The Toy in the Summer Palace - Chapter 242

Liv’s flushed complexion was adorable; whereas Luzia had looked so ugly when she had blushed earlier.

The hell with the formal court proceedings; Demus rather faced Luzia as briefly as possible. Even if he was afraid of Liv, it was good for his mind and body to have her in front of him. After all, she’d traveled all the way to the capital on her own accord, so he couldn’t let the trial take up too much of his time.

Liv, unaware that Demus’ schedule in the capital had changed in an instant, was busy trying to control her blush. When she finally managed to control her expression, she carefully removed her hand from his cheek. Her green eyes stared at the long scar across his cheek.

“It looks like a scratch from nails.”

Liv’s voice was oddly stern as she said it. Her lips, pressed into a straight line, seemed to be straining.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think the scar will remain. It’s just a small scratch on the skin.”

“I see.”

Liv’s voice suddenly turned blunt. Dropping her gaze somewhat unnaturally, Liv said in a flat voice.

“I didn’t know you’d let people touch your face so easily.”

“It gave me something more to sue her for.”

Demus replied nonchalantly before adding in a dismissive tone.

“Don’t you worry. I have no intention of nitpicking about the scratches you make at night.”

Demus thought her composed complexion might flush again, but Liv merely stared at him in silence. For a moment, her eyes flickered, then calmed, and it was impossible to tell what she was thinking.

Liv, who had been silent as though lost in thought, let out a short sigh.

“Even when they have dried and twisted…”

Finally, Liv carefully parted her lips.

“Do you know that dried flowers can be beautiful?”

Demus had never looked at a dried flower and thought it was beautiful. But who cared about what he thought? He nodded in agreement.

“If it looks beautiful to you, then it must be.”

“But is it right to put dried flowers in a vase just because they’re beautiful?”

Liv swallowed dryly and dropped her gaze, seemingly finding it difficult to keep looking at Demus.

“It might be better for both of us if we didn’t touch it. We can’t revive a wilted rose even if we water it, and if we make the slightest mistake, it’ll shatter. Rather than break it and regret it…”

“Then keep it in a glass box, not a vase. You won’t need to water it anyway.”

Liv’s rambling paused.

“And take a look at it from time to time.”

Liv slowly looked up from where she was staring down at her feet. Her green eyes were wavering wildly.

“I’m happy with you just watching it, so keep it with you.”

Demus twisted his mouth into a smile.

“You said it’s beautiful even though it’s dried and twisted, so it should look beautiful forever without the worry of wilting. Doesn’t that sound good?”

Liv’s lips, which had been tightly pressed together, quivered. Looking at Demus with a face contorted as if she were about to cry at any moment, Liv stretched out her hand. A warm breath touched Demus’ lips. It was a careful, gentle touch, like touching a dried petal.

Demus gave himself over to that shy, warm kiss.

It was a moment of claiming possession over the expensive man who had been labeled as unattainable for his entire life.

***

“Find a way to put her in an abbey, no matter what.”

At the sudden command, Adolf and Charles both fell silent. Then Adolf, the first to regain his senses, answered with a hollow laugh.

“She is Malte’s direct and only daughter, my Lord.”

“So?”

“So, she’s the only daughter…”

“Send some good aphrodisiacs to the Malte family.”

Demus cut off Adolf’s words and continued coldly.

“The Duke and Duchess of Malte are still hale and hearty, so they may have a late child.”

Adolf, who had been trying to be rational, could no longer find the words to reply and fell silent. He realized that even if he tried to explain what the Maltes would make of the strange gift of an aphrodisiac, it would probably not reach Demus’ ears.

Originally, they should have been preparing for the next trial, but Demus’ attention had long since been elsewhere. Beyond that closed hotel room, to be exact.

“Don’t let anyone get near until I call.”

Demus gave a final command to Roman, who stood a step behind him, and turned around. Seeing that, Charles cast an exasperated look at him.

“My Lord! You must not take more than two days!”

“The date for the next trial has already been set! It cannot be postponed!”

Adolf also urgently added, but Demus strode into the room without even looking back.

The two men, looking devastated, gazed pitifully at the firmly closed door. But from inside, there was only the cold sound of the door locking.

“… Phew.”

A long, unidentifiable sigh echoed through the corridor of the hotel’s top floor.

***

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