With Augatha's permission secured, the two of them left the Crownguard estate without any trouble.
Lux seemed to have already forgotten what had just happened. In a great mood, she walked ahead, humming some little tune Luke didn't recognize.
Luke followed behind, glanced up at the sun still giving off leftover warmth. The light was a bit blinding, and he couldn't help asking, "So where are we going?"
"To see a friend," Lux answered without turning around. "I was going to go yesterday, but I ran into you halfway."
Luke thought about it for a moment. "Is it okay if I come along?"
This time Lux turned back and looked at him. "Of course. You just got to the capital—do you even know any friends here?"
Luke shook his head.
"Then I'll introduce her to you. Hopefully you two can become good friends too."
Lux smiled, bright as the sunlight itself.
She really was kind. Even though she'd only known Luke for a couple of days, she was already trying to help him build a circle of friends.
Maybe it was because of the story she'd heard yesterday.
Luke thought for a second, then asked, "Then… are we friends?"
"Hmm, let me think." Lux snorted, and the moment she did, she remembered what he'd pulled earlier. With a spoiled little huff, she declared, "Half."
"Half a friend?"
"That's right!"
"Do you have any other half-friends, Miss Crownguard?"
"Nope."
"Alright then. It's an honor to be Miss Crownguard's first-ever half-friend," Luke said with a grin, feeling like that at least made him kind of special.
Lux couldn't help laughing at that.
In a light, easy mood, the two chatted as they headed toward their destination.
It wasn't far—about half an hour later, they arrived.
It was a church. At the top of a short flight of steps stood an open white door, and above it was a stained-glass window shimmering with colors.
People in white clerical clothing went in and out. The one consistent emblem they wore was two diamond-shaped stars overlapped together—stars representing light.
Seeing that, Luke already knew who they were.
The Illuminators.
A Demacian religious order—a charitable group that helped the sick and the poor.
"This is the place. Let's go in," Lux said, taking the lead up the steps.
Luke went up with her. The moment they entered—before Lux even had time to look around—someone called her name.
"Lux? What are you doing here?"
It was a young woman's voice. Following the sound, Luke saw a girl wearing a silver-white robe. It fit snugly on her, making it obvious she had a great figure.
She had long brown hair. About the same age as Lux, and just as striking. Her brown eyes were bright and lively, giving her a fresh, clean sort of presence.
"Of course I'm here to see you!" Lux ran over happily. "I heard you joined the Illuminators. I wanted to come yesterday, but something came up and delayed me."
"I'm really happy you came!" The girl smiled too.
Then she noticed Luke behind Lux, looking around curiously, and asked with some confusion, "And he is…?"
"I was just about to tell you. Yesterday was because of him. Ahem—what I'm about to say, you need to be prepared," Lux said, suddenly grinning like she was about to reveal some grand secret.
She shifted aside so Luke was fully in the girl's view, then announced, "Allow me to introduce him properly—Luke Lightshield, Demacia's second prince!"
"Huh?" The girl clearly hadn't been prepared at all. She froze, her face full of question marks.
Lux looked extremely satisfied with that reaction. Then she started introducing Luke right back. "And this is Kahina Buvelle, my best friend in the capital."
House Buvelle.
Luke had already heard of them before—Demacia's top commercial powerhouse. Like the Crownguards, they were at the very top of noble society.
In Demacia, their reputation was no less than the Crownguards'.
Or rather—no one in Demacia didn't know this family.
Their head, Lord Barrett Buvelle, was famous in his own right, and also a current steward within the Illuminators.
The Illuminators' origins traced back to House Buvelle. Long ago, the family had already been helping Demacia's poor and sick.
And apparently, Barrett was also a close friend of Luke's father, Jarvan III.
"Hello," Luke said, after hearing the introduction, offering a friendly greeting.
Kahina still looked like her brain hadn't caught up to what she'd just heard. She slowly turned her head and stared at Lux. "Lux… you can't just joke about something like that."
"I swear on our friendship, I'm not joking," Lux said with a serious face.
Seeing her like that, Kahina finally realized Lux wasn't messing with her. Still dazed, she blurted, "But how have I never heard about this?"
"Even I only found out yesterday," Lux said with a mischievous little laugh. Then she looked at Luke. "Can I tell her the details?"
Luke knew what she meant and nodded. "It won't be long before everyone knows anyway."
He'd never planned to hide his identity. In a few days at most—once the date was set—the entire kingdom would know Demacia had a second prince.
"Then sit down. I'll tell you properly," Lux said, pulling Kahina over to find a place to sit.
Luke, with nothing to do in the meantime, wandered around and looked at the place, while Miss Crownguard vividly reenacted the story like it had all happened to her.
And Kahina, from start to finish, stayed in exactly one state:
Completely stunned.
By the time Lux finished talking herself hoarse, Kahina had finally made it through the whole bizarre, twisty story.
"I'm going to get some water. You two talk," Lux said, standing up.
She really was thirsty. Judging by how casually she moved, she'd clearly been here before and knew where to go. After saying that, she darted off.
Luke watched Kahina's gaze slowly drift toward him. He smiled and repeated his greeting. "Hello."
"H-hello…" Kahina answered hesitantly. She'd never expected a piece of news this explosive to get dropped on her out of nowhere. Then she hurriedly corrected herself, "No—hello, Your Highness."
If Lux swore on their friendship, then there was no way she was lying.
Which meant the person in front of her was a genuine prince.
As a young lady from one of the kingdom's most prominent noble houses, Kahina naturally understood that status mattered. She stood up and gave a proper knight's salute, respectful and formal.
"At ease," Luke said. Then he added, "Lady Buvelle—pleased to meet you. I hope we'll get along."
"I as well…" Kahina let out a small breath, forcing herself to calm down.