Right from his private bathroom, Lucian's figure emerged within the spacious and luxurious Supreme Guardian's office like a phantom, utterly silent, manifesting directly in front of the wide desk as though he had always been there.
In that instant, his gaze locked precisely onto Cocolia, who sat there elegantly in her chair, her posture composed and unhurried, as though everything remained firmly under her control.
Seeing him appear, Cocolia did not seem surprised.
In fact, she had already tidied the documents on the desk off to one side in advance, arranging them neatly and methodically, looking as though she had already prepared herself for something.
In her eyes, there was no smug satisfaction from a successful scheme, only a faint trace of tension, subtle yet undeniable, along with a deeper and more restrained sense of anticipation.
"Lucian, you're here."
Cocolia's voice remained graceful and pleasant, carrying a subtle, perfectly measured softness that seemed deliberately maintained.
Lucian did not respond immediately.
He stepped forward with long, unhurried strides, slowly circling around the desk with deliberate calm until he stopped beside Cocolia's chair.
One hand casually rested upon her smooth, supple shoulder, his fingertips lightly brushing against her delicate collarbone as though by accident, sending a faint, heart-stirring shiver through her body that she could not completely suppress.
As his gaze, like an invisible searchlight, met hers at close range, the corner of his lips lifted slightly, revealing a quiet and unreadable intent.
"So impatient, huh? Wanna find yourself some 'sisters' to share me with that badly?"
As that question slipped from Lucian's mouth in a low and deliberate tone, Cocolia's heartbeat immediately began to quicken beneath his steady gaze and lingering touch.
She could clearly feel the warmth of his palm resting against her, the heat seeping through the thin layer of fabric, along with the subtle implication hidden within his words—gentle on the surface, yet more than enough to stir her pulse.
Cocolia drew in a slow and controlled breath, trying to keep her composure intact, at least outwardly.
"Isn't it because you're too 'capable'?"
Cocolia's red lips parted slightly as she spoke, her voice laced with a faintly coquettish complaint, soft yet tinged with helplessness.
"I'll be honest, I can't satisfy you all by myself..."
The moment those words left her lips, the atmosphere between them subtly shifted, as though an invisible ripple of ambiguity and tension had quietly spread throughout the office.
"Finding a couple of reliable sisters to help me... that's not too much, right?"
Cocolia's gaze gradually turned bold and unwavering as she met Lucian's eyes directly—she even straightened her back slightly, an almost unconscious movement that made her proud curves stand out even more distinctly.
"If you put it that way, it's not too much..."
Lucian responded without hesitation, and then, in one smooth and effortless motion, pulled her directly into his arms, the sudden closeness drawing a faint intake of breath from her before he sat down in the chair and settled her comfortably onto his lap.
Only then did he notice it more clearly—the faint and pleasant fragrance surrounding her—or rather, she had always carried that subtle and refined scent, but today it seemed especially pronounced, lingering in the air between them for a moment longer than usual.
"I heard that…" Cocolia paused briefly, her gaze lingering on him before she continued in a tone carrying a trace of sourness. "You did 'it' with thirteen women in one night in the Izumo Kingdom...? Meanwhile, I've only managed to add two…"
As she spoke, she slowly raised two slender fingers in front of him, the deliberate gesture emphasizing the very small difference.
"You..."
Lucian sighed helplessly before curling his fingers and lightly tapping against her smooth forehead, as though scolding a mischievous woman who had said something she should not have.
"What's there to compare about such things? I might like it, but don't make it so blatant—it makes me look like some lustful pervert."
"Next time, remember to tell me in advance."
"I don't wanna see unfamiliar women climbing into my bed."
Leaning slightly closer as he spoke, Lucian's warm breath brushed against Cocolia's sensitive ear, his voice low and magnetic while carrying a faint undertone of warning.
As a result, her body softened almost instantly, her shoulders relaxing while a faint blush quietly spread across her face.
Just then, however, a realization suddenly surfaced within her mind.
'Unfamiliar? So... he only wants women he already knows, not strangers? I get it.'
As that thought settled into her mind, Cocolia grew even bolder, immediately revealing her most alluring smile. Her eyes shimmered gently like rippling spring water, carrying a faint and teasing warmth.
"I understand. I'll make sure to report it in advance next time."
"Mm..." Lucian responded with a faint and almost amused smile, but the hand resting on her shoulder did not remain still, slowly sliding downward with deliberate intent. "Anyway, since you tricked me, you must be punished without exception this time."
Hearing that, Cocolia's heartbeat skipped slightly, her breath catching for an instant.
Punishment?
Not only was she unafraid, she even felt a subtle yet undeniable hint of anticipation quietly stirring within her.
"No matter how you punish me… I'll accept it."
Cocolia leaned back obediently, her entire body relaxing as it pressed against Lucian's chest, as though she were yielding herself to him without resistance.
He observed her compliant posture, a faint and knowing smile forming upon his lips as he casually raised a hand and pointed toward the hollow space beneath the wide desk.
Seeing that, Cocolia immediately understood his intention without needing any further explanation.
Quietly following his instruction, she lowered herself into position before slightly turning her face toward him, her expression calm yet faintly expectant.
"Like this...? Is it okay?"
===
At the same time, Natasha and Serval, who had only just finished bathing a few moments earlier, quickly finished getting dressed, their movements efficient and completely unhesitating.
