Lucian left his father's study with two problems.
The first was Solomon.
The King of Magic was coming to Hell. A man who had once commanded demons through names, seals, and contracts. A man whose knowledge was old enough to annoy the Sins and dangerous enough to make his father call him troublesome.
Lucian wanted to meet him badly.
The second problem was worse. it was marriage which he did not want to think about for now. He already stepped in to the age where most of nobility already picked their future partner.
Lucian walked through the palace corridor with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and his steps unhurried. Servants bowed as he passed. Guards lowered their heads. Noble demons stepped aside before he needed to ask.
He was thinking very deeply he did not even noatice by the time he reached the academy courtyard.
The Academy's inner courtyard stretched beneath the red-gold sky of Hell, surrounded by black pillars, thorned arches, and trees with silver leaves that burned softly at their edges. Students moved between the paths in small groups, heirs of noble houses and young demons from military bloodlines, all wearing the dark uniforms of the academy.
Conversations lowered when Lucian entered. Some looked at him with respect. Some with admiration. Some with envy where of course Lucian ignored most of it.
Lucian had just stepped into the academy courtyard when a red blur crossed the garden like a bullet. Several students screamed and threw themselves out of the way.
Lucian sighed because he knows clearly what is coming. A second later, Seraphina crashed into him.
The impact sent cracks spidering across the black stone beneath his shoes, but Lucian did not move from his position. His coat fluttered from the force, silver hair shifting over his eyes as a pair of arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
"Lucian~!"
Seraphina's voice was far too pleased for someone who had just attacked a prince in public.
Lucian looked down at the crimson-haired girl clinging to him. "Sephy."
She smiled up at him, bright and sharp and completely shameless.
"You caught me."
"You aimed at me."
"That means you caught me correctly."
"That is not how catching works."
"It is when I decide it is."
Around them, the courtyard had gone silent. A few academy students stared. One young demon looked at the cracks beneath Lucian's feet, then looked at Seraphina, then wisely decided that staring at the sky was safer.
Her arms tightened. "You took too long in His Majesty's study."
"I was summoned."
"You were gone."
"That is usually what happens when someone leaves though?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Do not use logic against me, Lucian~"
"I would never."
"You are doing it right now."
Lucian's mouth curved slightly.
Her smile widened before a soft voice came from the garden path.
"How bold, Sephy~"
Seraphina's expression changed immediately. Her head turned, but she did not let go of Lucian.
Belia stood a few steps away, holding a covered plate with both hands. Smiling sweetly towards Lucian direction.
"Clinging to him in the middle of the courtyard?" Belia tilted her head. "How desperate."
Seraphina clicked her tongue. "Tch. Back off, bitch. Lucian is mine."
The courtyard became even quieter watching the unfolding drama before them. They have learned from the past that when both of these girls gathered, it will become a very dangerous showdown for their prince attention. So most of them immediately leave the spot.
Lucian closed his eyes. "It has been less than a minute."
Belia blinked once. Then her smile softened.
"Yours~?" she asked. "That is strange. I do not remember Lucian agreeing to that."
"He does not need to."
"How convenient~"
Seraphina finally released Lucian, but only enough to stand beside him. Very close beside him.
Belia's gaze dropped to the space between them, her smile did not change.
The temperature around the plate in her hands seemed to shift.
Lucian noticed, of course he noticed. "Bel."
"Yes, Lucian~?"
"Is that food or a poison?"
Belia looked down at the covered plate.
Seraphina's hand moved toward her sword. Lucian placed two fingers lightly against her wrist without looking.
Then a quiet voice spoke from behind them.
"You are both being too clingy with him."
Lucian did not turn immediately.
He already knew.
Selene stood near the silver-leaf tree, hands folded neatly in front of her academy uniform. No one had heard her arrive. No one ever did when Selene did not want them to.
Her pale eyes rested on Seraphina's hand, then on Belia's plate, then finally on Lucian.
"You looked amused," she said.
Lucian opened his eyes.
"Did I?"
"For three seconds."
"You counted?"
"No." Selene's smile was small. "I remembered."
Seraphina scoffed. "Creepy."
Belia hummed softly. "Accurate, though~"
Selene ignored them both.
Her gaze stayed on Lucian.
"His Majesty mentioned engagement, didn't he?"
Lucian looked at her.
Seraphina froze.
Belia's smile brightened.
