This is going to be awkward, Lucifer thought.
The realization settled over him the moment Rowan asked the question.
Lucifer had expected tension tonight. After everything that had happened during the last few days, there had been no realistic way this dinner could pass quietly. Still, sitting across from Rowan Obsidian Valcrest while the entire family watched was not the situation he would have chosen.
The dining hall felt unusually tight despite its size. The long polished table stretched between them, chandeliers casting warm golden light over silverware and untouched dishes. Normally, the room carried the comfortable rhythm of family dinners, but tonight every small sound felt distant and strained.
Lucifer could feel Rowan's gaze before he even looked up.
The Duke of Valcrest was not a man who spoke casually. When Rowan asked a question, it was rarely out of curiosity.
It was because he already suspected the answer.
The past few days had already drained him more than he liked to admit. The confrontation with Amelia still lingered in the back of his mind. Mia's ritual had nearly turned into something catastrophic. Even his walk through the Ancestral Hall earlier had forced him to face memories he would rather have ignored.
And now this.
Now he had to explain himself.
Rowan spoke again.
"What happened yesterday?"
His voice was calm.
His expression was not.
"Explain the incident with Mia."
Lucifer felt the pressure immediately. Every person at the table shifted slightly, their attention sharpening.
For a moment, Lucifer considered giving a short answer. Something simple. Something that would end the conversation quickly.
But Rowan was not someone who accepted simple answers.
Lucifer slowly straightened in his chair.
You knew this was coming, he reminded himself.
So stop acting surprised.
He inhaled slowly and forced the tension out of his shoulders.
Running from this conversation would only make things worse.
If he was going to stand here as Lucifer Obsidian Valcrest, then he had to stop behaving like the same coward everyone remembered.
Lucifer folded his hands loosely on the table.
"When I was returning home yesterday," he began calmly, "I noticed someone was following me."
The statement immediately drew attention.
Rowan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Lucifer continued.
"At first, I thought it might just be coincidence. People walk the same streets all the time. But after a while, it became obvious that whoever it was had no intention of showing themselves."
He paused briefly.
"They were keeping their distance, matching my pace, adjusting whenever I slowed down."
Sebastian frowned slightly.
Lucifer continued.
"So I decided to find out who it was."
Clara leaned forward slightly.
"You noticed someone following you," she said gently, "and instead of coming home immediately, you decided to investigate it yourself?"
Her voice carried concern more than criticism.
Lucifer nodded.
"Yes."
Clara looked troubled.
"Lucifer… if you believed you were in danger, why didn't you tell your father?"
The question hung in the air.
Lucifer glanced briefly at Rowan before answering.
"I didn't want the enemy to become alert."
That explanation was reasonable.
But Lucifer wasn't finished.
"And besides," he added calmly, "I wasn't sure my father would send backup."
The room went still.
Lucifer leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Considering the last time we met in public," he said quietly, "I seem to remember being thrown under a bus."
The sarcasm was unmistakable.
Sebastian looked uncomfortable.
Ariel's lips twitched slightly.
Clara lowered her gaze as well.
Rowan remained completely still.
The silence stretched long enough to become awkward.
Lucifer noticed it and shrugged faintly.
Seeing no response, he continued.
"So instead, I called Michael."
Sebastian blinked.
Lucifer reached for the water pitcher and poured himself a glass.
"I asked him to come just in case."
He took a slow sip before continuing.
"I wanted to see who was following me. So I became the bait."
Another pause.
"Turns out it was Mia Valcrest, one of the core elders of the family."
Clara stiffened.
Lucifer continued calmly.
"She intended to transform me into a demon."
Ariel let out a quiet curse.
Lucifer placed the glass back on the table.
"When she began performing the ritual, Michael broke in."
He spread his hands slightly.
"And that's why I'm sitting here."
The silence that followed felt heavier than before.
Lucifer poured himself another glass of water and drank slowly.
Rowan spoke again.
"You noticed someone following you."
"Yes."
"And you claim you were newly awakened at the time."
