Chapter 54: An Offer You Can't Refuse~ (2)
"Lucian, or should I say, my dear Lucy~," Serene said, her voice dropping to a smooth, sultry purr that sent a cold, electric shiver down Lucian's spine. Her crimson eyes, usually glacial and distant, held a frightening spark of intimate recognition. "Would you kindly be my partner to the upcoming birthday of the Crown Prince?"
Lucian was paralyzed. The shock wasn't about the formal offer; it was the chilling, sudden shift in Serene's entire demeanor and, most importantly, the use of the nickname.
'I knew it,' Lucian thought, the realization hitting him like a physical punch to the gut. 'She is a regressor too, just like Silvie! Because she used what she used to call me in my second life and my first transmigration—the word, "My Dear Lucy~"'
His mind, usually a fortress of cold strategy, spiraled into internal chaos. He wasn't just dealing with divine betrayal, a handful of Evil Gods, and the simple, predictable plot of a game. He was dealing with multiple women, all of whom remembered him from past lives, all of whom were now competing for his attention and control.
There was Silvie, his original obsessed former fiancé, driven mad by loss and a desire to possess him entirely. And now, Serene Veronica Le Ardenia, the woman known as Vennie in his past lives, who had been the biggest, most ruthlessly possessive yandere and the primary political villainess of the first game's later stages. She was the powerful Northern Young Duchess, who was supposed to be the tragic victim in the original plot, driven to ruin by Silvan, but had now regressed and was making a bold, calculated, and highly possessive move for him.
'Fuck! I can't wait to get exiled, seriously! I need to get away on women like this!' Lucian thought desperately, the urgency to execute his plan to kill the Emperor's brother accelerating wildly in his mind. Exile wasn't a punishment; it was the only escape route from the emotional chaos and lethal obsession of his 'other halves.' His immediate goal was survival, and that meant not making an enemy of either of these powerful, dangerous women.
---
Lucian finally regained his composure, forcing his expression into one of detached concern. He needed to acknowledge her political power while testing her resolve.
He spoke, his voice calm and even. "Lady Serene, are you sure about this? If I accept this offer of yours, this would anger the royal family, especially the Emperor. You have publicly humiliated the Crown Prince and shattered a political contract. Partnering with a noble like me immediately afterwards could be seen as an act of deliberate political provocation against the throne."
Serene's smile deepened, a cold, shark-like expression that didn't touch her eyes. "You should not worry, my dear Lucy~, because they won't do a thing. Right, Your Highness? I bet you are glad I broke our engagement."
Serene did not turn her body, but she directed her entire presence, her focus, and her pure, terrifying killing intent at the stunned figure of Prince Silvan, who was still reeling from the slap a few feet away.
To the average onlooker, Serene simply appeared to be looking at the Crown Prince with a sharp glare of disdain. But the reality was far more severe. Her killing intent—the concentrated desire to inflict mortal harm—was something only a truly powerful being could generate and conceal from public view.
Silvan, despite his arrogance, was not weak. He was in Seventh-Class Level , trained to handle spiritual pressure. Yet, he felt a crushing, invisible weight descend upon him, forcing the air out of his lungs. His skin prickled, and his forehead was suddenly covered in cold sweat. His hands began to tremble uncontrollably, and he unconsciously took a shaky half-step backward, as if pushed by an unseen force.
'What the hell is this?!' Silvan thought, his mind screaming in sheer terror. The fear was primal, the kind a rabbit feels when staring into the eyes of a wolf. 'How could a woman like her exude a killing intent through a single person that only a 9th Class Level—the peak of the High Stage of Ascension—could only do? Just how? How could she possess such monstrous power?'
Serene, savoring his terror, spoke again, her voice sweetly laced with false concern. "Your Highness, are you alright? Ohh dear, it seems you are sick. How about hurrily go to the clinic? Also, don't forget my question: you are glad, right, that I broke off the engagement? I wouldn't want you to be sad about this necessary political change."
Silvan, still covered in sweat and trembling, couldn't form words. He reluctantly agreed, managing only a pathetic nod to Serene, then turned and scurried away, seeking the safety of the academy clinic and the nearest escape from her chilling presence.
As Silvan fled, Celestia Silveria Van Lumina (Silvie), the Emperor's daughter and the first regressor Lucian knew, stepped forward, her grey eyes narrowed with annoyance and fury. She had seen the entire exchange—the cold brutality of Serene and, worse, Lucian's brief moment of focus on the other woman.
"Silvan, wait!" Celestia called out, but then focused her annoyance entirely on the victorious Serene.
Celestia's voice was sharp. "Lady Ardenia, that was rude of you, slapping my brother. And also, it was rude too that you offer to partner with someone who already has a partner. Lucian is taken."
Serene simply smiled, a picture of aristocratic politeness. "Ohh deary, my bad. I didn't know Lucian already had a partner. But as I heard, he doesn't have a partner for the upcoming birthday party of your dear brother. And shouldn't you follow your brother, Your Highness? He looks quite unwell~"
Celestia's grey eyes, cold with possessive anger, locked onto Serene. She refused to be dismissed. She replied in a calm, controlled tone, projecting a façade of rational authority that barely hid her yandere tendencies. "My brother could take care of himself, and he is big enough to understand his mistake. And also, as I said, Lucian already has a partner, and it's me."
Without warning, Celestia moved swiftly, hooking her right arm tightly around Lucian's left and pressing herself possessively against his side. She leaned her head slightly against his shoulder, issuing a clear, public challenge to the Northern Duchess.
"He is mine, Lady Ardenia."
