Chapter 400

"I can see that Val doesn't think much of you either," Lucius said. He still didn't understand the details of the conversation, but he could already guess from the tone and subtext that Kieran's visit to White Manor carried a purpose beyond watching the commotion. Valerie's friends were never simple. Kieran looked exasperated. "Adding fuel to the fire and icing the wound afterward. Mr. White, you're surprisingly good at this." Lucius felt like teasing him for once. "Indeed. I've mastered the art for many years." For the first time that afternoon, Kieran had no comeback. Valerie couldn't hold back a laugh. Lucius rarely saw her smile so brightly, and the moment he did, something in him melted. "Val, you're different today," he murmured. She raised a brow. "How am I different?" "More lively than usual," he said. "Especially when you were putting those Stormpeak students in their place. You were almost cute." Valerie had never been the type to waste words on people who had nothi