Extra Scene, Act 1, Chapter 9 (Luca’s POV)

Note: This only happens if the MC is romancing Luca.

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The room is completely silent except for the sound of clothing and the distant bustle of the celebration going on downstairs. The exaggeratedly luxurious bathroom mirror gives Luca back his own reflection, and even he has a hard time recognizing himself in it.

The brave warrior twists his torso a couple of times to either side, testing the pull of the jacket of the new suit left for him by the royal tailors in the room. With his musculature, it would be very easy to rip the seam simply by taking a deep breath, but the fabric seems to hold his movements perfectly, no matter how sudden they are.

The quality is noticeable, and Luca relaxes his posture, satisfied.

“Good,” the man thinks with a nod toward his reflection. “I wouldn't want to break it.”

His olive gaze wanders over the soft navy blue fabric made specifically for him.

'It matches well with the color of your eyes,' Omar had told him before forcing him to take the suit and carry it to his room to change. All this fuss over a simple and unnecessary farewell party.

But still, for a few minutes Luca stares at himself in the mirror.

It's a strange image. So accustomed is he to seeing himself in his armor or typical tank top that he finds it hard to believe that the person staring back at him is… him. But, even so, Luca can't stop a small smile drawing on his face, nor the blush that tinges his cheeks with a subtle pink.

He likes what he sees. He likes it a lot.

“Does it fit me as well as I think?” a hint of doubt rumbles in his head, making his smile falter for a moment. His gaze drifts downward, collapsing next to his shoulders. “Probably not.”

The sound of the door opening pulls him out of his thoughts, and Lavina peeks her head through the gap before fully entering her bother’s room.

"Hello? Luca? Are you ready-?"

Lavina’s question trails off as she sees her brother in the doorway of the bathroom, her eyes widening at the sight of Luca in a suit.

The warrior averts his gaze and fidgets nervously in place.

"What do you think?" he asks with an uncommon shyness, hiding his hands in the pockets of his trousers.

Lavina recovers from the initial surprise, beaming from ear to ear. "By the gods, you look amazing, Luca!"

"You think so?" Luca says as he turns to glance at himself one last time in the mirror, pretending to adjust a stray strand of hair to hide his flushed cheeks behind his arm.

"Of course! You look very handsome!" his sister exclaims, causing Luca’s inner happiness to soar. "If I didn't know you, I'd think you were trying to impress someone."

Lavina laughs at her own joke, but Luca doesn't join in. The warrior completely loses his smile, his older sister’s comment bringing his movements to a sudden halt. Immediately, a specific person comes to mind.

The eldest Terrastar approaches her brother with some concern, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, if you don't like it, you don't have to wear it. No one's going to judge you for not dressing up. This celebration is for everyone, and that includes you."

Luca doesn't respond, he simply shoots his sister a look, relaxing at the kind smile she gives him. The one she has always given him.

"I'll wait for you downstairs, okay?" Lavina finishes, to which Luca nods slowly.

As the door closes and the warrior is left alone again, the reflection in the mirror presents him with a different image.

"What the hell am I doing?" he asks to the mirror. "Am I trying to impress? Who? ...And why?" Luca knows. He furrows his brow and clenches his fists before ruffling his hair. The image is now more familiar to him. "No, I don't want to impress anyone."

A warmth rises up his back to his neck. A sharp pain pierces his temple, one that goes as quickly as it came, but it carries with it a warning that makes Luca’s pulse quicken with fear.

He needs to silence his mind, and there's only one way to do that.

Luca exits the bathroom and opens the drawer of his nightstand to retrieve the small bottle he always carries with him. Without hesitation, he opens it and swallows its contents in one gulp before any remorse sets in. The sweet green liquid refreshes his throat, and within seconds he feels the suit constricting his muscles. He needs to get it off.

Rubbing his eyes, Luca hurries to shed the elegant attire and put on his usual clothes, leaving the suit in a crumpled heap on the bed before heading for the door, accompanied by the onset of familiar reproaches.

He'll go to the celebration, but only for Lavina. Hopefully, he'll find a quiet spot in the garden where he can be left alone.

"And where I won't run into MC."

Luca exits the room, repeating the same lie to himself over and over again.