☆Chapter 27: Five Years Later》 Beauty, Brains, and Trouble☆

The Evolution of Lucian

"Focus, kid."

Lucian dodged to the left, narrowly avoiding Matteo's strike.

A bead of sweat dripped down his temple, but he kept his stance strong.

"Too slow," Matteo taunted, circling him like a predator.

Lucian's eyes narrowed.

"Not for long."

With a calculated move, Lucian feinted left, pivoted, and landed a clean jab to Matteo's ribs.

Matteo grunted.

"Not bad."

Lucian didn't smile, but the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth was enough.

"Again."

Matteo smirked, brushing off the hit.

"You're getting cocky. I like it."

Lucian had changed.

Gone was the timid little boy who hid behind Seraphina.

At 15, Lucian was now taller, leaner, and sharper.

His once hesitant stance had been replaced with precision.

While he wasn't as brilliantly cunning as Seraphina, Lucian made up for it with strategy and patience.

"Alright, that's enough for today." Matteo finally called it off.

Lucian wiped the sweat off his face, standing straighter.

"Thanks, Matteo."

"Don't thank me yet, kid." Matteo grinned. "Your next De Luca opponent is probably gonna try to kill you."

Lucian groaned.

"Why do you always say stuff like that?"

Matteo chuckled.

"Because it's true."

☆☆☆

"Lucian! You're done?"

Seraphina's voice echoed from the balcony of the De Luca mansion.

Lucian looked up—and froze.

Seraphina stood there, basking in the afternoon sun.

Fifteen.

And she had grown into a stunning beauty.

Her long brown, silky hair locks cascaded down her back, her features delicate but radiating confidence.

But beneath that elegant facade…

"Lucian! Look what I made!"

She held up… a slingshot.

Lucian's jaw dropped.

"You've got to be kidding me."

Seraphina grinned mischievously, eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Matteo said I need a hobby. So, I made one."

Lucian sighed.

"Of course, Matteo encouraged this."

Matteo, who had walked up behind Lucian, smirked.

"I didn't encourage it. I just didn't stop her."

"Same thing."

Seraphina sprinted down the stairs, slingshot in hand.

"Lucian, let's test it out!"

Lucian took one look at the glint in her eyes and immediately shook his head.

"No."

"Come on!"

"Nope."

"I'll tell Papa you didn't stop me."

Lucian's eyes widened.

"…Fine."

Matteo snorted.

"Still weak when it comes to her."

"Shut up, Matteo."

☆☆☆

As beautiful and intelligent as Seraphina had grown, her personality hadn't changed one bit.

She was still as cunning, playful, and dangerously mischievous as ever.

And with Matteo by her side, her prank arsenal had only expanded.

"Alright, who's the target today?" Matteo asked, grinning.

Seraphina tapped her chin, eyes twinkling.

"Nonno's off-limits. Papa's too easy."

"What about the new butler?"

Seraphina perked up.

"Ooh, I like that."

"We're not doing this." Lucian groaned, rubbing his temples.

Seraphina and Matteo ignored him.

"Water balloons?" Matteo suggested.

"Too predictable."

"Chili powder in his tea?"

"Too cruel."

"Glue on his chair?"

"Tempting, but nah."

Lucian watched in horror as the two masterminds plotted their next prank.

"You know one of these days, Sir Lorenzo's going to catch you both."

Seraphina shrugged.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there."

"We always do," Matteo added with a smirk.

☆☆☆

Lucian, who had once been smaller than Seraphina, now towered over her by a few inches.

"You're too tall now," Seraphina grumbled one afternoon.

"You're just short," Lucian teased back, ruffling her hair.

Seraphina swatted his hand away.

"I'm not short. I'm… compact."

Lucian chuckled.

Though he had grown taller and stronger, one thing hadn't changed—

His unwavering loyalty to Seraphina.

She was still his world.

"Lucian, you're staring again."

"Huh? What? No."

Seraphina grinned.

"You're weird."

"Says the girl with a slingshot tucked in her dress."

"Touché."

☆☆☆

"Boss."

Lorenzo looked up from his paperwork.

Matteo stood there, arms crossed.

"The kids are plotting again."

Lorenzo's eye twitched.

"What is it this time?"

"Something involving the butler and a bucket of glitter."

Lorenzo sighed.

"How bad is it?"

"On a scale of one to chaos? About an eight."

Lorenzo leaned back, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"And you didn't stop them?"

"Do I ever?"

Lorenzo gritted his teeth.

"Matteo."

Matteo grinned unapologetically.

"They're bonding."

"They're giving me ulcers."

"And a heart condition."

Lorenzo glared.

"And I'm blaming you for it."

Matteo smirked.

"You love it, boss. Admit it."

Lorenzo didn't answer.

Because deep down…

He knew Matteo was right.

☆☆☆

"Alright, this is the final touch," Seraphina said, grinning as she balanced the bucket of glitter perfectly above the butler's door.

"Are you sure about this?" Lucian asked, glancing around.

"Positive."

Matteo stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching with amusement.

"This is going to be a disaster." Lucian sighed.

"Relax, Lucian. It's just glitter."

"Exactly."

As they stood there, footsteps approached.

The butler.

3… 2… 1…

The door swung open.

Glitter rained down like a shimmering storm.

But instead of the butler…

Lorenzo.

Dead silence.

"…Oh." Seraphina's smile froze.

"Oh no." Lucian paled.

Matteo whistled.

"You're both dead."

Lorenzo stood there, covered in gold glitter.

His eyes slowly turned toward Seraphina and Lucian.

"Run." Matteo muttered.

Seraphina and Lucian bolted.

"SERAPHINA. LUCIAN." Lorenzo's voice echoed through the mansion.

Matteo chuckled.

"I love this job."

And so, even five years later, life in the De Luca mansion remained anything but peaceful.