---
Lucien stood near the window of his dimly lit apartment, golden eyes scanning the quiet streets below. Daggerbone wouldn't stop here. They had taken Evelyn once, and now that she had escaped, she was marked. There was no way they would let this go.
He turned to Evelyn. She sat on the couch, arms crossed, frustration written all over her face.
"You're being weird again," she muttered. "Care to explain what's going on?"
Lucien didn't hesitate. "Pack your things. We're leaving."
Evelyn blinked. "Excuse me?"
His voice remained steady. "It's not safe here anymore. We need to go."
Evelyn scoffed. "And where exactly do you plan on taking me?"
Lucien's lips curled slightly. "A vacation."
She narrowed her eyes. "...A vacation?"
"Yeah." Lucien grabbed a duffel bag, slinging it over his shoulder. "You've had a rough week. I figured you could use a break."
Evelyn stared at him, unimpressed. "You are the worst liar I've ever met."
Lucien didn't argue. He simply turned, heading toward a concealed panel near his closet. With a quick motion, he unlocked it—revealing an arsenal of weapons neatly stored inside.
Evelyn inhaled sharply. "...What the hell?"
Lucien ignored her reaction as he reached for a hidden blade and his katana, strapping them to his side before pulling out a black tactical outfit—his old Vermilion Oath attire.
Evelyn swallowed. "This 'vacation' of yours is starting to look a lot like running for our lives."
Lucien smirked faintly. "Pack fast."
---
Meeting Richard Mercer
Before they could disappear completely, there was one last thing Lucien needed to do—convince Evelyn's father.
They arrived at the Mercer household late at night. Evelyn's father, Richard Mercer, was a former police chief—a man with sharp instincts and little patience for bullshit. The moment he opened the door, his gaze locked onto Lucien like a hunter sizing up a threat.
"What's going on?" Richard asked, voice firm.
Lucien kept his tone casual. "I'm taking Evelyn on a trip."
Richard's brow twitched. "A trip? At this hour? And who exactly are you to be making that decision?"
Lucien met his gaze evenly. "Her boyfriend."
"WHAT?!" Evelyn practically choked.
Lucien ignored her outburst, keeping his focus on Richard.
The ex-police chief narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Since when?"
Lucien didn't flinch. "A few weeks now."
The silence was suffocating. Richard Mercer was a man who could see through lies—but Lucien wasn't lying. Not technically.
Evelyn, still reeling, pulled Lucien aside. "Are you insane?! Why the hell did you say that?!"
Lucien's voice was calm. "Would he have let you leave otherwise?"
Evelyn opened her mouth, then shut it. Damn him.
---
Richard Mercer folded his arms. "If you're going to claim that you're dating my daughter, then prove to me you can protect her."
Lucien's expression didn't change. "How?"
Richard took a step forward, his presence imposing. "Fight me."
Evelyn's eyes widened. "Dad, are you serious?!"
Richard didn't even glance at her. His gaze remained locked on Lucien. "If you can't even handle me, then you have no business taking Evelyn anywhere."
Lucien exhaled softly before shrugging off his jacket. "Alright."
They moved to the backyard. The air was cold, but tension burned between them.
Richard lunged first, his fist cutting through the air—fast for a man his age, but not nearly fast enough.
Lucien dodged effortlessly, side-stepping each strike as if he had already predicted them. Richard was skilled—years of police training evident in his movements—but Lucien was beyond human.
Evelyn watched in shock as her father struggled to even touch Lucien. Every move Richard made was countered instantly, every strike avoided with ease.
Then, in a blink, Lucien moved. He closed the distance in one swift motion, gripping Richard's wrist and twisting him into a lock, immobilizing him.
Richard's breath hitched as he felt his body locked in place, unable to move.
Lucien leaned in slightly. "Satisfied?"
There was silence. Then—Richard chuckled. "You're strong. Too strong for a high schooler."
Lucien let go. "I can keep her safe."
Richard rubbed his wrist before sighing. "I still don't trust you. But…" His gaze softened. "I trust Evelyn's judgment."
Lucien simply nodded.
Evelyn, on the other hand, was staring at Lucien with a strange look in her eyes.
---
Just as they were about to leave, a small voice interrupted.
"Lucien?"
Lucien turned—and saw Ethan Mercer standing at the top of the stairs, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
Ethan's gaze widened in shock. "You're the guy who saved me!"
Evelyn froze. "…Wait. WHAT?!"
Lucien remained silent. He simply opened the door and glanced back at her.
"Time to go."
Evelyn, still overwhelmed, hesitated for a second before following him into the night.
---
On the Road
The night air was crisp as Lucien drove down the empty highway, one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually against the door. Evelyn sat in the passenger seat, still deep in thought.
After a long silence, she finally spoke. "…You saved Ethan?"
Lucien kept his eyes on the road. "Yeah."
Evelyn bit her lip, staring at him.
She had misjudged him so badly. She had assumed the worst of him, yet he had been the reason her little brother was alive.
Her chest felt warm—a mix of relief and… something else.
For the first time, she found herself seeing Lucien in a different light.
She turned her head to look out the window, a small, almost shy smile forming on her lips.
"...Thank you."
Lucien glanced at her briefly. "For what?"
Evelyn exhaled softly. "For everything."
Lucien didn't reply. He simply kept driving, the soft hum of the car filling the silence between them.
But for Evelyn, it was a silence she found strangely comforting.
---
End of Chapter 26.