Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation

Chapter 1008 – Premium Lust Merchandise

Lullaby traced the side of his throat. "There is always but."

She waited.

Lux lasted three seconds. Then exhaled. "I just forgot about it sometimes."

Sira’s expression softened despite herself.

Lux closed his eyes briefly. "I need to thank her properly."

Lullaby’s fingers paused. "Gula?"

"Yes."

His eyes opened again, sharp with old Greed instinct and something more personal beneath it. "I hate being in debt."

Sira huffed.

Loudly.

She shook her head from side to side as if Lux had personally offended every romantic principle in existence and also basic emotional literacy.

Then she walked toward him.

Lux watched her approach, already suspicious. "Sira."

She stopped right in front of him, leaned down, and put her face close to his.

Very close.

Her eyes were bright. Not playful now. Not entirely. "That way of thinking of yours, I hate it!"

Lux blinked.

Sira placed both hands on either side of him, caging him between her arms and the headboard.

"Everything is not debt and credit, Lux. Not everything is contracts. Not everything is a balance sheet. We just want to help you. No need to pay."

Lullaby nodded against his chest. "No pay."

Lux looked from Sira to Lullaby. Then deadpanned.

"Do you know how many times I’ve heard something like that and it ended badly?"

Sira frowned. "That’s not—"

"Like," Lux continued, lifting one finger, "they say, ’No need to pay, Lux, we’re friends.’ Then one month later, they ask for a favor. Then the favor becomes a request. Then the request becomes an obligation. Then suddenly I’m funding a festival, rescuing a minor noble’s idiot cousin, stabilizing a trade route, covering unpaid soul coin interest, or pretending not to notice someone moved an expense into a friendship category."

Lullaby looked up. "Friendship category?"

"Never ask."

Sira opened her mouth.

Lux pointed at her. "Your father did it once."

Sira froze.

Lux’s stare sharpened with the cold precision of a man who remembered every unpaid clause ever written near his name.

"He told me, ’Lux, no repayment necessary. Pride House honors goodwill.’"

Sira’s face twitched.

Lux continued. "And in the end, I had to pay him by giving more credit limit, more soul coins, longer overdue terms, and I had to agree to fund his ridiculous project."

Sira went silent.

Lux lifted an eyebrow. "Would you like to deny it?"

Sira stared at him.

Then slowly looked away.

"Tch."

Lux smiled faintly. "That’s what I thought."

Lullaby whispered, "Pride sounds expensive."

"He is a walking financial trap wearing perfume and royal confidence," Lux said. "And somehow less honest than a casino mirror."

Sira deadpanned now too.

Unfortunately, she could not deny it.

Because he was right.

Her father had absolutely done that.

Maybe not exactly like that.

Actually, no.

Exactly like that.

Sira coughed once into her fist. "But just saying," she muttered, "Gula did it to help you."

Lux’s gaze softened. "That’s why I need to pay her."

Her expression immediately became tired again.

Lux raised a hand. "Maybe not with money."

"That is the first sane thing you’ve said.

"But something else."

Sira stared. Then slowly, very slowly, a smile spread across her face.

Lux’s instincts screamed. This smile was dangerous.

Sira leaned closer. "I can help you."

Lux narrowed his eyes. "How?"

Sira smiled innocently. "I can tie you up."

Lux stared. "Absolutely not."

"Put some ribbons on your head," she continued, completely ignoring him. "With a sexy sticker on your abdomen that says, ’Milk me.’"

Lux’s face went blank.

Sira continued as if discussing gift wrapping logistics. "Also, you can choose. Underwear or just harness."

Lux stared at her.

Lullaby stared at her.

The curtains swayed.

Somewhere in the mansion, a clock ticked like it wanted no involvement.

Sira kept smiling with angelic innocence completely unfit for any courtroom.

Lux finally spoke. "I’m not a gigolo."

Sira’s smile widened. "You would be high-end. By the way, it’s a compliment."

"That is not a compliment. Also," Lux said, lifting one finger with wounded dignity, "what you speak contradicts what you just told me about value and such."

Sira blinked.

Lux continued, voice dry enough to season meat.

"You were just lecturing me about not reducing everything to repayment, contracts, and value. Then your solution is to package me like premium Lust merchandise."

Lullaby looked between them. "Contradiction."

Sira pointed at Lullaby. "You are supposed to be on my side."

"I’m on pillow side."

Lux looked back at Sira. "And I know it’s your want, not Gula’s."

Sira’s expression became beautifully offended.

Lux smiled faintly. "Gula wants food."

Lullaby nodded. "And maybe Lux-shaped food, but mostly food."

Sira clicked her tongue. "Fine. Maybe it is my want."

"Maybe?" Lux gave her a flat look.

Sira’s lips curved. "Mostly." She leaned in closer, eyes gleaming with mischief again. "But it would still work."

"No."

Sira sighed dramatically and sat on the edge of the bed, close enough that her knee brushed Lux’s thigh. "You’re difficult. You really can’t just accept care, can you?"

Lux’s smile dimmed slightly. "I can accept it." His voice lowered. "I just don’t like leaving it unpaid."

"That’s not accepting. That’s converting."

He looked away.

Sira studied his profile.

The sharp lines. The relaxed arrogance trying to return. The quiet fatigue still lingering beneath the full recovery. The way he joked because sincerity could corner him faster than enemies.

Lullaby, still in his lap, rested her cheek against his chest again. "Just thank Gula with food," she said.

Lux looked down. "That’s simple."

Sira nodded slowly. "A feast."

Lux considered. "With rare ingredients."

Gula’s eyes would absolutely sparkle.

"And maybe," Sira added, smirking, "you sit beside her and let her feed you without complaining."

Lux immediately looked alarmed. "That escalated."

The atmosphere eased.

The heavy conversation did not vanish, but it softened around the edges. Lux was awake. Whole. Arguing. That alone made the room feel less haunted by what had almost happened.

Still, Sira leaned forward and placed her forehead lightly against his.

Lux went still.

Her voice dropped. "Don’t do that again."

His eyes flicked to hers. "Which part?"

"The part where you decide your body is acceptable collateral."

Lux didn’t answer immediately.

Lullaby’s arm tightened around him.

Sira’s gaze did not waver.

Lux exhaled. "I’ll try."