Theo sat at his desk, diligently writing scripture after scripture.
As an author, he couldn't tolerate a single day without putting words to paper. Writing wasn't a habit—it was something etched into his bones.
TUD. TUD.
A sudden noise echoed from the balcony.
Shivers ran down Theo's spine.
'Don't tell me… is it a robber?'
He grabbed the thickest book within reach and crept toward the balcony, heart pounding.
Swallowing hard, he counted silently.
'One… two… three—'
"HYA—oh."
Theo froze mid-swing.
"…It's just a bird."
A homing pigeon, to be precise.
He leaned closer and noticed the letter tied to the bird's leg. His shoulders relaxed.
"So it's a messenger bird…"
Then his eyes widened.
"Don't tell me…" His lips curled into a shy, scandalized grin. "A love message?!"
"How indecent!"
He waved the pigeon closer and carefully untied the letter. Only then did he notice the red jewel hanging from the bird's neck, faint mana pulsing within it.
"Red mana jewel…" He gasped. "Is the sender a rich mommy?"
Theo took a deep breath, excitement bubbling as he unfolded the letter.
'Finally—a girlfriend after being a virgin for twenty freaking years!'
His hope died instantly.
The letter read:
Say piu piu.
"…Piu piu?" Theo muttered, tilting his head.
FLASH!
Blinding light flooded the balcony.
Theo barely had time to shield his eyes before the light faded—and someone stood before him.
Lucien.
No disguise. No borrowed face. No pretense.
Dark hair fell in soft disarray around a face too beautiful to trust. When he lifted his gaze, golden eyes caught the light—sharp and knowing beneath their effortless calm. His stare lingered a second longer than necessary, intimate enough to feel deliberate.
Black and white framed him in quiet elegance, a tailored vest drawn close to his form, gold accents resting against his chest like secrets meant to be noticed but never explained. Near his lips, he idly held a leaf between his fingers, the gesture careless—almost thoughtful.
His smile was soft.
His eyes were not.
The contrast alone made Theo forget how to breathe.
"Miss me?" Lucien murmured, his voice dropping into a husky whisper.
"Are you trying to blind me?" Theo snapped.
"Hm?"
"Never mind…"
Theo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Why are you here?"
"Ouch. Not even a greeting? How cold." Lucien hugged himself dramatically, playing the role of a wounded man.
Theo made a face. "Your face is distorting."
"Please get to the point," Theo added flatly, "before I erase your next generation for trespassing into my house."
Lucien laughed, lifting his hands in surrender. "How provocative. Fine."
With a flick of his fingers, twenty bags of mana stones materialized.
"We retrieved forty bags of Obscyra. Just as you predicted, the dungeon closed on its own."
"I see. Twenty–twenty, then."
"Yes. It's even."
"Alright, Thank you."
"…That's it?"
"Huh?"
"No kiss as a reward?"
"Get the hell out."
Lucien threw his head back, laughing. He clearly enjoyed pushing Theo's buttons.
'This schmuck…'
Theo strongly considered kicking him somewhere treasonous.
"Ah—one more thing." Lucien stepped closer and plucked the small letter from Theo's hand. It shimmered, transforming into a golden mana-stone necklace engraved with the letter ' L '.
"Wear this and call out the code name..."
Lucien leaned in, brushing Theo's long black hair aside as his cold fingers skimmed the warm skin.
Click.
The necklace locked into place, the length fitting as though it had always belonged there.
"…Whenever you need me," Lucien whispered, his breath hot against Theo's ear.
Theo stiffened.
'Why does he smell so nice? Is that premium royal bath soap?'
"…Code name?" Theo asked quietly.
"Yes. 'Piu piu.' "
"…."
Silence.
[Theo's interest level decreased. u - u ]
'This is not a dating sim. Shut up, system.'
"…Why piu piu?"
Lucien grinned, proud. "It's my birdie's name."
"In the future," Theo said flatly, "think twice before naming your children."
"Oh?" Lucien chuckled. "Is that a marriage proposal?"
Theo scowled, stepping back and bowing slightly. "Goodnight, Your Highness."
Lucien froze.
The sudden formality visibly shook him.
"…Luci," he corrected quietly. "It's Luci."
'Huh?'
Theo blinked. 'Oh…does he want me to be careful with his identity?'
"Luci...Goodnight."
Lucien smiled—slow, satisfied.
"Good," he said softly. "Next time, choose a better weapon than a book."
Golden mana flickered like fireflies as Lucien vanished into thin air.
"…How did he know?"
Theo's memory drifted to the balcony scene—
The red mana jewel on the pigeon's neck.
His face burned with realisation.
"...Fuck."
It seemed that losing his virginity to a beauty—
Still had a very long way to go.
—
TO BE CONTINUED