Lucifer nodded.
Rowan's voice remained calm.
"How exactly did you notice someone following you?"
Lucifer did not answer immediately.
The Duke continued.
"And where were you before you decided to return home?"
Lucifer remained silent.
Rowan leaned forward slightly.
"You are also claiming to have reached E-rank despite awakening recently."
The Duke's voice remained steady.
"Your explanation contains several inconsistencies."
Lucifer felt a small wave of panic rise in his chest.
Damn it, he thought.
He had expected questions, but Rowan had already targeted the weakest parts of his explanation.
Lucifer forced himself to remain calm.
Arguing with Rowan would be a mistake. The more he spoke, the greater the chance he would reveal something he could not take back.
So instead, he decided to take control of the conversation.
"You're asking how I knew someone was following me?" Lucifer said calmly.
"Fine."
He lifted his hand slightly.
A faint glow appeared around it.
He mumbled softly, "Perceive."
The soft light from his Origin Card flickered faintly.
"My Origin allows me to sense emotional intent," Lucifer explained. "Especially hostility and murderous intent."
The glow faded slowly.
"That's how I noticed them."
Rowan did not respond.
Lucifer leaned back again.
"As for where I was before returning home," he added calmly, "I believe I have no obligation to explain that."
The statement made Sebastian shift uneasily.
Lucifer continued.
"It was my decision to leave this estate."
He glanced around the table.
"If I wanted to be found, why would I leave in the first place?"
Rowan remained silent.
Lucifer continued.
"As for how I reached E-rank…"
He paused briefly.
"That is something I will not explain."
Clara looked surprised.
Lucifer continued calmly.
"It's something personal."
Then he added quietly,
"And who knows? If you knew my secret,"
"You'd sell me out again."
The words landed heavily.
Rowan did not react.
The Duke simply watched him.
Finally, Rowan spoke.
"I see."
His tone remained calm.
"So during the months you were away…"
He paused slightly.
"You learned how to lie."
Everyone stiffened.
Lucifer felt his jaw tighten.
But Rowan was not finished.
The Duke's gaze remained fixed on him.
"You also avoided answering where you were before returning home."
Lucifer said nothing.
Rowan continued.
"You avoided explaining your sudden advancement to E-rank."
Another pause.
"And you avoided explaining how you managed to contact Michael while supposedly being followed."
Sebastian looked increasingly uncomfortable.
Ariel folded her arms, watching both of them with growing interest.
Rowan leaned back slightly.
Then he spoke again.
"You were in the Noct Vale Highlands."
The words hit the table like a hammer.
"Quite an interesting place for a vacation," Rowan added calmly.
Lucifer stiffened for half a second.
Then he relaxed.
"Well," Lucifer replied quietly, "according to all of you, I'm the kind of man who would molest a Sovereign's daughter."
He looked directly at Rowan.
"So why did you expect honesty from me toward a mere duke?"
The venom in his voice shocked everyone.
Sebastian stared at him.
Ariel raised an eyebrow.
Clara whispered softly.
"Lucifer…"
But Rowan remained calm.
The Duke watched him for several seconds.
Then he spoke again.
"You called for help from the Noct Vale Highlands."
Lucifer's heartbeat skipped.
"I received that call," Rowan continued.
The entire table froze.
"And I strongly suspect," Rowan added calmly, "that the unrest in that region was your doing."
Lucifer said nothing.
Rowan continued.
"Thirty-four people died during that incident."
Clara suddenly covered her mouth.
"Rowan… that's enough," she said softly, her voice shaking. "Lucifer was alone out there."
But Rowan did not stop.
The Duke's voice remained steady.
"The organization responsible for the unrest…"
His gaze locked onto Lucifer.
"…is the same organization Mia belonged to."
The room went completely silent.
Rowan leaned back slightly in his chair.
"They were attempting to capture you. They are all dead while you are here eating food leisurely."
The Duke's eyes never left Lucifer.
"So tell me, Lucifer."
His voice was quiet.
"What lie will you tell now?"