Chapter 7

A few days later, an invitation arrived for Lilia and Damon. It was for a partner-attending party, sent by Countess Aichent. Lilia, lounging languidly on the bed, sprang up when Jane brought the invitation. Decorated with dazzling gold leaf, the invitation was so bright it hurt her eyes.

Jane handed her the invitation, and Lilia snatched it and tore it open. Jane, holding a paper knife, hurriedly hid it behind her back. Unaware, Lilia read the invitation quickly. Seeing the words “partner-attending,” she asked Jane,

“Did Damon get the same invitation?”

“Yes. The butler took it to him.”

Lilia grabbed the invitation and dashed out. Jane thought to tell her not to run, but decided not to spoil her mood and kept quiet.

She headed straight for Damon’s office. Out of habit from Korea, she almost just opened the door, but stopped herself and knocked politely. A low voice inside told her to come in, and she swung the door open with a bright smile.

“Damon!”

“Knew it was you.”

Lately, his face had been glowing. Lilia smiled slyly and whispered as she approached him.

“Damon, have you been eating well at night? Your face is shining.”

“That’s…!”

She was definitely teasing him, and Damon still wasn’t immune. His ears turned bright red at her shameless words. He had indeed been “eating” at night, but he was the one being devoured, not the other way around. After their nightly sessions, he should have been exhausted the next day, but Lilia was always lively. She looked so delicate she might break with a tap, yet never seemed tired.

Damon ignored her comment with a sigh. As Lilia hovered nearby, she grinned and suddenly plopped down on his lap. Startled, he put down his quill and wrapped his strong arm around her waist, pulling her closer. He pressed his lips to her pale neck and spoke.

“So what’s up?”

“Hehe, it tickles. I just wondered if you got the party invitation for couples.”

“Ah… Yes, I did.”

He glanced at the invitation lying on his desk.

“You’re not going, are you?”

“I am going.”

“…What?”

Lilia leaned her back against his chest and turned her head to look at Damon’s face. Even at an angle that could be unflattering, his face remained perfect.

“It’s a waste for only me to see such a handsome face. I’m curious about the party too…”

“…”

“Let’s go together. Please? I want to go, Damon.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and began to plead. She wouldn’t get down until he agreed, so Damon finally nodded.

“Fine, I’ll go. Now get down. You made me fall behind on my paperwork again.”

“Oh, how is that my fault? You’re just slow. I’ll send a reply that we’ll attend.”

Lilia giggled and hopped off his lap. Her childlike cuteness made Damon’s lips twitch, but she was too busy smoothing her wrinkled skirt to notice.

“Then work hard!”

Damon almost reached out to stop her but only nodded with a blank expression. Lilia thought he might ask her not to go, but since he didn’t, she pouted and left the office. Back in her room, she pulled the bell cord to call Jane.

“You called, Madam?”

“I’m sending a reply that we’ll attend. Could you bring me some stationery?”

“Yes, Madam.”

Soon, Jane brought the stationery. Lilia picked up her quill, then paused.

‘Should I write it just like in the book?’

She glanced at Jane, then wrote the reply. She thanked them for the invitation and said they would definitely attend. It was fascinating to see such strange handwriting—letters she’d never seen or heard before, yet she could write and read them. She fumbled a bit with the wax seal, but managed to make it look pretty and handed the letter to Jane.

“Send this to Countess Aichent.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Lilia’s face was flushed with excitement at the thought of the party. She’d never been to a club in Korea, let alone a party like this. She’d always been curious reading about parties in novels, and now she could finally experience one. Most of all, she was thrilled to finally wear one of the fancy dresses in the dressing room.

She was afraid to go out alone and didn’t know the area well, so going by herself was impossible. But with him, she felt reassured. If she had to go alone, she would have made up an excuse about being sick.

“It’ll be so glamorous, right? I’m really looking forward to it…”

Lilia giggled and flopped onto the bed.

* * *

“Jane, how about this one?”

