Chapter 218: Aurielle’s Love Evolved
Aurielle’s hand paused for the briefest moment.
Then her smile deepened.
The comb slowly came to a stop as she leaned back slightly into his embrace, enjoying the familiar warmth.
"So, You finally remembered your wife?"
A teasing smile appeared on her face, though the happiness hidden in her eyes was impossible to conceal.
Aurielle didn’t think much of the hug.
After all, they had spent almost the entire previous night together, makinglove, so Luke suddenly acting affectionate again was a little unusual.
But she didn’t mind.
In fact she rather liked it.
Seeing that she seemed to be in a good mood, Luke rested his chin lightly on her shoulder and met her eyes through the mirror.
Keeping his expression as natural as possible, he asked in an almost casual tone,
"Honey."
"Did you happen to receive an invitation letter from Empyrean Academy?"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
He deliberately avoided sounding suspicious or accusatory, asking as though it were nothing more than an ordinary question.
Yet.
The moment those words left his mouth—
Aurielle’s hand stopped. The comb froze halfway through her hair.
Even the gentle smile reflected in the mirror slowly disappeared.
The atmosphere inside the room changed almost instantly.
Luke felt his throat go dry.
’...Please don’t get angry.’
A long silence followed. Neither of them spoke.
Only after several moments did Aurielle resume combing her hair.
Stroke after stroke. Her movements remained graceful.
Her expression, however. Had become completely indifferent.
"Yes."
"I received it."
Her voice was calm. far too calm.
"And I burned it."
There wasn’t the slightest trace of a smile on her face anymore.
Only an icy stillness remained.
Aurielle’s expression remained completely unchanged.
There wasn’t the slightest hint of guilt on her face.
If anything, she looked as though she had merely done what any devoted wife should have done.
Luke: ’0-0’
The system: [0-0]
Luke’s eyebrow twitched.
’Huh?’
’Why are you making that face?’
He couldn’t understand the system’s reaction.
This was clearly a matter involving his second wife.
Yet this time. It had suddenly joined in with that strange expression.
Before Luke could complain any further.
A new notification appeared before his eyes.
[Natal Obsessive Love has successfully evolved.]
Luke’s pupils narrowed slightly.
His expression, however, remained perfectly calm.
He silently waited for the rest of the message.
Another panel appeared.
[Please fulfill the second condition to unlock the Second Milestone.]
[Target: Wife — Aurielle Valmont]
[Current Realm: Early Silver Knight]
[Status: Not Achieved.]
"..."
Luke stared blankly at the floating screen.
Then the corner of his mouth twitched.
’The hell? There was a second condition?’
’System! You never mentioned this before!’
He immediately began cursing the system in his mind.
The requirement had appeared completely out of nowhere.
[Luke, that’s a built-in safety measure.]
[Some users reached the peak, only to find themselves completely alone.]
[They happily accepted rewards from their wives but rarely invested those rewards back into them.]
[In the end, their wives died from accidents, battles... or simply old age.]
Luke’s expression stiffened.
’Just how many users has this system had before me?’ That question quietly surfaced in his mind.
Even so, his hand never stopped moving.
He continued gently running his fingers through Aurielle’s long, silky hair while silently conversing with the system.
Aurielle noticed the brief pause.
Her emerald eyes flickered with curiosity through the mirror.
But she didn’t interrupt him.
Instead, she quietly continued combing her hair.
Luke answered the system in his mind.
’Even if you hadn’t told me. I was always planning to help my wives become stronger.’
The system’s response came almost immediately.
[Sure, sure.]
"..."
Luke chose to ignore the obvious sarcasm.
Taking a quiet breath, he focused his attention entirely on Aurielle again.
Lowering his head slightly, he moved closer until their faces were reflected side by side in the mirror.
"Honey." His voice was gentle.
"Why did you do that?" He searched her eyes for an answer.
"What if. It contained something important for me?"
Aurielle’s lips twitched slightly.
’He still has the nerve to act innocent. Did he really think she didn’t know why he was asking?’
Taking a slow breath, she answered in what she believed was a perfectly normal tone.
Unfortunately.
To Luke, it sounded colder than the depths of winter.
"Don’t act so innocent in front of me."
Her fingers slowly tightened around the hand resting on her waist.
Not enough to hurt him. But enough to make her displeasure unmistakably clear.
"I know you want to meet Selene."
The instant she spoke Selene’s name. She slowly turned her head.
Their eyes met.
A sharp glare shot straight at Luke through the mirror.
It was enough to make even him instinctively stiffen.
Aurielle had accepted the existence of Luke’s other wives.
She truly had.
But acceptance, didn’t mean approval of everything he did.
Nor did it mean she would simply stand aside while her husband wandered wherever he pleased like an untethered bull.
After all...
Luke hadn’t earned his reputation as a womanizer for no reason.
Whether he realized it or not. Whenever they toured Blackstone together, Aurielle noticed everything.
Every lingering glance. Every blushing young woman.
Every noble lady who secretly stole another look at him.
Every adventurer who whispered to her companions after Luke walked past.
He remained blissfully unaware.
Aurielle, however saw every single one of them.
Every single one of those women looked at Luke with unmistakable longing.
That was the part Aurielle couldn’t understand.
She could accept the gazes of the female summons Luke had brought into the territory.
After all, he was their master.
Their admiration was only natural. But those other bit*hes.
Why were they looking at him like that?
Like they didn’t had any men in their own families.
Or had every decent man in Blackstone suddenly vanished, forcing them to stare so shamelessly at someone else’s husband?
The more Aurielle thought about it. The more annoyed she became.
Unfortunately.
Even now, she couldn’t find an answer.
Meanwhile, Luke quietly listened to her words.
He couldn’t deny them. She was right.
The moment he heard that Selene would soon arrive on the Human Continent.
His heart had genuinely raced with excitement.
He had missed her. Far more than he had realized.
Just the thought of seeing her again after so long made him unable to remain calm.
Even Luke himself couldn’t explain why.
Why did he feel so eager?
Why did simply hearing her name stir his emotions so deeply?
He didn’t know.
Just then, Aurielle spoke again.
This time the icy edge in her voice had disappeared.
In its place there was only worry and concern.
"And, Luke you haven’t forgotten the Demon Whisper plan? have you??"
The moment those words reached his ears. Luke’s expression became serious.
She had touched upon the greatest threat hanging over his head.
The enemy he feared the most.
Even though Jasper had promised to bring a Platinum Knight to Blackstone.
Luke still couldn’t allow himself to relax.
That promise protected the territory.
It didn’t guarantee his own safety once he stepped outside it.
Aurielle continued softly,
"If you leave Blackstone and travel that far. Your life will be in danger."
Her voice slowed as she turned around to face him completely.
Their eyes met. "I don’t want that."
There was no anger left. No jealousy. Only genuine concern.
After holding his gaze for several seconds, Aurielle quietly turned back toward the mirror.
The comb once again slid through her silky black hair.
Stroke after stroke.
Her final words were calm.
"So, there’s no need to go to Horizon Astralis."
Silence settled over the room.