Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation

Chapter 413 – Redder Than The Raspberry Macarons

Big mistake.

Because Lux was still too close—close enough that she could see the faint flecks of gold in his dark eyes, close enough to catch the trace of heat left on his lips from kissing Sira, close enough to smell him. Warmth and smoke and just a hint of some expensive cologne she couldn’t name but absolutely would remember forever.

And worse? He knew. He knew the effect he was having on her.

The smirk curled deeper.

Ariel’s breath caught. She forced herself to sit still, but her thighs pressed together under the table on instinct, and her spine went straight like someone had poured ice water down it.

Lux tilted his head, eyes heavy with mock concern. ”You okay, little mermaid?”

”Fine,” she squeaked.

Sira snorted. ”She’s about to explode. Look at her.”

”Redder than the raspberry macarons,” Lux mused, reaching casually for one of the treats and holding it up beside Ariel’s cheek like a shade comparison. ”Nope. You win.”

”I—I’m not red,” Ariel protested weakly, burying her face in her hands.

”Liar,” Sira said sweetly. ”You’re adorable.”

That only made it worse.

Lux popped the macaron into his mouth with a pleased hum and leaned back in his chair, sipping his second coffee like he hadn’t just publicly made out with one of the most beautiful women alive and then immediately roasted the girl next to him for being too cute to function.

Ariel had never felt smaller. Or more flustered. Or... okay, maybe kind of warm in the chest.

Which was wrong. So wrong.

Because Lux was—he was Lux. Not just beautiful in the literal-fallen-angel sense, but charming, smart, dangerously smooth. The kind of man women built delusions around. The kind of man who made you think maybe, even when you knew better.

And she? She was just a trauma-damaged ex-Delmar who’d been tossed out like old jewelry and couldn’t even get through a shopping trip without crying.

She shouldn’t be here.

And yet...

Lux leaned in again, and she froze. His elbow slid onto the table, chin resting in his palm as he peered at her like she was a puzzle he was trying to decide whether to solve or steal.

”You’re squirming,” he whispered, almost too low to hear.

Ariel stiffened. ”I’m not—”

”Not squirming?”

Her mouth opened. Closed.

He grinned. ”Cute.”

She very nearly died on the spot.

”Stop teasing me,” she mumbled, voice muffled as she curled in her chair, trying to make herself as small as possible.

Lux’s smile turned downright devilish. ”Why? You’re the most naïve little thing I’ve ever met.”

”That’s not a compliment,” Ariel muttered.

”It is when I say it,” he said smoothly. ”And don’t worry. I don’t bite.”

Sira snorted again into her champagne. ”Anymore.”

”Not unless I’m invited,” Lux added, winking.

Ariel made another strangled noise and covered her entire face with both hands. She was going to spontaneously combust. That was it. She was going to die from blood rush to the head in the middle of a café while holding a tiny fork.

Lux watched her with a lazy fondness. There was something entertaining about it, yes—about how someone like her could get this flustered from so little. But it wasn’t just that.

She was... innocent. Unrefined. Soft.

Not the polished predator types that usually filled his social circle. Not the lethal kind of beauty like Sira, who could peel men apart with a look.

Ariel was unpolished and unguarded.

Which made her rare.

And rare? Rare things were always valuable.

Sira, for her part, looked amused. She sipped the last of her glass and leaned on her palm, watching Ariel curl up like a kitten caught in the rain. ”She really is cute,” she said aloud, not even bothering to whisper. ”Like a little pearl doll. You sure she’s mortal?”

”Mostly,” Lux murmured. ”Still figuring it out.”

”She’s got the squishiest soul aura I’ve ever seen,” Sira said, tapping her glass. ”Soft. Not broken... but bent like wet sugar.”

Ariel peeked between her fingers, confused. ”My what—?”

Lux gave her a smile that said don’t worry about it, which naturally made her worry more.

Sira just kept watching her with that same amused glint. Not cruel. Not even really judgmental. But with a vague air of possessiveness. Like she’d already claimed Ariel as something adorable to torment.

Sira had once looked at him like that, Lux thought distantly.

Back when they were younger. More reckless. Before titles and family names held meaning.

She used to chase him just to see if he’d snap.

Now? She seemed content watching Ariel snap instead.

”Alright,” Lux said finally, stretching his arms over his head in a move that made everyone nearby glance over again. ”We’ve embarrassed her enough.”

”Speak for yourself,” Sira murmured. ”I’m just getting started.”

Ariel whimpered.

Lux reached for his wallet, tossing a bunch of cash onto the tray. ”Let’s go. Rava confirmed the meeting point. We don’t want to keep royalty waiting.”

Ariel flinched. ”Wait—do I look okay? I—what if I embarrass myself? What if they don’t like me?”

Lux stood and offered her a hand. ”Ariel.”

She blinked up at him.

”You survived Mariell.”

He said it like it was law. Like that alone made her unstoppable.

”You’re allowed to meet your family now,” he added softly. ”You deserve to.”

She swallowed hard. Her heart clenched.

And her fingers slowly curled into his.

Sira stood, flipping her hair over her shoulder like an afterthought. ”Let’s get the crying out of the way before we arrive, yeah? I hate showing up to meetings with puffy mortals in tow.”

Ariel scowled at her. ”I haven’t cried in at least an hour!”

Sira smirked. ”Personal best.”

Lux laughed under his breath.

And then they walked out, sunlight spilling over them, the café behind them slowly returning to normal—except for the still-dazed waiter, the flooded street from the cyclist crash, and at least three people still staring at Lux like they’d just seen an angel make out with a war goddess.

Typical morning.

Perfect chaos.

Just the way Lux liked it.