studied Lucifer with an intensity that seemed to pierce through flesh and bone, weighing his words with the precision of a master tactician.
Finally, Aldric leaned back in his chair, his steely composure returning. "If you truly are this... force, then prove it. But understand this—your power does not intimidate me. In my domain, everyone answers to someone."
Lucifer's grin widened, his sharp canines flashing for a brief moment. "Good," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "Then you'll understand the inevitability of what comes next."
Seraphina finally spoke, her tone light but firm. "Your Grace, shall we take that as a tentative agreement? Sir Gloom here may be unconventional, but he delivers results. Always."
Aldric exhaled deeply, his gaze lingering on Seraphina before returning to Lucifer. "Very well," he said, his tone heavy with reluctance. "But be warned—I do not deal in second chances."
Lucifer's grin remained. Aldric sat in silence, Valerius finally speaking in a hushed tone. "Father... can we trust him?"
Aldric's eyes did not leave Lucifer. "No," he said quietly. "But for now, we'll use him. Just as he intends to use us."
"Why don't you kneel and tell your father he can trust us," Lucifer said, and to Aldric's and even Seraphina's surprise, Valerius knelt down toward Lucifer and kowtowed, then said to Aldric, "We can trust them, Father."
The room was plunged into a stunned silence. The sudden act of Valerius kneeling, head bowed in submission to Lucifer, was as shocking as it was unsettling. The faint crackle of the enchanted candles was the only sound that dared to fill the oppressive quiet.
Aldric's expression froze, his piercing grey eyes narrowing as his jaw tightened. Seraphina, for all her composed demeanor, could not entirely suppress the widening of her eyes. She had expected Lucifer to provoke, to challenge—but this? Even she could not have foreseen such a display.
"Valerius," Aldric's voice was low and sharp, each syllable carrying the weight of authority. "Stand up. Now."
Valerius, however, remained where he was, his voice uncharacteristically fervent as he spoke, still bowed. "Father, I can feel it. His power—it's unlike anything I've ever sensed before. This is no ordinary man, nor a mere adventurer. If we align with him, there's no limit to what we can achieve. I beg you, trust them."
Aldric's gaze snapped to Lucifer, his calm mask now fractured, revealing the faintest glimmer of anger and unease. "What did you do to him?" His voice was a growl, the air in the room seeming to crackle with suppressed energy.
Lucifer's grin widened, his glowing purple eyes locking onto Aldric's with an almost playful intensity. "Do?" he repeated, his tone casual. "I did nothing. Your son merely recognized the truth before you did."
"Truth?" Aldric's voice was razor-sharp, his hand twitching slightly, as though resisting the urge to summon his mana.
Lucifer shrugged nonchalantly, his demeanor unshaken. "Truth is an odd thing, Your Grace. It doesn't require belief to exist. It simply is. And your son... well, he's more perceptive than you give him credit for."
Seraphina, sensing the escalating tension, interjected smoothly, her voice cutting through the heavy air like a blade. "Your Grace, perhaps this display, while... unexpected, is a testament to Sir Gloom's unique abilities. Valerius is not one to bow easily, and yet here he is, convinced of Sir Gloom's worth. Surely, that alone merits consideration?"
Aldric's jaw tightened, his gaze shifting to his son, who still remained kneeling. For a moment, his expression was unreadable, a mixture of anger, doubt, and something far more dangerous: curiosity.
Finally, Aldric exhaled sharply, his composure returning in measured breaths. "Stand, Valerius," he commanded, his tone brooking no argument this time.
Valerius hesitated for a fraction of a second, looking at Lucifer and seeing him nod, so he rose to his feet, his movements slow and deliberate. His head was bowed slightly, though whether in shame or something else was unclear.
Aldric turned his full attention back to Lucifer, his grey eyes blazing with an intensity that seemed to pierce through the very soul. "You've made your impression, Sir Pompous Gloom," he said, his voice cold but controlled. "But understand this—no one manipulates my family. Whatever power you claim to hold, whatever truths you think you represent, remember: in this world, alliances are built on trust and necessity, not on parlor tricks and theatrics."
Lucifer inclined his head slightly, his grin softening but never disappearing. "Wise words, Your Grace. And trust me, I have no need to manipulate your family. I offer what you cannot refuse: a chance to reshape this realm and secure your legacy."
Aldric's lips pressed into a thin line, his calculating mind already dissecting the situation. "Very well," he said after a long pause. "For now, we proceed cautiously. But make no mistake, Sir Gloom—step out of line, and not even your power will protect you from my wrath."
Lucifer chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with an inscrutable light. "Of course, Your Grace. I wouldn't dream of it."
You must be thinking why did Valerius bow to him. Well, the reason is simple, so simple that I will tell you guys tomorrow. So don't forget to add my novel to your library and leave a comment—appreciation or criticism, both are invited with open hands.