"Is this real?
Elle?"
“Of course.
I have to help my friend if he is having difficulty.”
Elia nodded confidently, and Lennox asked her:
“But can you do it, Elle?”
“Yes, I prepared the accounting books when I was working in agency purchasing.”
Lennox's face lit up.
“You saved me thanks to you, El!
Thank you very much!
I collected the receipts separately, so all you have to do is register.
I will inform the main palace butler in advance that El will deliver them for me.”
"Good."
Illya smiled faintly and replied.
•
After Ilya finished preparing the notebooks, she took the notebooks and headed to the main building of the palace.
‘The main building is completely different from the annex building…’
Unlike the annex building which was a bit old, this building was extremely luxurious.
Honestly, even the annex building was considered magnificent compared to the baron's mansion she lived in, but this place was a whole other world.
“Come on, these are the accounting books for the current quarter.”
After Ilya politely handed the notebooks to the butler, instead of immediately returning to the annex building, she deliberately went around the main building of the palace from the outside.
Since she had barely reached the main building, she wanted to meet Lavinia by any means to lower her level of admiration for her.
‘According to the original story, Lavinia’s residence must be near here…’
When I arrived at the main building, the sky had turned from the color of sunset to pitch black after the sun had completely set.
'I should be back before the dorm search.'
As her heart was racing, she saw a light turn on in that window.
The other windows were completely dark, but that one alone was lighted.
Elia approached out of curiosity.
Behind the window, I noticed a head of sparkling pink hair.
It's Lavinia.
'Is this her bedroom?'
Elia's eyes widened as she looked into the window.
It wasn't a bedroom, it was a library.
Lavinia was sitting at a large desk, relying on the lamplight, stacking books pile after pile and reading diligently.
Her thick, usually beautifully flowing hair was tied up tightly, and she wore glasses.
Her beautiful golden eyes were fixed on the open book.
'Has she always been the type to study like this?'
This was a strange aspect that did not appear in the original story.
She was so engrossed in reading that she didn't notice at all that Elijah was watching her from outside the window.
Elia coughed lightly and then gently knocked on the window.
Knock knock.
Only then did Lavinia hurriedly turn her head to look towards the window from which the sound came.
For a moment, a hint of confusion passed over her bespectacled face.
But she quickly dropped her expression and took off her glasses, then approached the window with a bright smile and opened it wide.
“Oh, Erhan.
Good evening.”
She extended her upper body towards Elijah and continued her speech:
"Anyway, what brings you here this night?
Have you missed me during this time so much that you came here?"
It was a bold sentence, as usual.
Smiling slowly, she continued:
“So, I'm here alone, would you like to come in?”
At her frank invitation, Elijah was not as confused as before, but rather stared at her carefully.
'She remembered the plan she made with Yusar in her mind.'
‘Elijah, the first thing you should do is not let Lavinia control you at all.’
'What?'
‘Lavinia’s frank words and actions are tempting, but she also does so because she can control you at will the more you become confused.’
'It's a kind of control.'
'Right.
So, never be embarrassed on your part, but rather be bolder and surprise Lavinia in turn.'
Then Lavinia extended her arm towards her and whispered:
“What are you waiting for?
Come on, come in quickly.”
Hearing this, Elijah quickly grabbed Lavinia’s hand and replied sharply:
“Okay.
I'll come in.”
"…What?"
Elia jumped over the window sill and landed inside the room.
Lavinia's eyes trembled, and Elijah didn't miss it.
'Yousar was right.'
But Lavinia soon returned to her usual form.
“I didn’t expect this from you, Erhan.
You seem to have a malicious side.”
“I just did what Mademoiselle ordered.”
At those words, Lavinia laughed lightly, and Elijah moved her gaze to the books stacked on the desk.
'What kind of book was she so immersed in reading?'
Then Lavinia hurried into the office and pushed away the stacked books.
The books tumbled and fell under the desk.
Lavinia now went up and sat on the desk, and whispered in a seductive voice:
“Then come here, Erhan.”
Elia noticed a strange feeling of uneasiness.
It seemed as if Lavinia, instead of really trying to seduce her, was doing it because she didn't want the books on the desk to be exposed.
'But why?'
While she was doubting, Lavinia loosened her tied hair.
Her thick hair framed her face and shoulders.
Lavinia's figure, illuminated by the dim lamplight, was ravishingly beautiful.
She unbuttoned the robe she was wearing and lowered it slightly, then stretched her arms around Elijah's shoulders while whispering.
“This time, will you kiss my cheek, Erhan?”
In the darkness, the pink lips sparkled seductively.
Her attitude was much bolder than when she had visited her room the last time.
But Elia was not confused at all, she remembered her second plan.
‘If you control the situation, from that moment on, make Lavinia’s pride deeply hurt.
Put up a strong barrier and reject everything.'
'Will this work?'
To Elia who was feeling suspicious, Yusar responded firmly.
'If you refuse while showing the slightest sign of confusion, it won't work.
Therefore, you should refuse as if you do not have a single shred of interest.
Then, her pride would definitely be hurt.
Especially if she was the daughter of a grand duke who was raised in prosperity and was never rejected like Lavinia.'
'What if I get angry and call Keisha?'
'Because of her extreme pride, she will never be able to do that.
Didn't you just go over it last time and say it was a joke?'
Yusar had seen countless women since he was young.
Since he knew women better than her, she decided to trust him.
Yousar confirmed it:
'The important thing is that you do this with a very polite but cool attitude.
It's even better if you add a touch of mild disdain.'
'This is very difficult!
Give me an example.'
‘Hmm… example.
Yes, Axion!
Do as that brat usually does!'
Illya closed her eyes and imagined Axion's form.
But she remembered the blue eyes that had looked at her kindly this morning.
'Not that… yeah, when we first met!'
She remembered the look that had always looked down upon her, and suggested to herself that it was Axion.
After that, she slowly opened her eyes, looked at Lavinia, and said clearly and firmly:
“I apologize, but I refuse.”
Far from being sorry, it was a sound that emanated too cold even if she valued it herself.
'Wow, even if I was Lavinia, I would be hurt!'
As expected, Lavinia's eyes trembled violently.
But she quickly regained her gaze and whispered to her:
"Ah, I see.
Would you like to kiss me somewhere other than my cheek?"
“No, I'm not.”
“So, will you hug me?”
“I will refuse.”
After being flatly rejected three times in a row, Lavinia opened her mouth in astonishment as she stared at Elijah.
“You're really cruel.
How can you crush my pride like that.”
“I didn't crush Miss's pride.
It's just that I don't want to respond to inappropriate behavior.”
At that moment, a strange expression crossed Lavinia's face.
At the same time, she completely retracted the seductive look she had just before.
She raised the collar of her dress, which was low, and closed the buttons all the way to her neck.
'Has the level of admiration finally dropped?
She obviously finds me annoying.'
While Elijah was secretly breathing a sigh of relief, Lavinia quietly opened her mouth.
“Inappropriate behavior, then.”
The side of her mouth rose strangely.
“You are a really interesting person, Erhan.”
Enjoyable?
Shouldn't you find me annoying?
Lavinia looked directly at her now.
But her look was not the usual smiling innocent look, but rather turned into a sharp look devoid of any gaps.
'It's like she's a whole other person.'
While Elia was puzzled, Lavinia jumped up and got down from the office.
She passed by Elijah and went to the other side of the desk, then bowed.
She started picking up the books that had fallen on the floor and placing them on top of the desk.
After Lavinia put down all the books, she looked at Elijah and asked in a bold voice:
“You were wondering what kind of books I was reading, weren't you?
Now, are you a little curious?”