Chapter 49 - 48: Date

Chapter 49: Chapter 48: Date

"Lilia..."

Caius repeatedly murmured the name in his heart.

"Did you see?" he thought. "I was so good... Even though I wanted nothing more than to kill him right then and there, I didn’t do anything out of line. I will listen to whatever you say... So, shouldn’t you give me a reward?"

Caius lowered his eyes and drew the curtains, shutting out the scenes he didn’t want to see.

He walked over to the bed, sat down, and picked up the light pink gown laid out on the mattress.

After the banquet yesterday, this gown should have been taken away to be washed, then hung back in the walk-in closet, never to be worn again. However, Caius had taken advantage of a maid’s inattention and brought it back to his own room.

The layers of fabric pooled in his palms, the silk feeling just like the girl’s smooth skin. He pressed the gown to his nose, and the familiar, sweet fragrance instantly enveloped him.

That sweet, honey-like, unique scent—resembling both flowers and cake—left him slightly delirious just from the smell. A thrilling jolt, like an electric shock, surged through his body, making even his thoughts tremble uncontrollably.

He let himself fall backward onto the bed, the layered silk draping over his face.

"Lilia..." the young man murmured out loud. His already deep voice was extraordinarily hoarse now, thick with sticky, repressed emotion.

His breathing grew heavy and rapid as images continually flashed through his mind.

Lilia being pressed against the outer wall of the Earl Mansion, letting him take in her scent.

Lilia in her nightgown, sitting on his bed while he held her calf, gently caressing it.

And at the banquet yesterday—the intoxicatingly sweet aroma when their breaths mingled, the girl’s glistening, remarkably soft lips, and...

Caius let out a muffled groan and slowly opened his eyes.

In his mind, the reel of images froze. It stopped on the heartwarming scene of her standing in front of Lucian, bidding him farewell.

Caius slowly sat up and leaned back against the headboard, gripping the light pink silk gown in his hands.

"Why..."

He lowered his gaze. The flush at the corners of his eyes had yet to fade, making his mist-covered black pupils seem even darker and more obsessive.

Why couldn’t she just stay obediently by his side?

Caius closed his eyes. When he opened them again, a dark, crimson fire was already burning in their depths.

It didn’t matter...

Birds always yearned for the open sky, easily deceived by beautiful, shining, yet utterly useless trash. But no matter where she flew, she would eventually have to return to her nest.

He had always been magnanimous and very patient. He would wait for the day she got tired of playing, and then open the door wide to welcome her back.

But what if...

What if one day she didn’t want to come back here anymore...

Caius stared up at the canopy above, the flames in his eyes burning brighter and brighter.

Sunday. 9:00 a.m.

Just as Lucian had promised, he arrived punctually in front of the Earl Mansion to wait.

The carriage, engraved with the Williams family crest, made no attempt at concealment. Anyone could immediately recognize the owner’s identity, let alone the fact that Lucian was standing poised and confident right beside it. His handsome features, with blond hair and green eyes, were strikingly eye-catching.

So much so that when Lilia changed her clothes and prepared to go downstairs, she was stopped by Lady Beaumont, who had witnessed the whole spectacle. After asking about her plans for the day, Lady Beaumont smiled and told her to have fun out there, but reminded her to come back early in the evening.

Lilia obediently agreed, then pushed open the door and stepped out to meet Lucian.

Lucian offered his hand to help her into the carriage, letting her settle onto the soft cushions. The interior was simply furnished yet lacked nothing essential. Lucian had even thoughtfully prepared breakfast, though Lilia had already eaten at home and barely touched it.

Their destination for today was the East District.

If the West District was a slum for the poor, then the East District was a gathering place for commoners whose living conditions were better, but still fell short of noble standards.

It boasted numerous shopping centers, bars, and cafes catering to everyday people, as well as high-end restaurants and clubs that only nobles and wealthier merchants could afford.

Because of the chaotic mix of people, the East District, while not as lawless as the West District, still saw its fair share of brawls, robberies, and thefts. Overall, it was certainly not as safe as the core areas where the nobles resided. This was also why Lady Beaumont had repeatedly reminded Lilia to return early and not stay out too late.

The rumble of carriage wheels gradually subsided as the two finally arrived at their destination for the day: a newly opened department store.

It was Lilia’s first time visiting a place like this. Rather than finding it a novelty, she was mostly filled with awe.

She hadn’t expected there to be department stores in this era.

Furthermore, from a business model perspective, it wasn’t much different from modern ones. The only distinction was its gorgeous, vintage decor, exuding an air of extravagance that practically screamed "commoners keep out."

Lucian led Lilia out of the carriage. As he guided her inside, he explained, "This is the newest and largest department store in the vicinity. They have an incredibly comprehensive selection of goods. Compared to its competitors, its biggest draw is a specialty section featuring items imported from the other three great nations, which are very hard to find elsewhere."

Lilia listened quietly. "You seem to know a lot about this."

"Of course," Lucian smiled. "Kids from poor families have to grow up fast."

"..."

If a Duke’s heir was considered a "kid from a poor family," then what did that make a commoner like her?

Too lazy to debate the complex issue of whether a fallen noble was still a noble with him, she focused all her attention on the dazzling array of goods.

And just as Lilia had observed, Lucian knew everything about this place intimately, acting almost like a professional shopping guide.

"Wicker trunks," Lucian said. "They’ve become very popular in the East District lately. Compared to leather suitcases, they hold much more and are better suited for long-distance travel."

She understood instantly—they were basically massive 24-inch suitcases.

"These are skirts. I heard they originally spread from the Hess Empire, designed to make girls’ daily movements more convenient. After various modifications, they are now primarily focused on aesthetics, which is completely opposite to the purpose for which they were invented."

This familiar style... Bohemian? It made her a bit curious about what the original version from the Hess Empire looked like...

"This is... ah, it seems to be a new fashion item. It’s... well, more commonly seen in places like bars. It’s woven from mulberry silk—sheer, durable, and very breathable."

This...

Wasn’t this just silk stockings?

Lilia took a step forward and scrutinized them for a moment, confirming that they were indeed silk stockings.

And very expensive at that.

Lucian hadn’t managed to hold her back in time. Looking somewhat helpless, he asked, "...You’re interested in this?"

Lilia nodded. "It’s my first time seeing them."

Her first time seeing them in this world, anyway.

"That’s normal. Most nobles still can’t quite accept this kind of... emerging trend."

"Why? Because it’s too form-fitting?" Lilia turned her head to look at him.

"Probably," Lucian’s answer was somewhat vague.

Lilia blinked, acutely sensing that he seemed to be dodging the topic.

As for the reason...

She looked at his slightly darting gaze and the faint redness of his ears hidden beneath his blond hair.

Could he be...

Blushing?