CHAPTER 13
Maximilian Veloce
As soon as he left, I began moving busily. Lufian was doing everything he could for my revenge, yet here I was, sulking in this mansion just because I found them unpleasant. If I kept this up, I would be no different from Ailee, the monstrous young lady.
I quickly washed up and began picking out clothes. Judging from the last outfit Lufian chose for me, I thought all the clothes would be like that—but to my surprise, there were quite a few mature designs as well. As I rummaged through the wardrobe, I paused to think. The clothes Lydia always wore exuded the essence of nobility: extravagant, yet not gaudy—elegant dresses that made her shine. I pushed those kinds of clothes aside. Mimicking Lydia would only make me a poor imitation trying to replace her. I needed to approach them with a different charm—my own.
While searching for the right outfit, I found it—a navy dress darker than my hair. It had a clean, minimal design, with no lace, no ribbons, or any other frilly decorations. The fabric from the wrists to the shoulders was sheer and thin. The back was cut low, down to the shoulder blades, and a translucent cloth flowed from there, fluttering down to the hem of the dress. The subtly shimmering material gave the dress an ethereal quality. It looked like something a dancer might wear if her costume were turned into a formal dress.
I put it on and stood in front of the mirror. The fabric clung to my body, highlighting my girlish figure. Even without accessories, the dress looked like it was made just for me. Seeing myself in it, I began to understand why Maximilian had called me a “fairy” the moment he saw my face.
But I wasn’t a sweet, dainty little forest fairy. My upturned eyes were a bold red, my full lower lip was tempting. I looked like a fairy that seduced with a cold, bewitching gaze, lured with sensual allure, and then drank your blood. My red lips gave the illusion they were stained with blood.
Having found my wings in the form of a dress, I returned to the plaza. I hadn’t realized it would take this long to walk there. Last time, I’d used Lufian’s power and arrived quickly. I had so little experience being outside, I couldn’t even estimate how long it would take on foot.
Thankfully, I wasn’t bad with directions, and the road was straightforward enough to follow. Without Lufian’s ability, the journey took several times longer. By the time I reached the fountain, the clock tower had already chimed midnight twelve times.
I had no guarantee Maximilian would still be here. But Lufian told me he would keep waiting, and I trusted him.
I didn’t believe Lufian just because he was important to me. A thousand years of life surely gave him more than enough insight. His words were backed not by guesswork but by vast experience. I believed he couldn’t be wrong.
I looked around. If Maximilian had waited here until today, it meant this was his third day waiting. That wasn’t devotion—it was obsession, borderline frightening.
As I searched, everyone’s eyes were on me. Even I had admired myself in the mirror, so I understood why they couldn’t look away. That’s when I realized I hadn’t brought a hood. Back then or now, showing my face always caused a stir—though now for a different reason.
But the attention made it easier to find him. Maximilian noticed me first and waved enthusiastically. He was sitting at the fountain, looking pale and worn. He really had waited all three days. A chill ran down my spine.
“Elly! You came!”
He called out loudly and ran toward me. Everyone’s eyes now turned to us—an impish, handsome young man and a girl radiating sensuality. They were already gossiping. I said flatly to the man standing in front of me:
“Don’t call me Elly.”
“Huh?”
“If you call me Elly again, I’ll leave.”
I had been the one to tell him that name, yet here I was, threatening him not to use it. Anyone thinking rationally would be offended. He waited days, and that’s the first thing I say. But no one but Lufian should be allowed to use that name.
Still, I felt uneasy. That warm smile—when would it turn cold again and pierce me like a dagger? I turned my back to hide my nerves and took a step as if to walk away. Startled, he grabbed my shoulder. That startled me more.
“Then what should I call you?”
He asked anxiously, with a voice that showed desperation, but no irritation. When I was Ailee, he once told me I annoyed him. So I could tell—this wasn’t like that.
“Some people actually get more excited the more you hurt them, huh?”
It was a cultural shock. I turned to observe his face. Just as Lufian said—he really wanted me. He was desperate to grab my silhouette, even as it slipped through his fingers like smoke. What a pervert. Maybe it would’ve been better if Maximilian had been born a monstrous noble. Then he’d have suffering woven into his life.
Lufian was right—again.
“Call me whatever you want.”