"He should already be confronting Cocolia by now. What do we do?"
Serval asked Natasha beside her, lightly tapping the tip of her shoe against the floor in a restless rhythm.
"Let's go take a look. It might involve us, too, so it's better to listen in."
"Mm, yeah, makes sense. Let's go."
At Natasha's response, Serval gave a firm nod before turning and walking toward the door, with Natasha following closely behind her.
In truth, the two of them usually did not interact much and were merely acquaintances at best, yet at this moment, because of Cocolia's scheme, they found themselves acting together with a rare sense of unspoken coordination.
Soon, when they finally arrived outside the Supreme Guardian's office, Serval raised her hand, about to push the door open directly, but after thinking that Lucian might already be inside, she refrained from barging in too roughly.
*Knock—Knock—*
Serval knocked three times, measured and deliberate, before waiting properly for a response from inside.
"Come in."
Lucian's voice came from within, steady and unhurried, immediately making Serval feel relieved.
Luckily, she had not barged in rudely.
Knocking first at least left a polite impression, didn't it?
Serval glanced at Natasha beside her, and after the two exchanged a brief nod, she pushed the door open and stepped inside, with Natasha following closely behind.
Inside the spacious and brightly lit office, the atmosphere felt somewhat subtle, almost faintly tense beneath the calm surface.
Lucian, his expression composed and unreadable, sat squarely in the chair symbolizing the Supreme Guardian's highest authority, his posture relaxed to the point of seeming casual.
One elbow rested against the wide armrest, the back of his hand supporting his chin, while his other hand, with its long and slender fingers, lightly tapped against the smooth, mirror-like mahogany desk from time to time, producing soft and rhythmic tapping sounds that faintly echoed throughout the room.
Strangely enough, he was the only one present in the office, with no sign of Cocolia anywhere.
Serval and Natasha instinctively looked around, their gazes sweeping across the corners of the office and behind the furniture, yet neither of them saw any trace of Cocolia.
However, they seemed to faintly hear some strange 'wet puffing' sounds coming from Lucian's direction, subtle and intermittent, as though something was being deliberately suppressed.
Probably just their imagination.
"Lord Lucian, is Cocolia not here?"
"Mm, she went out."
At Serval's question, Lucian gave a small and composed nod in response, his expression remaining unchanged.
"Did you need something from her?"
Lucian asked casually, his fingers continuing to tap rhythmically against the surface of the desk, the steady sound faint but still noticeable within the quiet room.
"Uhh..."
Serval faltered, her words catching in her throat.
If Cocolia was absent, they could not exactly bring up the matter of accompanying him to bed themselves, since they were only here to listen in and had no real standing to speak about such a matter.
Natasha pressed her lips together, her brows drawing together slightly as she found herself equally unable to find the right words.
Just like that, the two women stood there awkwardly, caught in a dilemma as their hesitation stretched onward, the air itself seeming to gradually solidify.
In the silence, suddenly—
*Puff—*
An extremely faint sound rang out, as though something had just been pulled out from a vacuum, leaving behind a brief and hollow echo.
However, it was quickly masked by the steady, rhythmic sound of Lucian tapping his fingers against the desk, making it impossible to discern clearly.
"I had Cocolia handle something. Sit down and wait for a bit—she might be back soon," Lucian said calmly, taking the initiative to invite them to sit as he lightly gestured toward the guest seats. "We're all friends, so keep me company and chat with me for a while."
At his offer, Serval and Natasha readily agreed, moving over without hesitation before settling into the guest seats across from him, their postures gradually relaxing as they began chatting casually with Lucian.
"By the way, I just wrote a new song recently. Wanna hear it?"
Serval leaned forward a bit, a hint of anticipation slipping into her voice.
"Of course, but not right now. I'll come find you later when I'm free, okay? Sing it just for me."
Lucian replied with a faint smile, his voice as calm and even as ever.
"Ah, okay!"
Hearing Lucian's response, Serval, although slightly disappointed that she could not sing for him right away, still felt content, the brief flicker of disappointment quickly replaced by quiet satisfaction.
"Hook keeps talking about you, you know?" Natasha chimed in with a gentle smile. "And day by day, the Underworld is getting better and better. It hasn't let you down."
"Well, it's also thanks to your efforts, Natasha," Lucian replied with a nod, returning the same gentle smile. "I trust that you can handle the Underworld properly."
"Thank you for trusting me... and what I said earlier... I really meant it."
Hearing that, Lucian raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of curiosity flashing across his face.
'What was she talking about? Was it about not refusing my requests?'
He wondered inwardly but did not ask further, instead choosing to let the matter rest for the time being.
As they continued chatting, that short and muffled 'wet puffing' sound could occasionally still be heard within the office, faint yet oddly distinct, but neither Serval nor Natasha knew what it was, so neither of them paid it any attention.
After all, with Lucian present, there was nothing dangerous and no reason for concern.
And so, the three continued their conversation for a long while, the atmosphere remaining calm and unhurried from beginning to end.
However, after a full three hours had passed and Cocolia still had not returned, Serval and Natasha ultimately chose to take their leave.
Not long after the two women left the office and the door closed behind them, the quiet within the room deepened once more.
Only then did Cocolia slowly stand up from beneath the desk, her movements stiff and slightly shaky.
"Uhh, my jaw's about to dislocate..."
===
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