CHAPTER 24: BOUNTY

"Take off your clothes," Lucius said coolly.

His tone was even, the words precise, but deep inside his chest his heart thudded harder than it should have.

He had no experience with women — none worth mentioning anyway.

And though his eyes didn’t waver, though his jaw stayed firm, there was a part of him — the younger, uncertain part that wanted to run from this scene entirely.

But pride... his old man’s pride... wouldn’t let him show it.

Elara’s hands trembled as she reached upward, her fingers clumsy and heavy from exhaustion.

"M-Master," she whispered breathlessly, "I can barely move my hands. Could you help me?"

Lucius hesitated for only a second before stepping forward, his face carved into the same poker expression he wore when dealing with ants.

His fingers brushed against the edge of her shirt as he took hold and carefully, deliberately, lifted it upward.

The fabric slid past her stomach, her ribs, and then slipped over her chest.

Elara gasped softly as the air touched her bare skin.

She hadn’t worn a bra underneath — since she was at home, she saw no need for it.

And when the shirt came free, her breasts spilled forward, soft and natural, a delicate contrast to the filth and sweat that clung to her body.

Lucius’s eyes flickered, just once.

Then, like a soldier retreating from temptation, he turned away almost immediately.

His hand lingered with the shirt before he tossed it aside, his gaze now stubbornly fixed on the bathroom wall.

Elara’s face burned.

’He saw them. He must have seen them.’ Her heart raced faster, beating in her throat.

’Does he... does he like them?’ She wanted to ask, wanted to know, but before she could speak he broke the silence.

"You can take off the rest by yourself, right?" he asked, his voice level, as he reached for the sponge lying on the nearby stand.

Elara looked down, deflated, her heart sinking just a little. "Yes..." she answered softly.

Lucius muttered under his breath, so quietly she almost missed it. "It took a lot for me to tear my eyes away from your chest... Don’t think I’m not interested."

Her entire face turned crimson.

’H-he is interested?!’ The admission sent her thoughts spiraling in every direction.

Her fingers moved clumsily, pulling at the rest of her clothes until she was bare.

When she finally sank into the tub, the hot water enveloped her body, making her skin tingle, her thoughts whirl even more wildly.

"Alright," Lucius said matter-of-factly, pouring soap onto his palm. "I’ll wash your back."

The words sounded simple.

To Elara, they were anything but.

He drizzled the liquid across her shoulders.

The cold touch of soap against her heated skin made her shiver, a startled squeak slipping from her lips.

Then came the sponge — firm but steady as he scrubbed across her back, up to her shoulders, down her sides, slow and meticulous.

Elara clenched her fists in her lap, biting down on her lower lip.

’H-he’s touching me. Master’s touching me.’

Her mind erupted with thoughts she couldn’t control.

What if he leans closer?

What if he sees my face right now?

What if... what if he reaches somewhere else?

Her entire body tingled, and the sound of the sponge against her skin only made the moment more intimate.

Each stroke carried with it a warmth that had nothing to do with the bathwater.

He even started cleaning her front too though he avoided her breasts and going down beneath.

’He’s so gentle... He’s always so gentle, even when he pretends to be cold. Master... if you wanted... if you wanted to hold me tighter, I wouldn’t stop you.’

Lucius, on the other hand, worked silently, his expression unreadable.

Inside, though, his thoughts clashed.

’Don’t look too long. Don’t touch where you shouldn’t. She’s a girl, not some doll to toy with. Damn it... but she’s also glowing red like a cooked shrimp. What the hell is she imagining over there?’

The silence stretched, broken only by the soft splashes of water.

Finally, Lucius set the sponge aside.

"That’s enough," he said, stepping back. "You should be clean now."

Elara dared to peek over her shoulder, her cheeks glowing.

She wanted to say something — anything but her throat caught the words before they could escape.

Lucius reached for a robe, shaking it out. "Here. Put this on. You’ll feel better once you’re out."

He helped her slip into the robe, tying it loosely around her waist before stepping back.

His movements were efficient, practical.

But to Elara, every brush of fabric, every brush of his hand, lingered far longer in her mind than it should have.

"Rest here," Lucius said, already turning toward the door. "You’ll recover faster now that the filth is gone."

Her lips parted.

She wanted to call him back, wanted to cling to him for just a little longer. But in the end, she only nodded quietly.

Lucius left, pulling the door shut behind him.

By the time he returned to his room, the smell of sludge that had once filled the air was gone.

The space felt lighter, fresher, though his body sagged with exhaustion.

"I should just sleep a little," he muttered, stifling a yawn.

He collapsed onto the bed, sinking into the sheets, and within moments his breathing slowed.

Sleep claimed him quickly, dragging him into quiet darkness.

Not long after, the door creaked open.

Elara peeked inside, robe cinched tightly around her.

Her eyes softened at the sight of him sprawled across the mattress, utterly unguarded in slumber.

Her heart pounded as she stepped inside.

She hesitated at the edge of the bed, her hand clutching the fabric at her chest.

’I shouldn’t... I shouldn’t, but...’

Her lip trembled as she climbed onto the mattress.

Slowly, carefully, she slipped beneath the covers, her body curling beside his.

She stared at his sleeping face, cheeks warm.

’It’s alright... it has to be alright. I’m his. I belong here.’

She closed her eyes, pressing just a little closer. Sleep eventually claimed her too.

...

Elsewhere, in one of Valerian’s mansions, tension boiled in the air.

Valerian von Hohenberg paced the length of his chamber, his footsteps sharp against the marble floor.

His black hair, normally slicked back, flailed freely as he raked his fingers through it again and again.

"Lucius... Lucius... Lucius..." His voice seethed with venom as he ground his teeth. "I need to kill him."

His palms clenched into fists.

The skin on his hand was freshly healed, the memory of Lucius’s strike still burning in his pride.

That humiliation, that rejection, gnawed at him like a parasite.

Not only had Lucius dared to attack him — his older brother but he had also refused the call of their clan.

He had spat on their name, their traditions, their father’s will.

And Father... Father had entrusted Valerian with a task.

Bring Lucius back.

By any means.

Valerian stopped pacing, his expression twisting.

’If I cannot drag him back... then I’ll break him. Crush him until there’s nothing left.’

His eyes narrowed.

Tomorrow, Lucius had plans.

A girl.

A streamer that wasn’t yet prominent.

Valerian’s lips curled into a cruel smile then he frowned, he doubted if he truly cared about the woman.

But he would dispatch some people to follow her just in case,

He reached for his phone, tapping quickly and calling someone until the line connected.

A woman’s voice, smooth and teasing, answered on the other end.

"Valerian... calling so late in the evening? Has something gotten into you?"

Valerian’s tone was icy. "I need a bounty placed."

There was a pause. "Oh?"

Her interest sharpened.

"Lucius von Hohenberg," Valerian said, his eyes glinting like a blade in the dark. "Put a bounty on his head. One hundred billion Royals."

The voice on the other end chuckled softly, a note of delight in the sound. "That much? You really want him gone."

Valerian’s teeth bared in a grin that was anything but kind. "Let’s see you run from this, Lucius. Let’s see how long your luck holds out."

[Author’s Note]

Kept my promise, 3 Chapters done.

100 Power stones for another 3 Chapters hehe, see you guys later, need to read some more