I said it because I hadn’t prepared a name. Maximilian’s eyes widened in disbelief, then he beamed. That radiant smile made my insides twist. In front of humans, he gave so much—generous, kind, playful, caring, loving. If I’d met him when I was human, I might’ve liked him too. Who doesn’t like someone sweet and affectionate?
I was probably the only half-demon who loathed him.
“El—um… Actually, I picked flowers for you every day. From our garden. They suit you perfectly. They’re called Hillis flowers—white, pure, but with a deadly fragrance. Like you.”
Unlike last time, Maximilian wasn’t drunk and actually seemed like a normal person. He smiled sweetly as he tucked a flower behind my ear. His green eyes curved into crescents.
“You’re beautiful today too, Hillis.”
“…”
It seemed he’d decided to call me Hillis. Something welled up inside me. Not even Lufian had given me flowers yet—and this guy got there first. I wanted to throw the flower on the ground. Would a masochist like him enjoy that too?
But I didn’t know how he’d react. Even masochists had limits. Making him wait three days was one thing—but to destroy a flower he prepared daily? He might really walk away. Better to stay quiet.
“Seems like… you didn’t bring me a flower.”
He looked dejected, like a boy rejected by his first love. Come to think of it, I really hadn’t prepared anything. Lufian once said women give flower-shaped accessories. But I didn’t have money or time. I’d only focused on seduction, with no real plan. I vaguely thought showing up would be enough.
In romance novels, naïve girls always seduced the guy without even trying. Their only charm was a pretty face. I guess I’d trusted fiction more than I realized. Real life wasn’t so easy.
“I didn’t bring anything. I don’t have any accessories.”
After scrambling for excuses, I bluntly told the truth. I was a terrible liar, so it was better to be honest. Lufian’s mansion had lots of clothes but no accessories—he himself didn’t wear any. I tried to speak nonchalantly.
I thought he’d be offended. But he misunderstood—again. He looked at me with pity and even apologized. He probably thought I was a poor, penniless girl.
“Then… that dress, which looks expensive… Ah. Sorry. That was rude of me. I can be thoughtless sometimes. Please forgive me.”
Something churned in my stomach. He thought I borrowed or stole the dress. I didn’t care what he assumed, but that pitying face was disgusting. I wanted to scream at him to shove his sympathy.
“Want to go buy flower ornaments together? I just want to do something for you.”
And that’s when I snapped and said something cutting—something I truly meant.
“Even if I had accessories, I wouldn’t have brought them.”
“Hillis…”
A blatant rejection. I stomped on everything—his sincerity, his patience, his three-day wait. I regretted it right away, but it was already done. I kept a blank face and watched his reaction. He went pale and kept glancing at me with puppy-like eyes under messy brown hair. He didn’t seem as upset as I expected.
“I understand. It’s natural you haven’t opened your heart to me yet.”
Not “yet”—never. His long lashes trembled pathetically. Maybe Lufian was right again—maybe masochists like him got off on their own misery.
“But I couldn’t forget you from the moment I saw you. I was drunk, and I probably made a fool of myself… but could we at least enjoy today? Even if you didn’t bring a flower to reject me, maybe your heart will change today.”
“…”
“Please, give me one last chance, Hillis.”
And then, as if sealing the tragic performance, tears welled up in his eyes. If I were a normal human girl, I might have fallen for it. Three days of waiting, one-sided devotion, unwavering pursuit—it was straight out of a romance novel. He was the perfect “sub male lead.”
And they usually died before the ending. To squeeze out readers’ tears.
If that’s what he wanted—a tragic romance—I was more than happy to give him the full experience.
It was strange how we still managed a conversation even though all I did was reject him. Anyone watching would think I was trying to seduce him. And oddly enough—it worked. Even I found it hilarious. Maybe it was a good thing he was my first target. At least he played along. He liked being treated coldly, so I’d stick with that approach for now.
“A chance?”
I never intended to give him one. If he just knelt down and begged, it would all be over.
More than anything, Maximilian was easy. It felt like he was seducing me, not the other way around. Whether he wanted my body or my being—I could have him more easily than any of the others.
Like a haughty cat, I raised my chin, tilted my head, and crossed my arms. He looked at me with hopeful eyes. I wanted to crush that hope—but instead, I said something completely opposite.
“Go ahead and try.”
A line straight from “The Demon and I.”
