LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 102: husband
Lucian shifted uncomfortably in his chair, unsure of what to say after his apology. The awkward silence between them lingered like a thick fog, and he could feel Celestia's gaze fixed on him.
She sat there, her chin resting on her hands, elbows propped on the table, looking at him with an intensity that was both unsettling and strangely endearing. Her bright eyes didn't blink, and it seemed as though she could sit there staring at him for hours without tiring.
Lucian cleared his throat nervously, his hands fidgeting on the table. "So… um… I've been meaning to ask," he began hesitantly, avoiding her gaze as he rubbed the back of his neck. "How did you know about me and Avey? That… childhood gratitude thing? I mean, not many people know about it. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if even Avey herself has forgotten it."
He looked up, genuinely curious now. For someone like Celestia, with her larger-than-life presence, to bring up something so deeply personal and obscure it baffled him.
Celestia tilted her head slightly, her expression puzzled, as though his question was completely unnecessary. Her tone was light but resolute as she answered, "Of course, I know everything about my husband. Why is that even surprising?"
Lucian froze. Husband?
His eyes widened, and his face flushed a deep shade of red. He blinked rapidly, trying to process her words. "H… H-husband?" he stammered, his voice cracking. His hands trembled slightly, and a bead of sweat slid down his temple. "W-what are you talking about? Cough uh, husband?!"
Celestia remained unfazed, her expression calm and confident, as though she hadn't just dropped a bombshell. "What's there to be confused about?" she asked matter-of-factly, leaning forward slightly. "I've already decided you're my husband. Naturally, I know everything about you."
Lucian's blush deepened, his mind racing as he tried to find a way to respond. His thoughts were a chaotic swirl of embarrassment, confusion, and something he refused to acknowledge as intrigue. He shook his head furiously, attempting to clear it.
But Celestia wasn't done. "In fact," she continued with a playful smirk, as if teasing him was her new favorite hobby, "I could tell you anything about yourself. Your birthday, your habits, your closest friends…" Her smirk widened into a mischievous grin. "Even the color of your underwear right now."
Lucian nearly choked on air. His jaw dropped, and his hand instinctively shot up to his chest as if that would stop the rapid thudding of his heart. "W-what?! That's… that's ridiculous!" he sputtered, his words tangling as he tried to comprehend what he'd just heard. "There's no way you could know that. That's impossible!"
Celestia leaned back in her chair, looking at him with a glint of amusement in her eyes. She crossed her arms, her grin widening as she replied smoothly, "Try me."
Lucian blinked, his mind blanking for a moment. She can't possibly know that… right?
He coughed awkwardly, his face now resembling a ripe tomato. "F-fine," he muttered under his breath, his curiosity getting the better of him despite his embarrassment. "Then… what color am I wearing right now?"
Celestia didn't miss a beat. Her grin turned almost predatory as she locked eyes with him
Lucian suddenly winced, his hand flying to the back of his neck as a sharp, stinging sensation startled him. "Auww! What the...?" he muttered, rubbing the area as his face contorted in confusion and mild pain.
The abruptness of the feeling left him bewildered. He looked around the restaurant, scanning the tables, the softly murmuring patrons, and the waitstaff bustling about. Everything seemed normal no strange occurrences, no culprits, nothing that could explain the odd sensation.
"What was that?" Lucian muttered to himself, his fingers gingerly massaging the back of his neck. For a brief moment, he even wondered if his imagination was playing tricks on him.
"What happened? Is something wrong?" Celestia's smooth voice broke through his thoughts. She sat there, still composed, her chin resting lightly on her interlocked fingers. Her curious eyes were locked on his every movement, like a predator watching its prey.
Lucian hesitated, unsure whether to brush it off. "Uh… nothing. Just… maybe a mosquito or something," he said, forcing a casual tone, though his hand didn't leave his neck.
Celestia arched an eyebrow, her lips curving into an enigmatic smile. "A mosquito? Hm… interesting."
Lucian let out a slow breath, trying to shake the unease creeping up his spine. He couldn't tell if it was from the strange sensation or the way Celestia was studying him, her gaze unnervingly intense yet unreadable.
"Alright then," Celestia said, leaning back in her chair and folding her arms. Her smirk deepened, her eyes gleaming with playful malice. "So, where were we?"
Lucian blinked, slightly disoriented, but her next words hit him like a freight train.
"Oh, yes your underwear."
Lucian felt heat surge to his face. His ears burned, and his jaw slackened in sheer disbelief. how can this women be so...
Celestia chuckled, tilting her head slightly, her eyes never leaving his. "Black. You're wearing black today, aren't you?" she said, her tone sweet but laced with a mischievous edge. Her lips parted as she licked them, like a cat toying with its prey.
Lucian froze, his mind grinding to a halt. How the hell does she know that?! Panic surged through him as he tried to piece together how she could possibly be aware of such a private detail. His hands instinctively gripped the edge of the table.
His voice trembled as he finally managed to speak. "H-How do you know that?!" His words were almost a whisper, but the intensity behind them was palpable.
Celestia's grin widened, and she leaned in slightly, her voice dropping an octave. "Oh, hubby… I told you, I know everything about my you." Her eyes glinted with a strange combination of amusement and something darker.
Lucian's heart skipped a beat, his pulse quickening. A chill ran down his spine as the realization hit him she wasn't joking. Her confidence, her demeanor it was all too unsettling. But how could she possibly…? he wondered, his mind racing through every logical explanation.
Celestia didn't stop there. "And," she added, her voice as smooth as silk, "there's a white stripe on the waistband, isn't there?"
Lucian's eyes widened in horror. How… how the hell does she even know that?!
His thoughts spiraled. Does she have some sort of advanced tech? A hidden camera? X-ray vision?! None of it made sense. His face burned brighter than the midday sun, and his lips parted, though no coherent words came out.
"How?" he finally croaked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Celestia tilted her head further, her expression almost pitying. "I told you, my dear Lucian. I know everything about you." She smiled sweetly, her teeth catching the light, and her voice carried an almost eerie certainty. "It's because you're mine."
Lucian felt a shiver crawl down his spine. His soul trembled under her words, and he instinctively leaned back in his chair, trying to put as much distance as possible between them. But no amount of space could shield him from the weight of her gaze or the oppressive aura she exuded.
She's insane, he thought, swallowing hard. She's absolutely insane.
"Y-You're joking, right?" he managed to say, though his voice was unconvincing even to his own ears.
Celestia leaned forward, closing the gap between them once more. Her grin widened, and she licked her lips again, her eyes narrowing. "Does it look like I'm joking?" she asked, her tone both playful and menacing.
Lucian's heart pounded in his chest, and he forced himself to break eye contact, his gaze darting around the room for anything to anchor him back to reality. But the restaurant carried on as if nothing had happened, the clinking of utensils and soft murmur of voices creating a bizarrely normal backdrop to the chaos unfolding inside his mind.
He exhaled shakily, rubbing the back of his neck once more as if trying to ground himself. "This can't be real…" he muttered under his breath.
"Oh, it's very real," Celestia said, her voice low and sultry. "And you should get used to it, my dear husband."
Lucian's body tensed, his hands curling into fists under the table. Husband?! What the hell was going on? His thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion, embarrassment, and a growing sense of dread.