Chapter 242 - I am dating someone right now!

Luca drew a long, steadying breath before pushing the carved door open. The hinges gave a soft groan as he stepped into the master bedroom of House Valentine.

The room itself carried an aura of quiet grandeur, not ostentatious but undeniably elegant. Heavy velvet drapes framed tall windows, their folds spilling to the polished marble floor where a faint glow of lamplight softened the edges of shadow. A grand bed, its canopy draped in embroidered silk, stood at the far end, the coverlets a deep shade of crimson stitched with gold. The faint scent of lilies lingered—his mother’s preference—and in the hearth a low fire burned, casting amber warmth across the chamber.

Selene sat gracefully near the fire, her violet hair cascading over her shoulders as she turned toward him with that ever-gentle smile. But Luca’s eyes widened when he noticed the man seated across from her.

Father...?

Darian Valentine, with his strong frame and steely composure, looked back at him. His presence filled the room with an ease that was both reassuring and intimidating.

Great. Just perfect. Not only Mother... but Father too? What now—are they going to both embarrass me?

"Um... Mother?" Luca began, voice already dipping with reluctance as heat crept into his ears. He shifted awkwardly near the door, one hand rubbing at his neck. "Why... did you call me?"

Selene’s lips curved, the faintest laugh escaping her as her crimson eyes softened with mischief. "Patience, Luca. Wait for a little while longer."

Her tone was light, teasing, but it only made his chest tighten more.

Wait for what? What’s happening? Why do I feel like this is a trap?

Before he could spiral further, a firm knock sounded. The door opened smoothly, and Vincent entered. As usual, his posture was immaculate, his expression unreadably cold. He gave their parents a respectful bow of his head.

"Mother. Father." His voice was calm, clipped. "You called for me?"

He moved to stand beside Luca, his presence somehow making the air even heavier. Luca’s stomach knotted tighter.

Oh no... not him too. If I get embarrassed in front of father, that’s bad enough. But in front of Vincent... that’s fatal.

I could already imagine that cold slight smirk of his looking at me.

Vincent’s sharp gaze flicked toward him, unreadable, before returning to Selene. "May I ask why we’ve been summoned here?"

Luca swallowed hard, his nerves dancing in his chest. He could already feel the sweat prickling at his temples.

This is it. I’m doomed.

Selene and Darian exchanged a glance then—a quiet conversation spoken only with their eyes. Darian’s brow lifted almost imperceptibly; Selene’s lips curved, her crimson gaze softening with a glow of decision.

Finally, she turned toward her sons.

"I realized something today," Selene said, her tone smooth but carrying a playful edge that sent Luca’s nerves into overdrive. "The two of you... you’re of marriageable age now. Especially Vincent."

The words landed like a thunderclap.

Luca’s face flared instantly red, his eyes widening in horror as his breath caught in his throat.

What? Marriage? Now?

He shot a helpless glance at Vincent, who—despite his usual composure—stiffened slightly, his shoulders tightening.

"And people of Luca’s age," Selene continued, her voice lilting as if she enjoyed every ounce of their discomfort, "at the very least... already have a fiancée."

"Mother—!" Luca’s voice cracked as he choked on the words. His hand shot up to his face, as if covering it could somehow protect him from the weight of her teasing. He could feel his ears burning. "T-that’s... That’s not—!"

Beside him, Vincent exhaled quietly through his nose, his composure cracked just enough to reveal a faint twitch at his temple. He didn’t speak, but the rigid set of his jaw betrayed his own embarrassment.

Luca’s thoughts tumbled over themselves, chaotic and frantic.

Marriageable age? Fiancée? Why now? Why this all of a sudden? This is torture! I knew it! I knew she was going to embarrass me! And Father’s here too—does this mean he’ll...

His gaze darted desperately toward Darian.

Save me, Father. Please... say something. End this. Anything!

But Darian only leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable, eyes fixed calmly on the fire as though none of this concerned him in the slightest. He didn’t even glance at them.

Betrayal. Absolute betrayal.

Selene’s smile widened, watching the panic ripple across both of her sons’ faces. "I won’t listen to excuses," she said firmly, though the sparkle in her eyes betrayed her amusement. "Vincent, I will personally begin looking for a suitable girl for you."

Vincent’s lips pressed into a thin line, his silence more eloquent than words.

