Ilex took a small brown bottle from the inside pocket of his jacket.
He casually uncorked it and drank it all at once. Then he threw the empty bottle behind him, took another one from his pocket and handed it to Tilia.
- Have a drink. This is the antidote.
-……
“I tried to block it as best I could, just in case.”
Seeing that she was not drinking, Ilex tilted his hand holding the bottle, as if to say, “What are you waiting for?”
- …ABOUT. Thank you.
Tilia, trying to hide her embarrassment, took what he offered. She felt her ears, hidden under her hair, become warm.
She imagined something ridiculous.
Ashamed of her baseless thoughts, Tilia did not even mention that she had already taken the antidote. Instead, she followed his example and drank.
-……
There was silence again.
The streets of the old city, shrouded in darkness, were filled with drunk and already drunk people.
Silently watching the hedonistic street, Tilia turned her head and looked at Ilex.
He was already opening the fourth bottle of antidote. He threw his head back and drank every last drop before throwing the bottle behind him.
Crash.
The new bottle collided with the pile of empty bottles already lying behind him and broke on impact. But it seems that even this was not enough. Soon Ilex began rummaging through his jacket pockets again.
-……
It turned out he only brought six bottles. After checking his now empty pockets several times, he frowned and muttered a quiet curse.
-……
Without saying a word, Tilia looked down at the crumpled handkerchief in her hand, then looked at its condition.
Ilex looked alarmed, as if he was being followed. A faint sheen of sweat appeared along the edge of his neat forehead, and despite his attempts to pretend, his eyes became noticeably cloudy.
His hands, constantly clenching and unclenching, seemed to long to grab something. His fingers continued to fiddle with the buttons of his shirt, and his breathing gradually became more and more ragged.
This state was all too familiar to Tilia.
"The antidote doesn't work."
Tilia remembered the smoke, which seemed almost alive.
How strong was the effect of holy water that it persisted despite the consumption of such a large amount of antidote?
Watching Ilex struggle with what seemed to be the same unbearable thirst she once felt, Tilia felt a pang of worry.
"…Anxiety?"
Realizing that she was not disgusted but worried, Tilia blinked in confusion.
Why should she care? Is she going to help him or something?
While Tilia was in thought, staring at the ground, the sound of hooves was heard somewhere in the distance.
When she looked up, she saw a large carriage rushing towards them. It was a black carriage with the Davenport family crest on it.
The carriage, decorated with bright lamps, stopped right in front of the bench where they were sitting. Only then did Ilex seem to relax a little, his voice sounding even as he spoke.
- Sit down.
But when he opened the large door for her, his hand trembled slightly.
“...It will be better if we leave quickly.”
For the first time, Tilia made a decision not for herself, but for Ilex, and got into the carriage.
However, contrary to her expectations that Ilex would join her, this did not happen.
- At the Ambrose estate.
He spoke briefly with the coachman, and then moved to close the door.
- Wait, what about you?
Startled, Tilia blocked the door with her hands, her voice insistent.
-Won't you come with me?
- I'll go in the next carriage.
- When will it be?
Turning away from her, Ilex shrugged.
- Who knows? Probably after this one leaves.
-……
This means it can take any amount of time.
Feeling hesitation, he spoke calmly, as if reading her thoughts:
- It won't take long. I agreed in advance. She should be here in twenty minutes at the latest.
Twenty minutes. Under normal circumstances this might not be much, but to a person intoxicated with holy water, these twenty minutes may seem longer than twenty hours.
If he could stay conscious at all. Considering the power of the holy water, there was a high chance that he would lose his mind altogether.
Tilia's gaze moved from Ilex to the street.
She saw an old man who seemed to be bargaining with a young guy. The boy grabbed the man, bending one finger down as if to reduce the price after the man turned away in refusal.
-……
In this city, saturated with debauchery, rivers of depravity flowed through every corner. She couldn't even imagine what could happen if he lost consciousness here.
Tilia, having made a decision, looked at him intently.
- Just get in.
Ilex turned to her, his eyes widening at the unexpected words. Tilia continued, her gaze firm.
- If you're going to faint, at least do it in the carriage.
It was a statement that took a lot of courage from her. In the end, he saved her. And anyone could understand that his current condition was the result of her salvation.
- You're in danger now.
The least she could do was ensure his safe return home.
Hearing her decisive words, Ilex simply stared at her.
They exchanged silent glances, and something about the way he looked at her made Tilia feel like she had said something seductive.
-...What are you staring at?
Her tone became harsh from embarrassment.
- Just sit down.
Hearing her harsh words, Ilex finally laughed quietly, raising the corners of his lips.
- The one who knows that I am dangerous...
He leaned slightly towards the carriage, his gaze still unfocused.
- ... asks me to go with her?
- I'm asking because I know you're dangerous.
Tilia looked at him as if she was scolding a child trying to act cool, and slightly pointed her chin towards the street behind him.
- Look. You know how dirty it is there.
She didn't want him to end up like Brad Reynolds. At least not because he helped her.
- Just because you're a man doesn't mean you're safe. The club we had just left was full of perverts.
He followed her gaze to the men she had in mind and then turned back to her.
- Don't worry.
He smiled softly, looking at her dissatisfied face.
- I'm sure I'll be on top.
…What?
Tilia's expression instantly became distorted.
Even in this situation, right...?
She was about to attack him, but hesitated as a thought flashed through her head.
Unable to contain her curiosity, she opened her mouth.
- Hm.
Seeing her hesitation, Ilex tilted his head as if urging her to continue.
- You...
Despite her hesitation, Tilia felt she had to ask the question.
-Have you ever been with a man?
She knew it was rude, but she had to know. If he was that promiscuous, then she definitely needs to get it checked out.
- Were you also... at your best then?
He froze for a moment, as if he needed time to process her question, and then burst out laughing.
With one hand leaning on the doorframe of the carriage and the other gripping the doorknob, he laughed as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard.
Why don't you answer? This is a really important question for me.
Ignoring her serious expression, Ilex finally exhaled deeply and replied:
- I'm confident, but I only sleep with women.
-……
- Unfortunately, I did not have such experience.
He laughed softly again, frowning slightly and straightening up.
- Now just leave.
His face hardened again as he looked at her neck.
- Here's how you can help me.
His firm tone left Tilia no words to argue. She pressed her lips tightly together.
After a moment, Ilex checked to see if she accepted his decision and stepped back.
Click. The carriage door closed tightly.
- Forward.
He knocked on the door and the sound of reins being pulled was heard. Soon the black carriage left the old city.
***
Now everything is done.
Ilex pressed his hand to his burning eyelids, inhaling the dust raised by the carriage.
He sent Tilia away safely. Now she will be safe.
Safe from Gregory and himself.
Just as the rational part of Ilex's mind, which he held on to while biting his lip, began to fail, he heard the sound of a rapidly approaching carriage.
Raising his head, he caught the familiar smell of dust, which he thought had already settled.
Screech. The wheels stopped abruptly and a bright light hit his eyes.
And in this light he saw the door, which he had closed tightly, suddenly open.
- Get in.
The door was opened by the same girl he had just sent away.
With her usual reserved expression on her face, Tilia spoke in a slightly irritated voice:
- Stop being stubborn and just get inside. This is not for you, this is for me.