Odalisque - Chapter 268

The scenery in the morning at the Lanxess manor was peaceful.

Lush greenery, a bright sky, and birdsong echoed from beyond.

Deep inside the private estate, far from the city life of Buerno, it was a place far removed from any worldly disturbances. If it weren’t for the periodic newspaper deliveries, those in that place would be completely oblivious to the outside world.

Early in the morning, Philip, who awoke before anyone else in the manor, began his day by bringing the newspaper to Demus’ study.

In the process, he would naturally skim through the front-page articles. The front page was usually where the most attention was paid, and today Demus’ name was on the front page.

To be precise, it was about the fireworks Demus had set off on the lakeside. About how expensive the gunpowder that painted the night sky was, why he had to get the authorities to block off the entire lakeside, and for whom all this effort was for.

But this wasn’t the first time. Once Liv returned to the Lanxess manor after confirming Coryda’s admission, Demus began showering her with lavish and expensive gifts and events openly, as though he wanted for every resident of Buerno to see.

This caused people to take an interest in Liv, who was the subject of his unreserved affection, as an alternative to the unapproachable Marquis Dietrion.

Some of them rushed to judge Liv and tried to manipulate her by using their positions, only to have Liv attacked back, making them embarrassed and back down. After this happened a few times, people realized that Liv was not easy like Marquis Dietrion in a different sense.

Yet that didn’t diminish their interest. As a result, the amount of letters arriving at the Lanxess manor had been subtly increasing.

“Oh.”

As Philip picked up the letters that had come with the newspaper, he spotted one neatly sealed and let out a low exclamation. It was addressed to Liv.

A subtle expression crossed Philip’s face as he read the address written on the outside. He could easily imagine Demus’ face contorting when he saw this letter. Liv, of course, would be delighted to receive the letter.

What followed was predictable. Seeing Liv beaming with joy, Demus would reluctantly suppress his own emotions, then smoke a cigar and be cranky to everyone around him.

Philip strode calmly on, thinking that he would have to warn the hired help to be careful and not to offend their master.

***

In a daze, Demus realized that his side was empty.

Suddenly, a breathtaking shock crushed his heart. Demus opened his eyes, sleep had withdrawn from his face, and he scrambled to his feet. At the same time, a bright light shone into the dark bedroom. Demus squinted and turned his gaze.

He could see someone’s back as she pulled back the thick curtains that kept the sunlight out. She, her long and thick hair hanging loose behind her, seemed to have not yet realized that Demus had awoken.

Her body faintly showed through the thin silk chemise that fluttered with every movement. The sunlight streaming in from the window accentuated the curves of her body.

Demus, who quickly regained his composure, watched her silently. Liv seemed unwilling to look back until she had finished organizing the curtains in the bedroom.

“Just call a maid for that.”

His voice, lower and languid than usual because he had just gotten up, echoed through the silent bedroom, and Liv turned around at his voice. Her figure seemed to glisten unusually in the sunlight.

“I know you don’t like having hired help here.”

It was true. For years, the bedroom had received no special tending beyond the careful entry of an experienced servant each morning to open the curtains. For Demus, who was far from sleep, the bedroom was a sensitive place.

Moreover, after Liv settled into the Lanxess manor, it became even more difficult for the hired hands to access the bedroom. The servant who used to come in to wake Demus in the morning had long since stopped coming, and the hired hands had to wait for their master to wake up on his own.

It was a good thing Liv had a regular routine, or else the hired hands would have to wait endlessly for preparing breakfast.

Since Demus always moved to match Liv’s morning, they were grateful for her regularity, and Liv seemed to recognize that.

That being said, days like today were not good.

“It’s better than waking up to find my side empty.”

Liv’s eyes widened at Demus’ response, then she furrowed her brow. The corners of her pursed lips curled downward.

Want to read more chapters and support us? Please consider becoming a patron to read up to 2 chapters in advance!