Shattered Innocence: Transmigrated Into a Novel as an Extra

Aeliana fixed him with a sharp glare, arms crossed, fingers tapping against her sleeve. "That was weird, Lucavion."

Lucavion sighed dramatically, slipping back into his seat with practiced ease. "I know, I know—"

"But," Aeliana cut in, her eyes narrowing further, "I also know this is about that cat."

Lucavion smirked slightly at that, amused despite himself. "Vitaliara," he corrected smoothly.

Aeliana rolled her eyes. "Whatever. What happened? Is she alright?"

At that, Lucavion's expression softened—just slightly. A faint smile tugged at his lips, different from his usual teasing smirks. "She's sensitive," he explained. "She must have sensed something and acted on instinct."

Aeliana frowned. "And? Did you catch her?"

Lucavion exhaled, tilting his head. "Well…"

A pause.

Aeliana's eye twitched.

"…She'll come back on her own," Lucavion finished smoothly, offering a relaxed shrug.

Aeliana stared at him.

For a long second, she said nothing, just studying him like he was some peculiar creature she had yet to classify. Then—

She scoffed, shaking her head. "You're careless."

Lucavion blinked, then chuckled. "Ah, come now, Little Ember—"

"What if something happens to her?" Aeliana shot back. "You just let her run off?"

Lucavion leaned back, resting his arm against the table. "You may not know, since you don't have a familiar," he mused, "but once you form a bond with one, you can sense their location—and whether they're in danger or not."

Aeliana arched a brow. "And?"

Lucavion smirked, tapping a finger against his temple. "I know she's fine."

Aeliana exhaled sharply, studying him.

"…I see," she murmured.

She wasn't entirely convinced. But—he did seem at ease. And despite his absurdity, Lucavion was not the type to be careless with things that mattered.

Still—

Aeliana picked up her teacup again, huffing. "Hmph. Ridiculous."

Lucavion chuckled, watching her with lazy amusement. "You worry more than you let on."

Aeliana scowled. "I do not."

Lucavion just smiled, sipping his tea. "Mmm. If you say so."

Aeliana narrowed her eyes.

No.

She refused to let him off the hook that easily.

This man had leapt out of a window, left her alone in the middle of a diner with people staring at her, and now he was just sitting there—smirking, sipping his tea, acting like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Unacceptable.

She set her teacup down with a deliberate clink, folding her arms. "You owe me an explanation."

Lucavion tilted his head, his smirk never faltering. "Didn't I just give you one?"

Aeliana scoffed. "Not good enough."

Lucavion exhaled, feigning exhaustion. "Hah… Demanding, aren't you?"

Aeliana leaned forward slightly, her amber eyes gleaming with something sharp. "Oh, I have to be, after what you just did."

Lucavion chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah, so this is about your wounded pride, then?"

Aeliana clicked her tongue. "Excuse me?"

Lucavion leaned forward, resting his chin lazily against his palm. "Come now, Little Ember," he mused. "You were embarrassed, weren't you?"

Aeliana froze.

Lucavion smirked wider.

"Ah," he hummed, his voice smooth with amusement. "So I was right."

Aeliana's jaw tightened.

'This bastard—'

Lucavion exhaled dramatically, shaking his head. "I see, I see. Even the mighty Aeliana Thaddeus is not immune to public humiliation." He smirked. "What a rare sight."

Aeliana inhaled sharply through her nose. "Lucavion."

He blinked innocently. "Yes?"

Aeliana's fingers twitched against the table.

She had two options here.

One: She could let this infuriating man keep teasing her and pretend it didn't bother her.

Or—

Two: She could make him pay for it.

She chose the latter.

With a deceptively calm expression, she picked up one of the remaining pastries from the dessert plate.

Lucavion raised a brow. "Oh? Giving up already?"

Aeliana smiled sweetly. "Of course not."

Then, with a perfectly calculated flick of her wrist—

She launched the pastry at his face.

Thud.

Lucavion blinked, utterly stunned as the pastry hit him square on the cheek, the syrup lightly smearing against his skin.

Silence.

Aeliana sat back, sipping her tea as if nothing had happened. "Hmph."

Lucavion reached up, touching his cheek where the dessert had landed. He stared at the pastry that had now fallen onto the table.

Then—

He laughed.

A warm, deep chuckle that rumbled in his chest, shaking his shoulders as he leaned back.

Aeliana arched a brow. "…What's so funny?"

Lucavion wiped the syrup off his cheek, grinning. "Oh, nothing." He picked up the pastry, examining it like it was some sort of artifact. Then, with an easy smirk, he said, "I just didn't realize you were this childish."

Aeliana scoffed. "Oh, please. You deserved that."

Lucavion chuckled again. "Perhaps." He smirked. "But you do realize this means war, don't you?"

Aeliana smirked back. "Try me."

Lucavion held her gaze for a long moment, smirk lingering—but then, to Aeliana's mild surprise, he let out a quiet chuckle and raised his hands in surrender.

"Alright, alright," he murmured, his voice rich with amusement. "I admit defeat."

Aeliana arched a brow, skeptical. "Oh? Just like that?"

Lucavion exhaled, leaning back slightly, the playful glint in his eyes softening just a fraction. "I did leave you alone with an entire audience watching. So…" He gave a slow, exaggerated nod. "My sincerest apologies, my lady."

Aeliana huffed, arms still crossed. "Hmph. You should be sorry."

Lucavion smirked but said nothing.

Then—

He blinked, his eyes catching something in her hair.

Aeliana frowned. "What?"

Lucavion tilted his head. "Hmm… There's something there."

Aeliana's brows furrowed. "Something where?"

Lucavion chuckled. "Your hair." He leaned forward slightly, amusement curling at his lips. "Haha… The pastry must've flown farther than I thought."

Aeliana's expression froze.

"…What?"

Lucavion gestured toward her hair. "There's a little—" He smirked. "Well, let's just say you've gained an unexpected decoration."

Aeliana's eyes widened slightly, and she immediately reached up, fingers fumbling through her locks. "Where? Here?"

Lucavion watched in clear amusement as she attempted to locate the offending bit of pastry.

"A little to the left."

Aeliana huffed, adjusting her search. "Here?"

Lucavion shook his head. "No… a bit higher."

Aeliana paused, her patience wearing thin.

"…You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

Lucavion chuckled. "Would I ever?"

Aeliana gave him a look.

Lucavion sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, alright." He leaned forward, resting his chin in his palm. "Just let me."

Aeliana hesitated for a fraction of a second before she exhaled, lowering her hand. "…Fine."

Lucavion reached forward, his fingers moving carefully to sift through her hair.

And then—

Aeliana twitched.

The instant his fingertips brushed against her strands, a strange shiver ran down her spine, unbidden, instinctive.

Lucavion paused.

Aeliana definitely paused.

For a brief second, neither of them spoke.

Then—

CLICK!

Aeliana felt it.

A small, almost imperceptible shift near the spot Lucavion had touched. A faint weight—a presence that wasn't there before.

Her brows furrowed. "What?"

Lucavion, already leaning back into his seat, exhaled lazily, smirking as if nothing had happened.

Aeliana narrowed her eyes. "What did you do?"

Lucavion shrugged. "Why don't you check for yourself?"

Aeliana immediately reached up, fingers brushing against her hair—

And the moment she felt it, her breath hitched.

Her fingers closed around something small, cool to the touch.

A delicate shape.

And as she looked at her reflection on the window, her eyes stood still.

"Ah…"