~Chapter 53~
“Welcome back, Countess.”
Maxmuel should have been surprised by the sudden visit, yet when Larvihan arrived with Lovelace, he looked calm—as if he had expected her.
“Lady Judith has been waiting for your word, Countess.”
“Huh? Judith?”
“She sent word after you suddenly disappeared last night. She contacted the Duke’s estate.”
With Maxmuel’s short explanation, Lovelace understood. She had vanished in the middle of the night. Judith must have panicked, thinking something had happened, and reached out to Larvihan.
So Larvihan had come straight to her.
But… how did he know I was at Duke Hendrake’s mansion?
—Countess!
Judith’s loud voice burst from the crystal communicator, not giving Lovelace time to think.
“I’m sorry I left without telling you, Judith. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t wake the other servants, did I?”
—Of course you did! Everyone was in chaos!
Lovelace’s heart sank with guilt.
“I’ll return soon.”
—So you’ve already mastered teleportation magic then?
Lovelace smiled awkwardly at the crystal sphere.
Larvihan’s calm voice cut in.
“Judith, I’ll bring the Countess back safely myself. It’s late. If you truly care for her, you should know what she needs most right now.”
Judith hesitated, then finally gave her goodnight and vanished from the communicator.
“Maxmuel, bring some warm water.”
“No need, Sir Maxmuel,” Lovelace said quickly. She flicked her hand, signaling him to go anyway.
Larvihan watched and snorted.
“You two have grown close. Talking with just your eyes behind my back?”
Lovelace glared at him. But Larvihan didn’t stop Maxmuel from leaving. Instead, he shrugged and pulled out a bottle of wine. He sat down, drinking straight from the neck.
“Want some?”
Lovelace blinked at him.
“There aren’t any cups.”
“Just drink from the bottle. We’ve already kissed, haven’t we?”
He held out the bottle—the same spot where his lips had touched.
Her cheeks burned. Larvihan smirked at her reaction. So shy, yet this was the same woman who had stormed into Hendrake’s house for revenge.
“Th-that kiss, I mean…”
“What about it? Was it not enough? Don’t remember? Should I remind you? I’ll try harder this time.”
He leaned closer as if to kiss her again. Lovelace froze, clutching the wine bottle tightly.
This man… he just loves teasing me.
Larvihan finally pulled back with a chuckle.
“Enough teasing then.”
The heat in his voice vanished, leaving Lovelace strangely unsettled. Normally, he would’ve kept pressing, but today he was different—quieter, more serious.
Silence hung between them.
“You said you had something to tell me.”
At her words, Larvihan brushed back his dark hair, his eyes fixed on her.
“Are you hiding something from me, Lovelace?”
“What? Hiding what?”
She tried to act calm, but his next words pierced through her.
“I hate lies, Lovelace.”
Her chest tightened at the way he said her name.
“I don’t know what you mean. Is this about the tea party? I didn’t tell you because we didn’t have time to talk—”
“That’s not it. I’m not asking about what’s on the surface. I’m asking what’s inside.”
His palm pressed gently against her stomach. He brushed her hair back, tilting her chin so their eyes met.
“Who are you really? What happened to you during that year in the slums?”
“I just survived… begged, stole food, got beaten…”
“Shh, Lovelace. Don’t lie. If you do, I’ll want to tear that pretty tongue of yours out.”
He pulled his hand back quickly, as if afraid of losing control. They lingered in that uncertain space—not close, not apart.
Larvihan didn’t want to suspect her. But she had used a power that wasn’t his, and she was hiding it. He had never forgiven anyone who approached him with secrets.
“If you don’t want to talk, then return my power.”
His request was no longer playful—it was serious. Lovelace froze, speechless.
He took the wine bottle again, drank, and tilted her chin up with his finger.
Don’t look away.
Their eyes locked, searching each other. He wanted to know if she lied. She wanted to know why he was acting this way.
“Lovelace…” His voice trembled like a sigh. Wine slipped down his lips. She instinctively reached to wipe it, but he licked it away himself.
“Will you even wipe my mouth for me? You take revenge for me too. Why are you so kind to me?”
Kind? Me?
She never thought she had done anything for him. If anything, Larvihan had done everything for her.
“Tell me, Lovelace. Do you want something from me?”
Every kindness he’d ever known had come with a hidden price. He had never believed in pure affection. The thought that Lovelace might betray him was unbearable.
“You already know what I want from you.”
His brow furrowed. “And what do you want from me?”
“You said you needed love.”
The truth slipped from her lips before she could stop it. She clapped her hands over her mouth, horrified.
“Love? Yes. That was the condition for marriage, wasn’t it? That’s why I said I loved you.”
He doesn’t understand… He doesn’t even know what love really is.
Her heart ached.
“Enough. I’ve always told you what I want. If you can’t give it…”
She closed her eyes.
“Then take it back—your power.”
“What are you doing?”
Larvihan’s low voice echoed in her ears, sharp enough to pierce her heart.