Serene just looked at the tableau, and her smile returned, but it still didn't reach her crimson eyes. She was a master of political warfare, and she had an ace hidden up her immaculate sleeve.
"Ohh deary, that's so sweet," Serene purred, letting Celestia enjoy her small, public victory for a moment. "The thing is, Lucian can't refuse my offer. Do you know why? It's because I, the daughter of the North, already talked to Lucian's father, and he agreed on the engagement between me and Lucian."
The statement was a devastating tactical blow, a checkmate in their little public game.
"And as far as I remember," Serene continued, aiming her venom straight at the Crown Princess, "you two already broke off the engagement, right? So, my dear Lucy~, Lucian can't reject the offer, regardless of his current... partner. Right, my dear Lucy~?"
Celestia was completely stunned. Her grip on Lucian's arm unconsciously tightened to a painful degree. Her face contorted with shock and profound frustration.
'How could she be one step ahead of me?' Celestia thought, her meticulously planned strategy—which involved winning Lucian back now that her first plan had failed—was instantly ruined. 'And also, it seems Vennie—or should I say, Serene—was also a regressor. Shit, this puts me in trouble.'
Celestia had believed herself were the only ones who had the power of regression. She had operated under the assumption that Serene was the same naive girl she had known in her past life.
'I already expect I could have Lucian all by myself, but it seems Serene really did regress too. I know I shouldn't be complacent about this, knowing Serene, she would do anything to be together with Lucian. What should I do?' Celestia, terrified of losing control, suddenly felt a gentle pressure ruffle through her hair—a headpat—again from Lucian. It was the same gesture he used to calm her when she was distressed in their past life.
Lucian delivered the headpat not out of affection, but calculated distraction. He needed to buy himself time—time to execute the Emperor's brother plan and trigger his exile. Choosing one would instantly doom him; the rejected one would use their political power to chain him to the capital, ensuring he couldn't leave to hunt the Evil Gods.
He had no choice but to propose the ridiculous.
Then Lucian spoke, pulling his arm gently out of Celestia's grip, but placing a hand lightly on each of their shoulders, forcing them to look at him.
"How about this?" he said, his voice calm, confident, and utterly neutral.
"What if I date both of you in the upcoming birthday party of the Crown Prince?"
The proposal landed like a heavy stone into a still pond. Everyone in the main hall was shocked again—the collective gasp was almost audible. Even both Serene and Celestia were momentarily shocked into silence.
The Wraith King's voice boomed in Lucian's mind, a wave of incredulous cosmic laughter.
{My lord! I know you are confident, but I didn't think you have the guts to build your own harem in the main hall of the academy, and even offering them both a public date!}
Lucian ignored the Wraith King's amusement, focusing on the immediate danger.
'What should I do then? If I choose either of them, they will either kill me or kill each other to secure me. I already have troubles on my own, and I was still in shock that Vennie also did regress. I mean, I already theorized it, but I still believed it was impossible because there are only two Eyes of Chronos that the Goddess of Fate and Time possessed, which I bet the current holders right now are the Fourth Protagonist of the fourth game and Silvie. But Vennie a regressor too? This just puts more troubles and may put this timeline to chaos too.'
The Wraith King, recognizing the gravity of Lucian's concern, immediately dropped the jest and adopted a serious tone, his voice a low hum of cosmic calculus in Lucian's mind.
{I agree, my lord. As far as I know, the Goddess of Fate and Time only possessed two artifacts of regression—the Eyes of Chronos—that were given from her mother, The Goddess of Creation and Supernovas. But having three active regressors... it seems there's something strange about both this world and the Goddess of Fate and Time. This will seriously put troubles to the world's timeline. The Law of Cause and Effect is being stretched to the point of breaking, and the Weaving of Fate will become frayed.}
{The presence of a third, unauthorized regressor suggests a deeper interference, possibly from a much higher-tier entity than the Goddess of Fate herself, or perhaps a splintering of one of the Eyes. This third player, Vennie, must be a grave anomaly. But the question is: is she also a big part of the plot of this game in this life?}
Lucian quickly analyzed Serene's new timeline actions.
'Right now, no. In the original plot, she was driven to treason later in the game because Silvan publicly and repeatedly humiliated her, culminating in her father being executed by the Emperor. That's when she ordered her father and the whole North to commit a treason and start a war between the North and the Empire. But this time, she broke the engagement herself, publicly shamed Silvan, and focused her aggression on me. This is different, which means that Vennie is not part of the plot anymore—she is now a rogue agent, dedicated solely to getting me back.'
The Wraith King summarized the situation perfectly.
{Then there you go, my lord. You should just worry about how to handle those two gals of yours. I—I mean your… harem.} The Wraith King couldn't resist a final, ghostly chuckle.
Lucian mentally sighed. 'Not funny, but seriously, yeah. I should let them understand soon that I am not an option for marriage or long-term romance.'
He knew the only way to escape them and the disastrous engagement contract Serene had cleverly secured with his foolish father was to fully commit to his immediate plan.
'I will just add Vennie to the list of people who will know my plans—including my plan to get exiled here soon. I can use their obsession as a shield and a resource for information. Hah. They would be the end of me, but at least I'll survive long enough to kill an Evil God.'
Lucian looked at the two beautiful, dangerous women, both staring at him with a mix of shock and nascent hope. He knew that by dating them both, he was only delaying his doom, but it was a necessary delay. He had the power of a Demon God, but even a Primordial Monarch couldn't handle two yandere regressors in close proximity without a solid plan.
He straightened his posture, ready to face the music. He was the King of End and Destruction, and his first battle of the day was managing his relationship status.