Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation

Chapter 412 – Come Worship Me

The café was all polished marble tables, little wrought-iron chairs, and that faint smell of roasted beans mixed with sugar and fruit. The kind of place that existed for beautiful people to be seen being beautiful. Of course, Lux chose it without a second thought. Of course, Sira followed without hesitation. And of course, Ariel ended up sandwiched between them like some anxious garnish on a royal feast platter.

Lux leaned back in his chair, the late morning sun catching in his dark hair, making it gleam with gold undertones. He looked like he belonged here, like the entire café was just a backdrop painted to compliment him. His hand curled around his cup of coffee—black, no sugar, no cream—like velvet sin distilled into liquid. He sipped slowly, jaw tightening just slightly at the bitter taste. He liked it that way. A bite to keep him grounded.

Sira, of course, had ordered champagne. At eleven-thirty in the morning. She twirled the stem of her glass between her fingers, eyes half-lidded, legs crossed elegantly as if she were posing for some fashion ad. Her aura practically screamed come worship me, and judging by the way three separate men tripped while passing their table, it was working.

The table was full of little desserts too—macarons in pastel shades, a glossy chocolate tart that gleamed under the sun, fruit sliced into perfect arrangements. Sira picked at them lazily, occasionally feeding herself with the kind of grace that made mortals sweat.

And Ariel? Ariel sat there in the middle, hands clasped in her lap, trying not to make eye contact with anyone. She felt like... like a peasant that someone had dared to plop between two crowned heads. A girl dragged into a spotlight she never asked for.

Not to mention—everyone was staring.

Lux, with his effortless incubus charm, was a magnet for every woman in the café. Their gazes lingered, lingering just too long on his lips, his collar, his hands. Some men too, though they tried to disguise it with quick glances.

And Sira... well, Sira was Pride. She radiated the kind of beauty that demanded attention, and most men obeyed without thought. But then again, some of the women couldn’t stop staring either.

And the worst part? A handful of people seemed just as torn as Ariel was—caught between looking at him or at her, torn between sin and sin.

It was unfair.

So unfair.

Ariel’s chest tightened with the kind of absurd urge to cry that made no sense. Why cry over this? Over being small in the shadow of gods? But it welled up anyway, pressing behind her eyes.

Lux, sipping his coffee, glanced at her. His gaze was lazy, casual—but sharp enough to see right through her.

”You look like you’re about to break down over a croissant,” he said softly, one brow raising.

Ariel startled, clutching her hands tighter. ”I-I’m not—”

Sira leaned in, lips curling wickedly. ”She is. Look at her.”

Ariel turned scarlet, shaking her head. ”No, I’m fine!”

”Mm.” Lux set his coffee down, fingers tapping against the porcelain. ”You’re lying. Badly.”

Ariel dropped her gaze to the table, ears burning. ”It’s just... everyone’s staring.”

Sira chuckled, lifting her glass. ”Of course they are, little pearl. You’re sitting between us. Mortals can’t help but drool when divinity sits down for brunch.”

Ariel groaned softly, covering her face with her hands. ”Why did we have to sit outside?!”

Lux smirked, leaning back. ”Because fresh air is good for you.”

”It’s humiliating,” Ariel muttered behind her fingers.

Sira tilted her head, pretending to think. ”No, humiliating would be if Lux actually decided to kiss me right now. Half this café would faint, the other half would claw their eyes out in envy.”

Lux gave her a sidelong look, his smirk slow and deliberate. ”I don’t mind kissing you.”

Sira’s grin widened, wicked and satisfied. ”Oh? Tempting fate in public now, are we?”

Ariel made a strangled noise, nearly choking on her own breath. ”Please don’t—people are already looking!”

Lux didn’t hesitate. One hand slid across the back of Sira’s chair, pulling her in. The other tilted her chin just so. And then—he kissed her.

Not soft. Not polite.

It was the kind of kiss that demanded attention. Heat, pressure, a little edge of teeth. The champagne on her lips mixed with something darker, hungrier, as if Lux wanted to burn the entire café down with nothing but his mouth.

Sira responded immediately, of course. Pride incarnate. Her hand fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer, her tongue daring his with a challenge. It was hot, indecent, the kind of kiss that made strangers bite their lips and whisper.

Ariel went scarlet. Her hands flew to her face, muffling another helpless noise. She peeked between her fingers anyway, heart hammering so fast she thought it might stop.

Around them, the café dissolved into chaos. A woman dropped her spoon into her cappuccino. A waiter stumbled into a table. Across the street, a cyclist swerved, caught sight of them, and promptly crashed into a water hydrant, sending a geyser of water spraying skyward.

When Lux finally pulled back, the world seemed to exhale with him. He sat down casually, smoothing his shirt like nothing had happened. His lips glistened faintly, and he dragged his tongue across them, slow and deliberate.

”Tastes like champagne,” he said, voice low, smug.

Sira licked her own lips, eyes gleaming. ”Tastes like sin.”

Ariel squeaked, sinking into her chair so far she thought she might disappear under the table.

Lux reached over casually, tugging Ariel’s hands down from her face. His touch was warm, steady, grounding. ”Let them look,” he said softly, eyes meeting hers.

Ariel blinked, throat closing. Her heart did this stupid lurching thing, like it didn’t know whether to believe him or burst from her chest.

Sira rolled her eyes dramatically, taking another sip of champagne. ”You’ll melt her before she even gets to the Avariel meeting.”

Lux smirked. ”Better than letting her drown in self-pity.”

Ariel swallowed hard, staring down at the little plate of macarons in front of her. She wasn’t sure if she was about to cry again—or laugh. Maybe both.

The waiter came by then, clearly nervous as his eyes darted between the three of them. He almost dropped the tray when Lux’s gaze flicked up at him. ”Anything else I can get you?”

”Another coffee,” Lux said smoothly.

”And another bottle,” Sira added, swirling her glass.

”It’s still morning,” the waiter blurted, then froze, realizing he’d spoken out loud.

Sira grinned like a cat. ”Then you should thank me. I make mornings interesting.”

The poor man stammered something and fled.

Ariel pressed her lips together to stop the laugh threatening to escape, but Lux noticed, the corner of his mouth tugging upward.

”See?” he murmured, leaning just close enough that only she heard. ”You’re smiling. That’s better.”

Her cheeks burned, but she didn’t look away this time.