"And as for you, Luca..."

Her gaze shifted to him, crimson eyes gleaming with teasing warmth. The weight of that look made his heart leap into his throat.

"As for you," she repeated softly, her voice almost purring with mirth, "we already have someone, don’t we?"

Her words hung in the air like a trap snapping shut, leaving Luca frozen, heat flooding his face as his thoughts scattered like startled birds.

Luca shifted uncomfortably in his seat, still reeling from his mother’s sudden declaration about marriage. Just when he thought things couldn’t get worse, Vincent turned his head ever so slightly, fixing Luca with a cold, piercing glare.

That glare said everything without words:

So. This chaos is because of you, isn’t it?

Luca’s eyes widened, darting left and right, before locking onto Vincent’s again. He shot back a silent look of his own:

What?! Don’t blame me, I’m just as cornered here as you are!

Vincent’s brows twitched, his gaze sharp as blades:

You dragged me into this.

Luca shook his head subtly, lips twitching as he tried not to speak out loud:

Nonsense! I was already drowning—now you’re sinking with me, that’s all!

The brothers kept glaring, their silent exchange escalating into a ridiculous battle of expressions that could have easily lasted all night—until Selene’s amused chuckle cut through the tension like a whip.

"Enough of that. Don’t think I don’t notice the two of you plotting against me with your eyes," she said, her voice laced with mischief.

Both brothers stiffened, looking away instantly. Luca’s ears burned red, and Vincent coughed awkwardly.

Desperate, Luca leaned forward. "M-Mother, listen... we’re too young! There’s no need to rush, right? I mean, surely Father agrees?"

He shot Darian a pleading look, the very image of a son begging for a lifeline. Vincent immediately followed suit, his usually impassive eyes now radiating pure desperation as he muttered, "Indeed. Father?"

But Darian, ever the immovable mountain, didn’t even meet their gaze. He simply sipped his tea calmly, the faintest ghost of a smile tugging at his lips.

"F-Father?!" both brothers exclaimed at once, betrayal written across their faces.

Selene waved her hand dismissively. "Don’t even try to drag him into this. He won’t save you." She leaned back gracefully, eyes gleaming. "Luca, you especially shouldn’t be speaking. I should have realized everything at the Imperial Ball already..."

Luca’s face instantly turned scarlet, heat crawling all the way up to his ears.

Why—why bring that up now?! Just remembering that night makes me want to disappear into the floorboards...

He buried his face half in his palm, wishing he could melt into the chair.

"Hmph." Selene crossed her arms dramatically. "Husband, we’ll have to discuss this matter with the Iron Duke soon."

Luca almost choked on his own breath. His head snapped up, words catching in his throat as his ears burned hotter.

T-The Iron Duke?! Aurelia’s grandfather?! Why... why would she mention him here of all times?!

His chest tightened with panic.

No, no, no, this is beyond everything, he already considers me an evil brat.

But before Luca could even recover, Selene’s focus turned back to Vincent. Her eyes softened slightly. "As for you, Vincent... I already have a few candidates in mind."

Vincent visibly tensed, his mask of composure threatening to shatter.

"This is your last year. Once you graduate, you’ll marry," Selene continued with finality, pulling out a stack of neatly arranged portraits from seemingly nowhere. "Now, look at these pictures and tell me which one you like."

Luca blinked at the pile, dumbfounded.

W-Where did those even come from?! Did she have them hidden under her pillow? In a drawer? Or worse—has she been preparing this for months?

Selene fanned the portraits out like a deck of cards, each one depicting a finely dressed young noblewoman, their painted smiles glaring up at the room’s victims.

"Mother..." Vincent’s voice was strained, his icy mask beginning to crack.

"Don’t ’Mother’ me. Look at them carefully."

A long silence stretched across the room, broken only by the ticking of the clock on the wall. Finally, Vincent exhaled sharply, his shoulders stiff as steel.

"I..." His jaw clenched. "...I am dating someone right now."

The words struck like an ice bomb in the center of the room.

Selene froze mid-motion, the stack of portraits trembling slightly in her hand. Luca’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

WHAT?! Vincent?! Dating someone?! SINCE WHEN?! HOW?! AND WHY DIDN’T I KNOW?! WAIT!! COULD IT BE?

Darian’s calm mask flickered just enough for his brow to arch.

The silence that followed was deafening.