The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Lie, lie, lies

Lucian’s sharp crimson eyes darkened, and his nostrils flared slightly as he caught a lingering scent in the air. It was faint but unmistakable—musky honeydew, a scent he knew all too well from dealings with the fae. His jaw tightened, and he leaned closer to Aeliana, his voice a low, dangerous whisper that sent shivers down her spine.

“Have you been sleeping with your cousin, Aeliana?”

Her golden eyes widened in shock, and she froze. “What makes you say that?” she stammered, her voice wavering slightly as her cheeks flushed with guilt.

Lucian leaned in closer, his lips brushing the shell of her ear as he whispered, “I can smell it, Princess. That honeydew musk… it’s the scent of faeries, their bodily fluids. And it’s clinging to you.”

Aeliana stepped back instinctively, her heart pounding. “That’s absurd!” she snapped, her voice rising defensively. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Lucian straightened, his imposing figure towering over her as he tilted his head, his expression unreadable but his eyes piercing through her like fire. “Don’t lie to me, Aeliana,” he said quietly, but his tone carried the weight of a storm about to break. “Tell me the truth.”

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as shame and anger warred within her. How could he know? How could he sense something so intimate and private? She swallowed hard, her voice trembling. “I… it was a mistake,” she admitted, her voice barely audible. “It didn’t mean anything. I thought it was you—”

“You thought it was me?” Lucian’s voice dropped even lower, his eyes narrowing as he took a step toward her. “Are you saying you mistook your cousin for me, Aeliana? Do you know how that sounds?”

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked away, unable to face the intensity of his gaze. “I wasn’t in my right mind,” she whispered. “I was confused, and he took advantage of it. It wasn’t intentional, Lucian. I swear.”

Lucian’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, silence filled the room, heavy and suffocating. Finally, he exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark hair. “You’ve put me in a difficult position, Princess,” he said, his voice still low but laced with frustration. “But if what you’re saying is true… then this isn’t just about us anymore. It’s about trust, and trust isn’t easily rebuilt.”

Aeliana wiped a tear from her cheek, her voice trembling as she said, “I’ll do whatever it takes to make this right, Lucian. Please… don’t leave me again.”

Lucian’s gaze softened slightly at her vulnerability, but the tension between them remained palpable. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his touch both gentle and firm. “This isn’t over, Aeliana,” he said. “But for now, I need time to think.”

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Aeliana standing there, her heart aching and her mind racing with the weight of what had just transpired.

Aeliana froze for a moment, her mind racing. She sniffed the air again, her cheeks burning as the faint musky honeydew scent lingered. Her eyes widened in sheer panic. Shit, shit, shit! How could I be so stupid? she thought, internally spiraling. Why didn’t I think to use an air freshening charm?

Lucian was already turning to leave, his broad shoulders stiff with tension. The sight of him walking away, of the distance growing between them, struck something deep inside her. Without thinking, she lunged forward, grabbing his wrist.

“Wait!” she blurted, her voice trembling.

He paused but didn’t turn around, his voice calm but cold. “Aeliana, I need time.”

“No,” she said firmly, tugging at his arm to make him face her. “You don’t need time because you’re wrong!”

Lucian finally turned, his crimson eyes narrowing at her, searching her face for answers. “Wrong? About what?”

Aeliana hesitated, her mouth dry. This is going to be so embarrassing, she thought, but there was no turning back now. She took a deep breath and blurted out, “The scent—it’s not what you think. It’s… it’s mine.”

Lucian tilted his head, confusion flickering across his face. “Yours? How does that make sense?”

Her cheeks turned an impossible shade of red, and she covered her face with her hands. “I was… I was masturbating, okay?!” she finally confessed, her words tumbling out in a rush. “The scent is from me, not my cousin. Gods, Lucian, I can’t believe I have to explain this to you!”

The room fell silent, the weight of her words hanging between them. Lucian stared at her, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, his lips curled into a smirk, and he stepped closer.

