When Nox saw that reflection, his eyes trembled, but it was only for a split second before they returned back to normal.
"Lady Celine," he called out as he quickly turned around. Celine, unaware that Nox had already seen the reflection in the plain soup, quickly placed the knife away with such speed that even Nox failed to see it.
"Yes, darling," Celine smiled sweetly.
Forcing himself not to cringe at the way she called him now that he knew the real her, Nox said, "Can you make another soup for ? I don't think I would like this one."
A soft frown crossed Celine's face. "You haven't even tasted it. How did you know you wouldn't like it?"
"I just don't like this particular soup," Nox said. "The last ti my mom prepared it for , I had a bad stomach ache."
"Hmm." Lady Celine hesitated for a while, staring at Nox with a slightly suspicious gaze before nodding.
"Alright, if you say so," she said, picking up the bowl of soup. "Hold on, let prepare sothing better."
"Could you make a spicy chicken soup?" Nox suggested while scratching his head embarrassingly.
Celine, her back facing Nox, fought the urge to drop the smile on her face. Chicken soup took longer to make. Why suggest that all of a sudden?
Eventually, she wore her kind smile once again and thought to herself, I'm not in a rush. I have all the ti to execute my plan.
Thinking about this, she turned around and displayed her warm smile. If Nox had not seen the reflection, he would have felt comforted, but now that he knew the truth, the smile was disgustingly irritating, and all he wanted to do was wipe it off her face.
"I will do just that," Celine said. "Though it might take ti, will little Nox be able to wait?"
"Yes, I can," Nox nodded. "Take all the ti you need."
With yet another smile, Celine walked into the kitchen, leaving Nox all alone.
The mont she disappeared into the kitchen, the calm on Nox's face vanished.
His jaw tightened. The hand resting on the table slowly curled into a fist, and a faint crack ca from the wood beneath his fingers. His breathing stayed even, but his eyes had already turned cold again. He was pissed. Not because he had been dragged into an illusion. Not even because he had nearly eaten poison from the hand of soone wearing Lady Celine's face. What truly irritated him was the choice. Of all people, the First Born had used her.
Nox lowered his gaze and let out a slow breath through his nose.
"That bastard."
Still, his anger did not blind him. War was war. Tricks, poison, lies, cheap thods, none of it mattered once two enemies were trying to kill each other. If their positions were reversed, he would not complain about fairness either. The First Born had simply used the fastest blade available. That only proved one thing. The enemy understood him well enough to know what could shake him. And for an instant, it had worked.
That alone made Nox's expression darken further.
He had fought many enemies before, but forcing him into a full illusion like this was not simple. The garden, the house, the sll, the warmth, even the small details were all too complete. The First Born was powerful. Strong enough to drag his senses into a false world and keep it stable this long. Nox could admit that much without sha. His opponent was not so cheap fraud. He was dangerous.
Nox leaned back slightly and closed his eyes for only a second.
Then he checked himself. His mana was still there. His senses could still move. More importantly, his skills were present.
Nox quietly activated one, then another. Not enough to draw attention, just enough to feel the response. They answered him imdiately. Relief settled in his chest, though his face did not show it.
If his skills still existed here, then this illusion had limits. To completely seal his abilities too, the First Born would have needed monstrous power, far more than this.
If the illusion could fool him, then it could also fool its owner. The First Born thought he was still trapped. Nox would use that. He would keep pretending. He would wait until the enemy stepped close enough, then tear the whole thing apart from inside.
Footsteps ca from the next room.
Nox loosened his fist, straightened his posture, and let the coldness leave his face. By the ti Celine returned, he looked calm again.
She stepped out holding a steaming bowl with both hands. The sll reached him first, rich broth, chicken fat, pepper, herbs.
If he had not already known the truth, he might have taken the bowl from her and devoured it without hesitation. His stomach even reacted to the sll, which only made his annoyance worse.
Celine set it down carefully in front of him. "There," she said with a gentle smile. "Spicy chicken soup, just like you asked. Eat before it gets cold."
Nox looked at the bowl for a mont, then raised his eyes to her face. Before touching the spoon, he spoke quietly.
"Lady Celine, before I eat, I want sothing first."
She blinked. "Sothing first?"
Nox gave a small nod and stood from his seat. "A hug. You used to do that sotis. And a forehead kiss." He paused, watching her closely. "You always said it cald down."
For the first ti, she hesitated. It was small, almost invisible, but Nox caught it. Then her smile returned.
"Of course," she replied. "Co here, little Nox."
She opened her arms. Nox stepped forward without rush and wrapped his arms around her. Her body still felt warm. One of her hands rose slowly toward his head.
It was at that mont that Nox moved.
An ice spike ford from his hand without warning and drove straight through her chest. It pierced through her back in one clean strike. The body in his arms jerked violently. Celine's face twisted at once, the warmth disappearing, the kindness shattering. Her eyes widened with pain and fury as cracks spread through the room.
The house split apart.
The table, the soup, the walls, the herbs, all of it broke like glass around them. Wind slamd into Nox from every side as the illusion collapsed, and in the next instant they were in the Demon Empire once again.
Across from him, the First Born staggered back, shock written all over his face, clearly not expecting Nox to break out of the illusion.
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