“Is this… supposed to be an extension?”
Tilia looked up at the large chandelier hanging from the ceiling, trying her best to keep a straight face.
The scale of the place made her laugh at herself for imagining something like a small villa when she heard the word annex. Although this building was separate from the main house, it was larger and more beautiful than the Ambrose family's main estate.
- This way, please.
Tilia, who had been staring blankly at the sparkling crystals, turned her head towards the soft voice. She saw the maid with a perfect smile, as if she had learned it perfectly.
- I will take you to the prepared bedroom.
Tilia looked at the kind face of the maid, and then quietly turned her gaze to the side. She saw Ilex, standing motionless like an iron statue, briefly nod to the maid. Then the maid turned gracefully and began to walk up the stairs.
Tilia followed Ilex and the maid up the stairs, which were decorated with ancient portraits.
The maid, who had been walking silently, finally stopped in front of the door. Turning around, she said quietly:
- Young master, I need to cook for the lady...
- No need.
- Then, help in the bath...
- This is also not necessary.
Ilex, interrupting the polite maid every time, warned coldly.
- Until I call you, don’t come in. Never.
With these words, the maid bowed deeply and quickly left.
-……
As soon as the maid left, an eerie silence reigned on the second floor, as if they had entered another dimension.
In this silence there was a low and distinct sound of Ilex opening the door.
The way he opened the door for her was as gracious as if he were inviting her to a banquet. Although his downcast eyes held a wildness that he could not completely hide.
Pretending not to notice anything, Tilia entered the door he opened for her.
The room was softly lit and exuded luxury, reflecting the refined taste of the owner.
Tilia moved forward slowly, her gaze sweeping over the mahogany table by the window, the pale green curtains, the curved sofa opposite, and the bookshelf.
Her attention was drawn to the large curtained bed in the center of the room.
Click. She heard the door close.
All her senses were focused on her back. Footsteps echoed as someone came and stood right behind her, a presence radiating warmth.
But maybe because this was the second time...
Tilia no longer felt her heart pounding as hard or the blood draining from her limbs as before.
Just a little, just a little, she was afraid.
"Everything is fine. You've done this before."
It's OK.
Tilia took a deep breath, erasing all signs of tension, and turned around with a calm face.
But the moment she turned her head...
Tilia instinctively understood. Today's meeting will be completely different from the previous one.
Without realizing it, she took a step back. Until they entered this mansion, there had been a hint of rationality in Ilex's behavior, but now his eyes were completely clouded.
In his cloudy gaze, devoid of control, there was no hint of restraint - only unbridled desire.
He noticed her slight trembling even before she did it herself.
- Tilia.
He tilted his head slightly and asked:
- Why are you trembling? You yourself said that holy water had an effect on you.
He muttered in a cracked voice and slowly stretched. His hand, most likely unnaturally warm, reached for the hem of Tilia's dress.
Tilia watched intently as his long fingers touched the lace near her thigh.
His hand was careful at first, holding the lace gently between his thumb and forefinger, as if he were holding a fragile flower petal. But the next moment the cautious touch gave way to a possessive grip.
The large hand that had been caressing the soft silk began to pull the skirt up, like a spider pulling in its prey.
The touch, which started as a small gesture, soon filled his hand completely with her skirt.
The soft fabric contrasted sharply with the bulging veins on the back of his arm as he lifted the hem higher.
Her worn shoes came into view, then her ankles, and just as her pale calves were about to be exposed...
- We must...
Tilia said, breathing quickly:
- ...we need to take a bath first.
With these words she stepped back and part of her skirt slipped out of his hands.
-...A bath?
But Ilex looked dazed, as if drunk, his eyes still glued to her bare skin.
- …Why?
“You said we couldn’t do this until we were clean.”
- I?
Only then did Ilex's gaze rise. He looked at her as if he didn't understand what they were both saying.
- When did I say this?
- That time, in your dorm room!
Tilia barked, yanking the rest of the skirt out of his hand. He instinctively tried to hold on to the soft silk slipping from his hands, but his clouded gaze darted to Tillia's stern face.
- You definitely said it. Which you couldn't do if we weren't pure.
-……
- That's why I won't do it until I wash myself. I feel very uncomfortable right now.
Ilex was silent, just looking at Tilia.
Under his gaze, Tilia unconsciously hid her sweaty hands behind her back.
The suggestion of taking a bath first was just a stalling tactic. She wasn't going to run away. She wasn't brave enough to sneak out of this huge mansion while he was in this state.
She just needed a moment - just a short moment - to think. To understand why she came back to him, why she insisted on staying when he asked her to leave.
And if Ilex Davenport can regain his composure in the meantime, that will be even better. After all, as he said, tonight might be too much for her.
- I want to wash myself. I really want to.
While she stubbornly repeated, Ilex suddenly sighed, covering his face with his large hand. He took a deep breath, his chest rising noticeably, and then made a gesture with his chin.
- The bathroom is there. She must be ready.
Exhaling heavily, he removed his hand from his face, avoiding her gaze.
- I'll wash myself somewhere else. Wait for me.
There seemed to be a faint glimmer of common sense in his eyes again.
She couldn't be sure, since he turned and left the room immediately after the conversation.
Bang! The door closed loudly behind him.
The sudden noise made Tilia flinch, but she quickly pulled herself together and turned in the direction he pointed.
As expected, the bathroom was so luxurious that her eyes widened.
At the far end of the bathroom was a beautiful patterned granite bathtub positioned in front of a large window. It seemed like a place where one could enjoy lush greenery on a fine day.
Today, however, the dark window simply reflected the bathroom like a mirror.
Tilia gazed at her reflection in the black glass as she slowly undressed.
As she removed the bulky dress George had insisted on wearing, she saw a pale woman staring at her—a woman whose appearance seemed out of place in this extravagant bathroom.
A naked woman with skin so white it looked almost sickly.
Tilia stared at her reflection in the mirrored window for a moment before heading towards the bathtub. She climbed into the beautifully tiled bathtub and quickly turned on the water.
Warm water poured over the body. As she let the water wash over her, Tilia began to replay the events of that day in her mind.
First, she went to a private club to meet Brad Reynolds. Having dealt with him as planned, while trying to leave she ran into Ilex Davenport, and while escaping they encountered Gregory Myers with a sword...
"...No."
Remembering the last time Gregory lay in a pool of blood, Tilia bit her lip and shook her head slightly.
What mattered was what happened next. Ilex inhaled the holy water in the form of steam that Gregory brought.
If she remembered correctly, she was the one who broke the bottle as she stepped back. He ended up inhaling the steam because he covered her nose and mouth.
Yes, it was like that. That's it.
She was the reason he inhaled that maddening substance, and so she had some responsibility for helping him.
Moreover, even though she drank the antidote, she also seemed to be affected by the powerful holy water.
From the moment she saw Ilex's eyes in the carriage, full of desire to lay her down right there, she felt something.
This tickling sensation deep in her stomach is the same one she felt when she drank holy water.
Yes, that's why.
Tilia muttered something under her breath and turned off the tap. Now that she had sorted out her thoughts, her mind became clearer.
The reason she followed him was out of a sense of responsibility and the need to cope with her own growing desire. That's it. Nothing more.
Enough. Strengthened in her reasoning, Tilia turned to put on the dress that the maid had prepared.
Creak. At that moment, she heard the door to the bathroom slowly open with an eerie sound.