The students who had not yet escaped the courtyard immediately regretted that decision.
Lucian sighed. "Father talks too much."
Selene's smile deepened by the smallest amount.
"No," she said softly. "You are simply very easy to read when the topic is troublesome."
Seraphina stepped forward at once.
"He did mention it?"
Belia followed, still holding the plate.
"And what did you say, Lucian~?"
Lucian looked at the three girls standing before him waiting his answers with a predatory like gazes.
Lucian straightened his sleeve. "I said I would think about it later."
Then Seraphina smiled.
Belia's eyes curved gently.
Selene tilted her head.
Lucian felt the faint, immediate sense that he had chosen the wrong answer.
"Later~?" Belia asked.
"How vague," Selene said.
Seraphina cracked her knuckles.
Lucian looked toward the academy building wishing that Solomon or anyone would arrive soon. Perhaps that would be easier to get him out of this immediately.
So, he looked at the three girls in front of him and made the only reasonable decision.
He turned around and was preparing to escape until Sephy grabbed his sleeve, Bel stepped in front of him with the plate, while Selene did not move at all and only watch with amusement.
"Running away, Lucian~?" Bel asked.
"Strategic retreat," Lucian said with both of his hands up.
"Cowardice," Sephy corrected.
Selene smiled faintly. "Self-preservation."
"Well...," Bel smiled softly. "If Lucian chooses later, then we can wait, right~?"
Sephy narrowed her eyes. "Why do you sound happy about that?"
"Because later is not never."
Selene stirred her tea once. "And waiting is only a problem for people who fear losing."
Seraphina's smile sharpened.
Belia's eyes curved a little more.
Lucian looked at the three of them and decided, very calmly, that his father had done this on purpose.
Somewhere in the palace, his old man was probably grinning. The thought irritated him already.
"Are we done?" Lucian asked.
"No," Seraphina said.
"Not yet~" Belia added.
Selene placed her cup down. "You have not answered properly."
"I answered already?"
"You tried to escape."
"I gave a clear answer."
"You said later," Selene said. "That is not an answer. That is a door left half-open."
Lucian looked at her. Selene is smiling smugly at him. She was obviously enjoying every second of this moment.
Before Lucian could respond, a voice called from the other side of the courtyard.
"Your Highness."
A young demoness stood near the garden path, wearing the academy uniform with the crest of a lesser noble house pinned neatly at her collar. She was pretty, composed, and brave enough to approach or foolish enough though the bystander.
The students who had not left yet immediately lowered their voices.
Seraphina turned her head.
Belia's smile remained sweet.
Selene did not move at all.
Lucian looked at the girl. "Yes?"
The demoness bowed.
"Forgive the interruption, Your Highness. I wished to ask if you would attend the west hall gathering tonight."
Silence followed.
Seraphina's fingers twitched near her sword.
Belia tilted her head.
Selene's eyes softened by a fraction, which somehow made her look less kind.
Lucian noticed all of it.
"The west hall gathering?" he repeated.
"Yes, Your Highness." The girl's cheeks colored slightly. "Several noble heirs will be attending. It would be an honor if you joined us."
Seraphina smiled, it was obviously not a good smile. "He is busy."
The demoness stiffened.
Belia's voice came next, light and gentle. "Lucian has not eaten yet~"
Selene lifted her cup again. "And you are standing too close."
The girl went pale.
Lucian closed his eyes for half a second. This was why the academy courtyard emptied whenever the three of them gathered.
"Seraphina," he said.
She clicked her tongue but went silent.
"Bel."
Belia only smiled.
"Selene."
Selene looked at him over the rim of her cup. "Yes?"
"Behave."
"How cruel," she said softly. "I was behaving."
"No," Lucian said. "You were making it worse."
Belia giggled.
Seraphina looked offended that she had not thought of that first.
Lucian returned his gaze to the demoness.
"I appreciate the invitation," he said.
The girl's shoulders eased slightly.
"But I must refuse."
They stiffened again.
Lucian gives a faint smile. "As you can see, I am occupied at the moment. "
The demoness lowered her head quickly.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Go."
She did so instantly.
The moment she disappeared behind the black pillars, Seraphina turned back to him.
"You were too gentle."
"She only invited me to a gathering."
"She looked at you."
"Most people do."
"That is not helping your case."
Belia stepped closer and held the plate toward him again.