“It’s beautiful, Madam.”

“And this?”

“Very beautiful, Madam.”

Lilia bustled around the dressing room. There were so many gorgeous dresses, she couldn’t decide what to wear. After agonizing for a while, she spoke to Jane.

“Jane, could you go call Damon?”

“Lord Damon?”

“Yeah, quickly!”

She wanted Damon to pick which dress looked best on her. Jane hesitated, worried he’d be annoyed at being called away from his busy work for something so trivial, but she had no choice and knocked on his door.

“What is it?”

“Lord, Madam is calling for you.”

“What’s it about?”

“She just said to bring you.”

He, having finished his preparations early, was reviewing documents in the office. Damon, who had briefly furrowed his brow, stood up from his seat. He didn’t know why he was being called when everyone should be busy getting ready for the party at this hour, but he decided to go anyway. When he arrived at her room and knocked, he heard light footsteps before the door swung open.

“Damon, you’re here?”

“Why did you call me?”

“Come over here.”

Jane, who had been standing behind, followed nervously inside in a hurry. She was prepared to block Lilia if anything happened. Damon, like an obedient dog, trailed after her. In front of the many dresses, Lilia pulled out the two that caught her eye the most and held them out to him.

“Which one suits me best?”

“……”

Damon was left speechless at the sight. He’d wondered what could be so urgent, only to be asked to pick out a dress. He should have been annoyed for being called away from his busy work for something so trivial, but when Lilia looked at him with sparkling eyes, he simply sighed and began to seriously consider it. Jane, surprised by his reaction, widened her eyes and then quickly bowed her head. Damon, holding the two dresses up to Lilia with a serious expression, finally chose one.

“This one is better.”

“Really? I thought this one was prettier, too. It must be true that a married couple is of one mind.”

Lilia said casually as she put the other dress back.

“Could you help me change? Jane, could you go pick out some accessories?”

“Yes, Madam.”

She didn’t forget to secretly wink at Jane behind Damon’s back. Before Jane left, Lilia held up three fingers, and Jane gave a slight nod.

‘Thirty minutes is enough, for sure.’

Jane was indeed quick-witted. Damon, unaware of their scheme, sighed and nodded. He intended to help her change quickly and leave. But Lilia had no intention of letting him go easily.

She boldly took off her negligee. The soft fabric dropped to the floor, and Lilia turned her head slightly and spoke to him.

“Could you hand me the chemise over there?”

“Sure.”

Damon awkwardly walked over and handed the thin chemise to Lilia. Since the buttons were in the back, she couldn’t put it on alone, so she approached Damon.

“Could you button this up for me?”

“Hoo…”

Lilia gathered her long hair in one hand and lifted it up. Her white nape was exposed, and Damon, exercising patience, began to fasten the tiny buttons with his large hands. Her silhouette was fully visible beneath the thin fabric, and he felt himself growing aroused. On top of that, a faint rose scent wafted from her body, which was incredibly alluring. He tensed up, worried he might lose control in the dressing room. Damon was surprised at how strong his desire was.

“Damon.”

“W-what is it?”

“You seem a bit uncomfortable down there…”

As he fastened the last button, Lilia spun around, wrapped her arms around his neck, and slid her hand down. She whispered softly in Damon’s ear.

“Thirty minutes is enough, right?”

“You really are…”

Damon let out a low, pained sound and hurriedly kissed her. Her moist lips tasted so sweet, like they were filled with honey, making his mind spin.

His hand slid down, caressing her soft thigh, and he lifted one of her legs to bring her closer. His arousal pressed against her, and Lilia let out a soft moan.

“Ah, hngh, mm…”

Rather than pulling down the thin fabric covering her, Damon simply moved it aside and entered her. He couldn’t bear to waste even a moment. He held her securely so she wouldn’t fall, unbuckled his pants just enough, and pressed himself against her. Even before entering, the anticipation made Lilia cling to his neck.