Chapter 333: Why did you reject her advance?

"I am always humble."

And Lucian—

He just stared at this woman with a flat look on his face.

"I still remember you saying no one here was strong enough to do anything to you."

"And?"

Aurelia did not understand.

Lucian’s mouth twitched, the Vampire chuckled.

"Stating a fact does not make me arrogant, and I never said no one here was strong enough to do anything to me.

If all of House Arcelis came together, they could defeat me... I think."

"You think?"

Lucian raised an eyebrow.

Aurelia shrugged.

"I do not know how strong I’d be if I pushed myself to my limits, it has been a while since I last did that."

"...riiight."

Lucian nodded.

Staring at the woman as he learned the new meaning of humble.

He was learning a lot from her.

Soon, however, Lucian frowned.

"Wait, if you cannot move independently, how did you gather all this information? You also told me I cannot keep up with you because the places you will be going are dangerous."

That made Aurelia pause for a moment.

Then she smiled.

"I thought it was cool."

Lucian stared at her.

Then he shook his head and let out a laugh.

"You used your people?"

"I have a few who aren’t marked."

Aurelia smiled.

Lucian had no idea what he was supposed to say to that.

He didn’t even ask how she had a few unmarked people under her when everyone was supposed to be marked. Clearly, the woman had means far beyond what he knew of, he decided it was better not to ask.

Especially when he knew he wouldn’t get an answer.

So he asked questions he thought he could get answers to.

"Why not use them to get to Varek?"

"Wouldn’t he be more chatty when he meets an old friend?"

Aurelia chuckled softly.

Lucian stared at her, in his mind, he already knew the reason.

She did not wish to reveal her involvement in case Varek, because of some twisted manipulation, turned out to be on Arcelis’s side.

He was much safer.

That way, House Veyr wouldn’t be put to questioning, all the blame would come to him instead.

He kept staring at the woman in front of him, Aurelia smiled, as if knowing he had already connected the dots.

"So? Are you ready? Do you want to finally join in the fun, or do you plan on sitting back?"

Lucian smiled at that question, then he laughed.

"Alright."

He nodded.

"How can you get me to Varek?"

He asked directly.

Aurelia’s smile widened.

"Give me three hours."

"That sounds very cool as well."

"Right? I was thinking the same thing."

The two chuckled.

"Now go rest."

Aurelia instructed. Lucian nodded as he stood and walked out of her suite and returned to his own, which was right beside it.

Then, he jumped onto his bed, took out his phone and called his dear teacher.

[What?]

The familiar voice full of love came from the other side.

"Hello to you too, teacher."

Lucian greeted with a big smile on his face. Vivienne did not say anything, Lucian half expected that, so he jumped to what was more important as he lay down on his bed.

"We found something."

[Explain.]

She instructed and like the good student he was, Lucian told her everything he had just found out.

Project Crimson Crucible, the earlier subjects, Varek being the first confirmed success, Neroth’s Blood, decades of adaptation, the possibility that he might even be contracted to Neroth, why Varek’s Third Crimson Ascension mattered, why Vespera mattered and finally—

The Humans who would be sacrificed.

He told her everything and Vivienne—

[Aurelia uncovered all of that in one day?]

That was her only question and Lucian...

He realised the answer to his next question without even having to ask.

Vivienne knew him and she knew him well, from his tone, she must already know that he hated how these people intended to sacrifice thousands of humans.

And not just this one time, they would do it again and again, for at least the next few centuries to make ’a new generation of Vampires’.

It was revolting to even think about.

But...

Vivienne not even addressing the matter made one thing very clear.

She was telling Lucian not to do anything rash and again, Lucian already understood that. This was why he was clinging to Aurelia in the first place.

Still...

To think even his Teacher couldn’t do anything about it.

[Lucian.]

Suddenly, Vivienne called again.

[The World is not a bright place, there are still many things you do not know. You are directing your hate towards them because they are Vampires but...

Humans are not any better.]

She spoke and Lucian could swear he sensed an emotion in her voice.

An emotion that was now gone.

[So calm down, do not put yourself at risk by doing something foolish.]

Lucian heard those words and he nodded.

Then—

"Of course, teacher."

He smiled.

"I know that. I was actually thinking about what you said about Aurelia.

She really did find it all in about a day."

[She is resourceful.]

Vivienne praised.

"She is. She is impressive."

He spoke as he rolled on his bed.

"Ridiculously impressive, honestly."

He stared at the ceiling, remembering the woman sitting on his lap, so dangerously close to him that he almost lost control.

Lucian’s eyes burned with strong desire.

His mind was so occupied that for the next few seconds, he didn’t even notice his teacher’s silence.

But when he finally snapped back and he did—

"Teacher?"

He called out as he raised an eyebrow.

That was when Vivienne asked the question that she had been thinking about since yesterday.

[Why did you reject her advance?]

Lucian paused at that question.

"...what?"

[You heard me.]

Vivienne answered in her usual calm voice.

"I did."

Lucian nodded as he sat up.

"I just don’t understand why you’re asking.

You were the one who said I made the right decision."