Lucifer let out a small exhale as he studied Cecilia's expression, trying to read the motivations behind her crimson eyes. The Crown Princess of the Slatemark Empire stood before him in her private study, her usually playful demeanor replaced by something far more serious. The late afternoon sunlight streaming through the tall windows cast long shadows across the room, highlighting the tension in her posture.
"Why are you asking me this?" Lucifer asked carefully, his verdant eyes narrowing slightly. "We're not exactly... close."
It was true. Despite being classmates at Mythos Academy and both being among the most powerful individuals of their generation, he and Cecilia had never developed anything approaching friendship. They were polite to each other, certainly, and maintained the diplomatic courtesy expected between royalty, but their interactions rarely went beyond the superficial. So her sudden request for assistance was more than a little surprising.