Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Chapter 319: Talking to Marquess Scott 2

Lucas adjusted his sleeves as he approached, his steps unhurried and almost relaxed. Marquess Scott was still speaking to the guards, pointing at a document and wearing that familiar self-important expression. When Lucas drew close enough, the guards straightened, but Scott only turned when he sensed someone watching him.

Lucas gave him a pleasant smile, almost friendly, yet his eyes carried a glint that was impossible to miss.

"Marquess Scott," Lucas said in a calm tone, as though greeting an old acquaintance he had no hatred for. "It has been quite some time. I trust you are well."

Scott blinked, surprised to be addressed so casually. "Xavier," he replied, clearing his throat as if trying to regain composure. "I am honored. I did not expect you to approach me. I assumed you were occupied with more important affairs."

Lucas chuckled softly, a low sound that held no real amusement. "Everyone has important affairs. Some just hide theirs better than others." He looked him in the eye, the grin widening just slightly, almost playful but carrying an unspoken edge. "But I am glad to see you healthy. Truly. I would hate to hear that stress or... unfortunate circumstances had worn you down."

Scott’s brows tightened. "I am not sure I follow."

"Oh, I think you do," Lucas replied in a soft voice, still smiling. "You are a clever man. You always have been."

Scott opened his mouth, perhaps to defend himself or ask more, but Lucas didn’t give him the chance. He took a single step back, nodding politely.

"Well then. I won’t keep you from your conversation. It looked rather urgent." His tone was light, courteous, almost impossibly polite. "Do continue. I am certain you know exactly what you are doing."

Scott stared at him, visibly unsettled, trying to decipher whether Lucas’s words were harmless or laced with meaning. "If there is something you wish to say to me directly, you may say it."

Lucas’s grin softened into something almost amused. "I already have."

The guards exchanged confused looks, unsure what had just passed between them.

Lucas gave a small bow of his head, not out of respect but formality. "Enjoy your day, Marquess."

Without waiting for any reply, he turned and walked away, hands clasped behind him, posture relaxed as if nothing in the world bothered him. His smile lingered, faint but confident, as though he had just confirmed something only he understood.

As he moved down the corridor, away from Scott’s stiff gaze, he muttered under his breath with a quiet certainty, "Some secrets never stay buried forever."

He did not look back even once. Instead, he followed the familiar path toward Henrietta’s chamber, his expression settling into calm focus. Whatever Scott was plotting, whatever game he thought he was playing, Lucas knew Henrietta still had him under close watch. The investigation was ongoing, and the lack of evidence was the only reason Scott still walked freely through the palace corridors.

Lucas stopped outside Henrietta’s doors, exhaling slowly before stepping forward, ready for the next move.

Lucas pushed the door open quietly and stepped inside, expecting to feel the usual rush of dense cultivation energy. Instead, the chamber was warm and hazy, filled with thick steam that curled through the air like mist. The scent of fragrant oils drifted toward him, soft and calming. He paused for a moment, slightly surprised, then walked in fully and closed the door behind him.

Through the steam, he could make out Henrietta reclining in a large marble tub, her hair wet and slick down her back, her eyes half closed as if she had finally allowed herself a moment of rest. She turned her head when she sensed him approach.

"You are back," she said in a quiet voice, not startled but mildly curious.

Lucas smiled faintly and stepped closer to the tub. "I thought you would be deep in cultivation. I did not expect a bath."

Henrietta let out a slow breath. "After the ascension, my body felt strained. I needed to loosen the tension, or I would risk stiffness in my meridians. A bath seemed the best choice."

Lucas crouched beside the tub, dipping his hand briefly into the warm water. "May I?"

She gave a small nod, almost casual. "If you wish."

Lucas rolled up his sleeves and reached for a soft cloth resting on the edge. He began to wash her shoulders, moving gently across her skin. The hot water made her body relax further, and she leaned her head back slightly, allowing him better access.

"You are surprisingly gentle," she murmured, closing her eyes.

"I only thought you deserved a moment of calm," Lucas replied. "You have been working harder than anyone else in the realm these past days."

Henrietta hummed in quiet agreement. "The burden of power rarely allows time to breathe."

"Then let me help you breathe," Lucas said softly, running the cloth down her arm in slow, careful strokes. The steam wrapped around them, making the chamber feel almost detached from the rest of the world.

For a long moment neither spoke. The only sounds were water shifting and the faint crackle of a brazier heating the room. Finally Lucas broke the silence.

"There is something I need to ask," he began, his tone measured. "It concerns Marquess Scott."

Henrietta opened her eyes, focusing on him with sharp awareness despite her relaxed posture. "You saw him."

"Yes," Lucas answered, continuing to wash her arm before moving to her back. "I crossed paths with him in the corridor. It reminded me of the investigation. I wanted to know where things stand."

Henrietta shifted slightly in the tub so she could look at him more directly. "The situation has progressed further than you might think."

Lucas raised a brow. "Meaning?"

"I already have him," she said calmly, as though discussing something mundane. "I collected the evidence I needed. Enough to tie him to the crimes he committed."

Lucas paused mid movement, then resumed gently washing her back. "So he is finished."

"In time," Henrietta replied. "The moment I choose to act, he will no longer have any path of escape."

Lucas nodded slowly. "Then what remains?"

Henrietta lifted a hand out of the water, letting droplets slide down her fingers. "His accomplices. He was never acting alone, and I intend to uncover every single person who aided him inside this palace."

Lucas leaned a little closer so he could hear her clearly over the soft splash of water. "You believe there are more than one."

"I am certain," she answered. "Once I identify them, we will remove them all in one strike. That is the only way to prevent the rot from spreading again."

Lucas listened in silence, his hand still moving gently along her skin as the steam thickened around them, and the weight of her words settled heavily between them.