"You should eat before more people gather courage~"
Lucian looked at the covered plate. It moved once, but a normal person knows immediately that looks very dangerous for something to be eaten.
"Bel."
"Yes, Lucian~?"
"Did you really cook this?"
"Of course."
"Is it supposed to move?"
"Only when it is fresh."
Seraphina looked disgusted. "That is not food. That is a poison."
"It is nutritious."
"It blinked."
"It is shy~"
Lucian stared at the plate for a moment longer before lifting the strange thing to his mouth and swallowed it in one bite.
Belia's smile brightened immediately.
Seraphina looked betrayed.
Selene watched the plate, then watched Lucian with a strange gaze.
"You accepted her food?"
"I was simply preserving my peaceful life."
"You accepted her food," Selene repeated.
"You accepted her food," Selene repeated.
Lucian sighed.
Belia looked pleased enough to start a war.
Seraphina crossed her arms. "Tch idiot... Fine do whatever you want, but spar with me later."
"No, I can't."
"Why?"
"I have training with Father later."
Seraphina's eyes sharpened, the anger faded. "So it is true."
Lucian paused.
Belia looked up from adjusting the plate.
Selene's gaze stayed on him.
Seraphina smiled slowly. "His Majesty is training you personally."
Lucian said nothing.
Belia's smile softened. "That means you really reached a wall."
Lucian looked at her.
She knew him too well.
Selene placed her cup down again. "You are dissatisfied," she said.
"I am improving," he said.
"But not enough," Selene replied.
Seraphina's hand tightened around her sword. "How far?"
Lucian turned to her. "What?"
"How far are you from us now?"
Lucian did not answer immediately. Because that answer would hurt them.
Seraphina noticed, her eyes burned. "Hmphh! Do not insult me by being kind!"
Belia lowered the plate.
Selene folded her hands over her lap.
Lucian looked at the three girls before him.
Sephy, who had chased his back since childhood and called every loss temporary.
Bel, who fed him after every training session and noticed when exhaustion hid behind his manners.
Selene, who rarely asked for anything directly because she usually already knew the answer.
They were close to him.
Too close for easy lies.
"Far," Lucian said.
Seraphina's expression did not break, but something in her eyes tightened.
Lucian continued.
"Not because you are weak."
Seraphina laughed once. "That sounds like comfort."
"It is fact."
"Facts can still be insulting."
"Then grow stronger."
Seraphina went still.
Lucian's gaze moved from her to Belia, then to Selene.
"If you dislike the distance, close it."
His voice was calm, but the words were not cold.
"If I am not strong enough, how am I supposed to protect the people I care about?"
Seraphina blinked.
Belia's smile froze.
Selene's eyes widened by the smallest amount.
For once, none of them spoke. Then color touched Belia's cheeks first. A soft, dangerous pink. Seraphina looked away with a sharp click of her tongue, but the tips of her ears had turned red. Selene lowered her gaze to her tea, pretending to be composed.
Lucian noticed all of it, then he realized what he had just said. His own expression remained calm, but a faint red crept across his cheeks.
Belia recovered first.
"Oh~?" she said, her smile returning slowly. "The people you care about, Lucian?"
Seraphina's grin came next, sharp and delighted. "Careful, Lucian. Say things like that again and I might start believing you are accepting us already."
Selene stirred her tea once, but her voice had softened. "How rare~ The prince of Hell can be honest after all."
Lucian looked away. "I said people."
Belia stepped closer. "But you looked at us~"
"I was making a point."
Seraphina leaned in. "A very sweet point."
"It was practical."
Selene smiled faintly. "Your cheeks disagree."
Lucian went still, then he cleared his throat. "Ehemm... Continue that and I will probably leave."
"You already tried that," Belia said.
"It failed," Seraphina added.
Selene placed her cup down. "Repeated attempts would only damage your dignity."
Lucian closed his eyes for a moment. His father was right. Solomon would be easier to handle than this situation.
.
.
.
Somewhere in the training courtyard,
Lucian placed Belia's plate carefully on the table, straightened his sleeve, and stepped into the open space.
Lucian looked at the three girls who had spent years standing beside him and refusing to be left behind.
His closest companions.
His greatest headaches.
His problem, apparently.
"Very well," he said.
The pressure of the prince of Hell settled over the courtyard, elegant and absolute.
Lucian raised one hand.
"Come together."