"What the hell is even going on?" Lex muttered helplessly as he let his body fall back onto the floor, staring up at the ceiling in quiet defeat.
Victoria, on the other hand, remained as graceful as ever as she floated gently above the ground, her movements smooth and effortless, as though gravity itself had chosen to treat her kindly.
Her gaze was no longer fixed on the strange eye that had demanded his attention earlier, and instead, she looked down at Lex with a mischievous glint shimmering in her eyes.
After a brief moment of silence, Lex turned his head and met her gaze. He studied her carefully, replaying everything that had happened in his mind, and after weighing his options, he finally reached a conclusion.
She did not seem to mean him any harm, or at least no immediate harm, and as for why she was here or what exactly was happening, he figured that the only way forward was to simply ask.
"Milady," Lex said with a tired sigh as he pushed himself slightly upright, "would your humble grace be kind enough to enlighten this mortal about everything that pig, I mean the guide, conveniently forgot to mention?"
Victoria's lips curved upward as a sly smile bloomed across her face, her expression filled with teasing amusement.
"A kiss on the cheek, and we have a deal," she replied playfully, tilting her head just enough to test his reaction.
Lex did not even hesitate. He raised a hand and rubbed his face before answering in a flat tone, "Sure."
The immediate agreement made Victoria blink in surprise, her confident smile faltering for just a split second.
"What?" she asked, clearly caught off guard.
Just moments ago, he had been cautious around her, measuring every word and movement, yet now that caution seemed to have vanished almost completely.
As she studied him more closely, Victoria slowly came to her own conclusion. He must have already decided that she posed no real threat to him, at least not one that required constant vigilance.
While she was lost in thought, her floating body gently descended until her feet touched the ground, her movements fluid and unhurried.
"Alright then," Victoria said with a soft laugh as she spread her arms wide, her tone dripping with playful warmth. "Come here, my hubby. Your wife is waiting."
Lex did not resist or protest. He simply stood up and stepped forward, allowing himself to be guided into her embrace as though he had already accepted the absurdity of the situation.
Victoria's arms closed around him securely, pulling him close as they stood face to face, their gazes locking onto each other at such a close distance that neither could easily look away.
Lex hesitated for only a brief moment as he stood within her embrace, close enough to feel her warmth and catch the faint, strawberry scent that surrounded her.
From this distance, Victoria looked even more unreal, her features flawless in a way that made it difficult to believe she was anything less than dangerous.
And yet, she had not been.
If she truly meant him harm, Lex knew that he would not be standing here right now. From the moment they had met, she had countless opportunities to hurt him, restrain him, or even end his life outright, yet she had done nothing of the sort.
Instead, she had teased him, tested him, and watched him with amusement, as though violence had never even crossed her mind.
That alone told him more than any explanation could.
So why would he hesitate now?
'I would be an idiot to miss this chance,' Lex thought calmly as his guard lowered completely. 'A woman this beautiful, this close, and clearly interested in kissing me… I might not get another opportunity like this even if I lived a hundred lives.'
With that reasoning settled firmly in his mind, Lex leaned forward without further hesitation and pressed a gentle kiss against Victoria's cheek.
The contact was soft and brief, more affectionate than bold, yet it carried a sincerity that surprised even him.
For a moment, Victoria froze.
Her eyes widened slightly as the warmth of his lips lingered against her skin, and the teasing confidence she had worn so effortlessly cracked just a little. She had expected reluctance, embarrassment, or perhaps awkward compliance, but not this calm decisiveness.
Lex pulled back slowly, meeting her gaze with a faint, knowing smile.
"There," he said casually, his tone relaxed. "Deal fulfilled."
Victoria stared at him in silence for a heartbeat longer than necessary before a quiet laugh escaped her lips, light and genuine, as her arms tightened around him just a bit more.
"You really are an interesting mortal," she said softly, her eyes gleaming with something far more complex than mischief now. "Most would have been shaking."
Lex shrugged slightly, resting comfortably within her hold as he replied, "You had more than enough time to hurt me if you wanted to, and you did not even try. That tells me everything I need to know."
His words made her expression soften, and for the first time since they met, the playful goddess-like aura around her seemed to carry a trace of warmth that felt undeniably real.