“Aeliana,” he said, his voice low and teasing, “you’re telling me all this drama was because of… that?”

“Stop laughing!” she snapped, her face still buried in her hands. “It’s not funny!”

He gently pulled her hands away from her face, his smirk softening into a genuine smile. “It’s a little funny,” he said, his crimson eyes sparkling with amusement. “But more than that… I appreciate your honesty, even if it was a bit awkward.”

Before she could respond, Lucian cupped her face and leaned in, pressing his lips to hers. The kiss was firm, passionate, and filled with reassurance. Aeliana’s heart raced as she melted into it, her embarrassment slowly fading.

When they finally broke apart, Lucian rested his forehead against hers, his voice soft. “Aeliana, you drive me mad sometimes, but I love you. And nothing—nothing—is going to change that.”

Her eyes welled up with tears, but this time they were tears of relief. “I’m sorry for making such a mess of things,” she whispered.

Lucian chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “It’s not a mess—it’s just you being you. Now, let’s move on from this and focus on what really matters.”

She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Okay. But next time, I’m definitely using an air-freshening spell.”

He laughed, pulling her into his arms. “Noted.”

Lucian’s embrace tightened briefly before he pulled back, his expression shifting from playful to serious. “As much as I enjoy our… candid moments, Aeliana,” he began, his tone low and measured, “We have far more pressing matters to address.”

Her brows furrowed, sensing the gravity in his words. “What do you mean? Is this about the ball?”

“Partly,” he admitted, stepping away and running a hand through his dark hair. “But mostly, it’s about the political tensions we’re navigating. Lady Selinthra is becoming more of a problem than I anticipated. She’s using every opportunity to undermine our engagement, and now the werewolf clans are adding to the chaos.”

Aeliana frowned, crossing her arms. “The werewolf clans? What do they want?”

Lucian sighed, his crimson eyes glowing faintly as his frustration leaked through. “They’re pitching the idea of marrying me off to their Luna. They claim it would unite the demonkin and strengthen alliances between our people. They’ve even gone so far as to say it’s for the greater good of the realm.”

Her jaw tightened, and she clenched her fists. “That’s absurd! We’re already working to unite the realms—you and I together. Why would they even suggest such a thing?”

Lucian’s smirk was bitter. “Because some of them still don’t trust the idea of a demon lord being tied to the lightkind. They see you as a threat to tradition, to stability. And Selinthra… well, she’s using that fear to her advantage.”

Aeliana’s heart sank. She had anticipated resistance to their union, but hearing it laid out so plainly made it feel all the more daunting. “And what do you think?” she asked quietly, her voice trembling slightly.

Lucian’s gaze softened as he stepped closer, his hands resting on her shoulders. “I think that without you, all of this—every effort we’ve made—means nothing. You’re the reason I’m even entertaining this maddening idea of peace. But Aeliana…” He paused, his voice dropping lower. “When things go wrong—and they will—I need you to be on my side. Completely. No second-guessing, no doubts. Because if we’re divided when shit goes down, they’ll use it against us.”

She met his gaze, seeing the raw sincerity in his eyes. “Lucian, I’m with you. You know that.”

“Do I?” he asked, tilting his head slightly. “Because right now, between your cousin’s… interest in you and this scent incident, I need to know that we’re solid. That when they come for us—and they will—we stand as one.”

Aeliana swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words. She placed her hands over his, squeezing gently. “Lucian, I’m on your side. I promise. I know this isn’t going to be easy, but we’ve come too far to let anyone or anything tear us apart.”

His lips quirked into a small, tired smile. “Good. Because I’m not going anywhere, no matter how many werewolves or scheming nobles try to drag me into their plans.”

Aeliana smiled faintly, though her mind was already racing with the implications of his words. Lady Selinthra, the werewolves, their engagement—it all felt like an intricate web threatening to ensnare them. But she wouldn’t back down. Not now, not ever.

“Then let’s face this together,” she said firmly.

Lucian nodded, his confidence returning. “Together.”