"Uhh... I... I don't think I can ever face Miss Acheron again..."
Robin buried her head even lower, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
What had she done?
First, she had mistaken Acheron for someone coming to have Lucian's baby, even told her to wait in line, and then had even forced her to put on that shameless outfit.
What made matters even worse, Lucian had actually walked in and seen Acheron wearing it!
Acheron's dignity clearly had been compromised, and Robin felt she was the one most at fault!
Lucian's palm gently patted Robin's back in reassurance, but his fingertips unconsciously traced along her delicate waistline.
Apparently, that fleeting glimpse earlier—of the sheer babydoll negligee faintly outlining her graceful curves—still seemed to be branded onto his retina.
"Haha, silly."
Lucian chuckled softly, the vibration from his chest resonating through the air.
"As long as the misunderstanding's cleared up, it's fine. Besides..." Lucian paused for a moment, his tone taking on a hint of teasing amusement. "Acheron has quite an open mind—she wouldn't hold such things against a clumsy girl like you."
"I didn't blame you," Acheron chimed in, her voice as cool as spring water striking stone, yet within it lingered a faint gentleness that put one's heart at ease. "You saw me as a friend, so there's no need to dwell on something so trivial."
"Really? Thank god..."
Robin let out a sigh of relief, and to make up for her mistake, she then warmly invited Acheron to stay with them.
"Well, there are a lot of empty rooms anyway."
Lucian also voiced his agreement.
In the end, unable to resist Robin's earnest kindness, Acheron nodded and agreed to stay.
Serfina was in a Dream Pool in one of the Reverie Hotel's rooms today, shopping inside the Dreamscape, and wouldn't be returning tonight, so in this little house, only Lucian, Robin, and Acheron remained.
===
Night, Lucian's Room.
Outside the window, the neon lights were filtered by heavy curtains into a hazy shade of dark red, while inside the room, only a small lamp by the bedside cast a soft amber glow.
In the room, the air was filled with the fresh scent of body wash, mingled with the quiet intimacy unique to the night, and by the doorway, Robin stood there wearing the outfit she had just bought, a hint of shyness coloring her face.
Seeing her reaction, Lucian, seated at the edge of the bed, let out a low laugh that echoed clearly through the quiet room, stirring something deep inside her.
"Come here."
Lucian spoke as he patted the space beside him, but Robin didn't move, her head still lowered, while her ears flushed even redder.
"Not coming?" Lucian continued, his tone carrying an obvious note of teasing. "Then should I come to you instead?"
Before his words had even faded, Robin felt a warm, masculine breath closing in on her, and before long, her wrist was gently caught by a large hand.
"Y-You..."
Just as Robin tried to speak, Lucian's other arm slid firmly around her waist, then his chin rested lightly against the hollow of her neck.
In that instant, his warm breath brushed against her sensitive wings, sending a faint shiver through her body.
"You look really gorgeous in that."
Lucian whispered right by Robin's ear, his voice low and magnetic, filled with unrestrained affection.
Robin, feeling her heartbeat instantly lose its rhythm and flutter like a frightened little rabbit, instinctively turned her head slightly to avoid that scorching breath, only to meet Lucian's deep, smiling eyes.
"D-Don't get too close..."
Robin muttered, her voice soft and uncertain, completely lacking in confidence.
"Hmm, too close, huh?" Lucian leaned in even closer on purpose, his lips almost brushing against her small earlobe. "I think... we can be even closer..."
As his words fell, his fingers slid slowly along Robin's delicate waistline—the strength in his touch was undeniable, yet it carried a strange gentleness. Through the thin fabric, his fingertips traced lightly across her smooth back, leaving behind an invisible trail of electricity that lingered.
Robin's body tensed instantly, and her breathing quickened in response.
"Lucian..." Robin unconsciously called out his name, her voice a faint protest, yet also a fragile plea for comfort. "Turn off the lights first..."
Lucian chuckled softly, holding her in his embrace as he reached out with his arm, drawing her even closer.
*Click!*
As the bedside lamp went out, the room was instantly swallowed by darkness, with only faint moonlight and neon light from the window outlining their blurred shapes.
Of course, for Lucian, it didn't matter, since, as an Emanator, he could still see clearly.
Like two fish entwined in the warm depths of the sea, they were carried by tender yet surging waves—rising, chasing, and finally merging into one.
Moonlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, casting a narrow, silent beam onto the floor, quietly watching everything unfold, while the noise outside seemed softened by the night, leaving only the faint hum of distant electronic music.
===
In the neighboring room, Acheron lay on a soft, wide bed with her eyes closed.
As a Self-Annihilator, she did not need sleep, so long nights were usually spent in meditation rather than sleeping.
Her room was quiet, and the soundproofing seemed good, but unfortunately, the quietness did not last long.
In the next moment, a rhythmic sound began to leak faintly through the wall next door—at first soft, like a kitten's whimper, then fierce, like a lion's roar, full of strength and dominance.
"Little bird..."
Over time, the voices grew clearer, mixed with a man's deep, magnetic teasing, carrying an indescribable satisfaction.
Acheron abruptly opened her eyes.
In the darkness, her violet pupils were clear and calm, without the slightest ripple, as she listened quietly to the symphony unfolding next door.
Turning her head, she faced the wall, her expression carrying no embarrassment, no shyness, and not even a trace of physiological reaction.
At this moment, instead of shame and embarrassment, she merely thought that it was noisy.
As a Self-Annihilator who had long been detached from emotion and stripped of worldly desire, this commotion, born of living beings' instinctive impulses, felt to her like watching a faraway farce through thick glass.
Even though she could hear the vibration of the sounds and understand what those two were doing, those surging emotions could not stir even the faintest ripple within her silent heart.
Finally, after a long while, the room returned to silence.
Acheron closed her eyes again, her consciousness preparing to sink once more into the cold embrace of Nihility—but just as her mind began to drift, another persistent noise from next door dragged her back to reality yet again.
Needless to say, this was exactly why 'nighttime activities' should be banned when there were guests in your house.
Acheron decided she must ask to change rooms tomorrow—or better yet, move to a hotel altogether, since this kind of noise would probably become a regular thing, something she couldn't tolerate if it happened every night.
===
Early the next morning, with neon lights from outside slipping through the curtain gaps and casting shifting patterns of color across the floor at the foot of the bed, Lucian held the sleeping Robin in his arms, listening to her steady, satisfied breathing.
A few minutes later, having had enough of watching Robin's cute sleeping face, Lucian carefully laid Robin down and then rose to dress. Judging from her condition, she would probably sleep until evening before regaining some strength.
Finally dressed, Lucian stepped out of the bedroom and ran into Acheron, who was also stepping out of her bedroom at the same time.
"Give me a different room," Acheron said directly, her tone utterly flat as she gazed toward the door at the end of the hallway. "I want the one at the end of the hallway."
"Why?"
Lucian raised an eyebrow, looking confused.
Acheron, her eyes clear as glass, shifted her gaze toward him, then stated the reason bluntly.
"You two were too noisy."
===
[A bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones.]
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