CHAPTER 168: CHAPTER 168: JEALOUSY

Before the spirit could react, Lucian flicked its head with a sharp snap.

The water spirit let out a dramatized "Squeee!" clutched its head with its chubby paws, and dramatically collapsed beside Lana.

It squeezed its eyes shut in exaggerated pain... but peeked every few seconds to check if Lana was looking at him.

Both Lucian and Mr. Crow stared at the spirit in stunned disbelief.

This... this was green tea behavior at its finest.

Had the spirit learned manipulation from watching humans?

Because if they didn’t curb it now, once Lana regained strength, this little blob would surely drape itself around her permanently.

Both Lucian and Mr. Crow were prepared to put a stop to this nonsense...

But the luck was clearly not on their side.

Lana’s eyelashes fluttered.

She began to wake.

Her pupils trembled before they slowly opened, hazy and unfocused at first. Colors bled into shapes, and shapes into movement.

Then she saw it... A fluffy, translucent water spirit curled beside her.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. She blinked, trying to confirm she wasn’t hallucinating.

The moment the spirit realized Lana’s gaze was on it, it snapped its eyes shut and whimpered softly, feigning weakness with the devotion of a veteran actor.

Lana panicked softly and lifted her hand toward it...

But Lucian seized her wrist gently.

"Don’t exert yourself," he coaxed in a soft voice that vibrated with worry. "Whatever you need, tell me. I’ll bring it."

Lana’s breath hitched.

Lucian looked nothing like his usual pristine self. His beige suit was wrinkled, his champagne tie loosened, and his hair, always perfectly combed, was slightly disheveled.

His eyes... His eyes held a mix of raw fear, relief, and protectiveness.

They held her.

Every concern etched on his face seemed as if the entire world had narrowed down to her.

Lana felt her heart stumble, then race uncontrollably.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump-thump.

’Oh no... he’ll hear it... my heartbeat is going crazy...’

Heat rushed to her cheeks, blooming like a fever. For the first time, Lana truly saw Lucian... not just as her white moonlight or aloof prince of a man... but as someone whose worry went bone deep.

A warmth she had never felt before unfurled in her chest.

Belonging. Safety. A place in the world.

’A part of me... really wants to stay in this world if someone like him cares whether I live or die...’

Her throat burned. Her vision blurred for a moment.

Before she could think, she slowly sat up straight and looked away in panic.

’I can’t fall any deeper,’ she murmured in her heart, voice trembling. ’If I do... I’ll bring misfortune upon myself...’

At that thought, the frantic pounding in her chest slowed into something steadier, still warm, still tender, but gentled by self-control.

Suppressing her inner feelings, she smiled faintly.

"Thank you..."

Mr. Crow immediately hopped onto her stomach, since her shoulder was too unstable, and tapped her cheek.

To outsiders, it sounded like a normal "caw caw," but to Lana, it was a worried voice:

"Are you alright? You were unconscious too long!"

Lana smiled at him softly.

"I’m okay now. And don’t worry so much. Though..."

She tapped his head.

"You look a little balder than before."

Mr. Crow puffed up indignantly.

"Of course I’m bald! You make me pull my feathers out with how much you worry me!"

An image popped into Lana’s mind of a completely bald Mr. Crow, glaring at her one day, or wearing a wig. She snorted softly.

Before she could tease him more, a watery blob drifted up again, hovering in front of her face and tilting its head.

Its cuteness was lethal. Lana’s heart just melted.

Mr. Crow’s feathers stood on end. Lucian’s pupils constricted.

The water spirit raised one chubby palm and placed it on Lana’s cheek.

A refreshing, cool energy poured into her skin like a soothing wave. Lana sighed softly in relief.

"Thank you..." she whispered.

Lucian felt something snap inside him.

’She is thanking another creature... touching another creature... smiling at another creature...’

A dark, dangerous premonition slithered through his gut.

Sure enough, before anyone could stop her... Lana scooped the water spirit into her arms and pressed a gentle kiss on its squishy head.

Everything exploded.

Mr. Crow let out a furious, banshee-like "QUAAAACK!" feathers flying everywhere.

The next second, Lucian snapped his fingers sharply, and the water spirit vanished in a swirl of shimmering droplets, recalled back into its spiritual realm with a startled squeal.

Mr. Crow wasted no time.

He materialized right in front of Lana’s face, feathers bristling, chest puffed so high he looked twice his size. His tiny talons dug into the blanket beneath him as he flapped aggressively.

"You cannot just kiss someone because you feel like it! Do you have no decency? No standards?"

He pointed his wing at her nose in righteous fury. "How can you kiss others? You have never kissed me, not once! What gives that watery brat the right..."

Lana blinked at the dramatic bird.

Then she laughed softly, a weak but amused sound.

"Are you... jealous?"

The question hit Mr. Crow like a lightning strike.

For once, he did not dodge. He did not pretend. He did not hide behind sarcasm.

Was this even the time to pretend and act all dignified? He might as well die from jealousy and holding back!

He lifted his tiny chin with the dignity of a betrayed emperor and nodded fiercely.

"Of course I’m jealous!"

He stomped his little claw.

"That water spirit! That green-tea puddle! It got a kiss from you, while I, who have accompanied you day and night, who have suffered with you, who have turned bald from worry, haven’t gotten even one!"

He kept ranting, wings flapping wildly, voice cracking from sheer indignation.

Before he could continue his tirade, Lana reached out with her trembling hand. Her fingers brushed his feathers gently as she cupped him, bringing him close.

Then she leaned forward and placed a soft peck right on top of his fluffy head.

Mr. Crow froze mid-rant.

His wings stopped mid-flap. His beak hung open. His entire body stiffened like a stunned statue.