"Emma," he said with a soft grin, "you've worked hard all day. You must be tired. "Want me to help you bathe?" Emma stared at the tiny scraps of fabric dangling between his fingers. Her lips twitched. This man was shameless. Even Edric hadn't gone that far. At least Edric's idea of sleepwear looked wearable, even if they showed some skin. But Silas? Those pieces barely qualified as clothing. "No, thanks," she said at once. "I'm going to train tonight. I'll bathe later." The disappointment on Silas' face was instant. He had been waiting all evening to see her in those nightclothes. Looked like his wish would have to wait.A knock sounded on the door. Lucien's deep voice followed. "Emma, my lady, may I come in?" Emma froze before she even turned. Her cheeks turned bright pink. They'd already agreed he'd stop calling her that. Silas noticed her reaction, and something flickered in his eyes. So, that's what she likes, he thought. He stood and smiled warmly. "Emma, Lucien just recovered. He probably wants to talk. I'll head to my room and let you two catch up." Emma wanted to know what Lucien had come for. She nodded at Silas. "You should rest early too. I'll feed you blood tomorrow." Silas sighed in defeat.When it came to this, Emma never listened to him. Whether as her match or her partner, he had no choice but to follow her lead. "Alright," he said softly. He walked to the door and pulled it open. Lucien stood there, calm and unreadable. Silas gave a faint smirk. "Didn't think you'd be such a smooth player, Your Highness." Player? What's he even talking about? Lucien thought. Lucien frowned slightly as Silas brushed past him and left. Inside, Emma had just set down a few beast cores, preparing to train. Lucien stepped in quietly. He froze halfway across the room. His hands curled into fists. "My… my lady, I…" Words failed him.How was he supposed to explain all this? Emma turned to look at him. And for the first time, she saw him clearly. He stood tall, the light catching the sharp cut of his jaw. His brows were shaped like blades, his eyes half-lidded and calm but edged with danger. When his gaze met hers, it glittered with cold light, piercing and steady. His frame was lean yet strong, his shoulders broad beneath his fitted clothes. Every movement looked unforced yet deliberate, graceful in a way that felt dangerous. He was like moonlight sliding across marble—distant, perfect, untouchable. Everything about him screamed elegance and power. He was so beautiful it almost hurt to look at him. Emma's heart skipped. She actually felt small standing there. For a split second, she wanted to kneel, to treat him like something sacred."Emma?" His voice broke the silence. It was low and uncertain. He could see she wasn't speaking. Was she mad? Her heart jumped when he said her name. God, what was she thinking? Worship? Absurd. No matter how handsome he looked, he was still hers. Her match. Her partner. Her man. She coughed lightly, snapping herself out of it. "Ahem." She straightened and spoke again. "Didn't I tell you to use my name? Why are you calling me 'my lady' again?" Lucien's eyes brightened. "You still want me to call you Emma?"I thought you were angry," he said softly. "I thought you hated that I hid the truth about being Coalball. I figured you didn't want to hear me say your name anymore." Emma hadn't been angry at all. But now that he'd said it that way, she figured maybe she should act like she was. A little pressure wouldn't hurt, especially when it came to men. Her face grew serious. "Now that you mention it," she said, "I am a little angry. Why did you hide it from me? Even Silas, who's practically a stick in a pot, doesn't keep secrets from me." Lucien wasn't nearly as shameless as Silas. That guy had no shame at all. He'd do anything that didn't break the law of the universe. Lucien's gaze met Emma's, his voice trembling. "I was scared you'd hate me. I thought you'd find me disgusting." Emma frowned."You really think I'm that shallow?" She stepped closer, head held high, eyes locked on his. "If I cared about your looks, I wouldn't have taken you back with me." Lucien's throat felt tight. "I'm sorry, Emma. I was wrong." He spoke like every word came straight from his chest. "Please don't make me leave. Let me stay by your side. I swear on the Beast God's name, I'll never keep anything from you again." That was what Emma wanted. Her lips curved into a soft smile as she reached out to touch his face. "You're the one chosen for me by the Beast God. Unless you want to break the bond, I'll never send you away. You didn't even do anything that bad." Lucien froze. Shock flickered in his eyes. "Emma… what did you just say?" He blinked, breath catching."You said I'm your match?" "Yeah." Emma said it like it was the simplest thing in the world. The disbelief on his face made her remember what Silas had told her. Lucien had lost his lightcore in battle.