Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation-Chapter 715: You are Troubled

Chapter 715 – You are Troubled

The chamber’s authority tension eased, just slightly, as judicial assessment shifted from suspicion toward reluctant acknowledgment.

"Continue investigation into the sigil origin," he instructed Celestaria.

"It will be done," she replied.

The High Judicial glanced once toward Vizreel. A silent exchange passed between ancient authority figures. Approval... and warning... layered together.

Then his gaze returned to Lux.

"Your diplomatic status remains intact," he said.

Lux inclined his head slightly. "Appreciated."

The chief looked visibly dissatisfied but remained silent.

The High Judicial turned toward the exit.

"We will review further findings once the sigil fabrication source is identified."

Celestaria bowed slightly. Solara and Selena followed. Vizreel gave a respectful nod.

The doors closed behind the judicial entourage.

The pressure in the room lifted... but only slightly.

Lux exhaled slowly.

"So... that’s all right?" he asked, tone calm but carefully neutral.

Celestaria stepped in gently before the silence could stretch into discomfort.

"Yes," she said. "Your status remains unchanged. We will proceed with internal review."

Vizreel folded his arms and glanced at Lux. "You may return to the mortal realm."

Lux adjusted his cuffs once more, then gave a faint smile. "Right. Thank you for the lunch. The coffee. The interrogation snacks."

Vizreel’s expression did not move. "Do not mention it."

Solara stepped closer, sunlight aura warm again. "I will escort you to the portal."

Selena nodded beside her. "Me too."

Lux inclined his head politely. "Appreciated."

He turned toward the exit.

"Lux."

Celestaria’s voice stopped him.

He paused mid-step and turned back.

For a second, he did not look like the Prince of Greed. He looked like a man who had almost been erased from existence twice in one day and was pretending it was routine.

Celestaria held his gaze.

"Forgive us," she said softly. "Please do not let this... destroy what we have built between our realms."

Lux’s smile returned. Gentle. Controlled. Sincere.

"I know," he said. "I understand. Do not worry. I will not blame you."

There was a pause.

"Thank you," he added quietly. "For standing on my side."

It was not flirtation. Not charm. Not leverage.

It was real.

Then he turned again and left the chamber with Solara and Selena.

The doors closed.

Silence settled.

Heavy.

Celestaria remained standing where she was.

Vizreel watched her from across the room.

For a long moment, neither spoke.

Celestaria’s posture remained regal, composed, High Custodian of Progression Paths and all that authority demanded.

But something in her chest tightened.

An ache.

Subtle. Sharp. Unwelcome.

Vizreel was the first to break the quiet.

"...I do not like this," he said.

Celestaria did not respond immediately.

"Neither do I," she said at last.

Vizreel walked slowly toward the projection table where the two sigils had hovered minutes earlier. He dismissed the illusion fragments with a flick of his wrist.

"This is more complicated than we anticipated," he continued.

Celestaria folded her arms loosely, gaze distant.

"Yes."

Vizreel stopped beside her.

"Vaeloryn is not a rogue zealot," he said. "He is a principal angel. A strategist. He does not gamble his status on reckless ideology."

Celestaria nodded faintly.

"Which means," Vizreel went on, "he believed this move would succeed. Or that the consequences would not matter."

Celestaria closed her eyes briefly.

"The councils will not accept this easily," Vizreel added. "Even with my testimony."

Celestaria opened her eyes again.

"I know."

Vizreel studied her more closely now.

There was something different in her aura. Not weakness. Not instability.

Concern.

Personal concern.

"You are troubled," he observed quietly.

Celestaria’s lips curved faintly, but there was no humor in it.

"Am I not allowed to be?"

"You are allowed," Vizreel replied. "But it is... visible."

She turned slightly away, walking toward the chamber window where distant celestial towers shimmered in layered light.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," she said softly. "Vaeloryn may have convinced himself of that."

Vizreel frowned. "You believe he allied with infernal factions strategically."

"Yes," she said. "To eliminate a destabilizing element."

"Lux," Vizreel stated.

Celestaria did not deny it.

"Vaeloryn likely framed it as purification," she continued. "Remove the infernal variable. Restore doctrinal clarity. Strengthen celestial dominance."

Vizreel’s jaw tightened.

"And he underestimated Lux."

Celestaria’s lips softened slightly.

"Yes," she said.

Vizreel noticed that softness.

He exhaled slowly.

"You care for him."

It was not an accusation. It was a fact.

Celestaria remained silent.

Vizreel waited.

Finally, she spoke.

"He is reckless," she said quietly. "Infuriating. Arrogant. Disruptive."

Vizreel raised a brow.

"And?"

"And," she continued, voice gentler now, "he stands alone against forces that would devour him."

Vizreel watched her carefully.

"He chooses that," he said.

"Yes," Celestaria replied. "And that is precisely why it is dangerous."

Vizreel folded his arms again.

"You cannot protect him."

Celestaria’s fingers tightened slightly at her sides.

"I know."

"And if the councils suspect favoritism—"

"I know."

Vizreel studied her profile.

For someone who governed progression and cosmic pathways, she looked momentarily... human.

"Vaeloryn prepared contingencies," Vizreel said, returning to strategy. "He would not enter limbo without layered escape protocols. He anticipated failure."

Celestaria nodded slowly.

"And if he anticipated failure," she said, "then he anticipated exposure."

Vizreel’s eyes narrowed.

"You believe this is only phase one."

"Yes."

Vizreel considered that.

"And Lux," he said quietly, "already knows that."

Celestaria’s gaze dropped slightly.

"Yes."

Vizreel sighed.

"I do not like the path ahead."

Celestaria managed a faint smile.

"You rarely do."

Vizreel almost smiled back.

"He joked about snacks while tied to a chair," Vizreel muttered. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Celestaria’s expression softened.

"That is how he survives."

Vizreel looked at her again.

"You see him clearly."

"Yes," she said.

"And that makes this more difficult."

Celestaria did not deny it.

Outside the chamber, distant celestial bells chimed softly, signaling mid-cycle shift.

Vizreel turned toward the exit.

"We will need to move carefully," he said. "If Vaeloryn already prepared safeguards, he will not fall easily."

Celestaria nodded.

"And the infernal involvement?" Vizreel asked carefully.

Celestaria’s expression hardened slightly.

"We proceed without assumptions," she said. "We gather proof. Quietly."

Vizreel studied her for a moment longer.

"You trust Lux."

"Yes."

"You know he is planning something."

"Yes."

"And you are not afraid of what he might become."