Countess Cecilia (2)
Lilith bit her trembling red lips hard, suppressing the surge of irritation. The leisure she'd exuded just moments ago, as if she owned the world, had vanished without a trace, replaced by a chill tension crawling down her spine. She quickly composed her expression in the mirror, plastering on her signature gentle, affectionate smile before opening the office door and heading downstairs.
In the center of the lavish first-floor hall, on the most expensive red velvet sofa, sat Countess Cecilia with her legs arrogantly crossed. She was elegantly tilting a top-grade wine glass provided by Illusion's Banquet, savoring her leisure.
Gritting her teeth inwardly, Lilith approached with exaggerated delight, feigning utmost pleasure, and politely escorted her to the secluded office. As the heavy door closed, a suffocating subtle tension hung between the two brothel mistresses.
Lilith slid a finest teacup across to Cecilia, who sat opposite, and broke the silence first with a soft voice. "Oh my, what brings the mistress of Star's Night, Countess Cecilia, to our humble Illusion's Banquet? If you'd sent word ahead, we could have prepared a grander welcome~."
Cecilia glanced at the teacup before fondling her wine glass again, replying in a silky drawl. "Hehe~ No need to be so guarded. Today, I'm just a regular customer here to enjoy Heruen's night. I wanted to check firsthand how amazing the services at Illusion's Banquet really are~."
At that sly response, Lilith's eyes narrowed. Feigning playfulness, she lobbed a pointed question. "A mere customer? Oh, come now. You're not here eyeing our ace, Reni, again like last time, are you? Even for you, Countess, it's troubling if you keep coveting someone else's precious boy."
"Oh dear, it would be wonderful if I could take our cute Reni as my new son... but sadly, I'm not here for him today~."
Cecilia flashed a seductive eye smile and sipped her wine. Then her pink eyes gleamed sharply as she cut to the chase. "I heard you completely enchanted Duke Rozena this time... I want to request that new, adorable boy~."
Lilith's heart plummeted, but she perfectly controlled her facial muscles, offering a leisurely smile. "Ah, it seems there's a big misunderstanding. That boy is just a cleaner helping with chores here. He doesn't do night service for customers at all, so I'm afraid he won't meet your expectations, Countess."
"A cleaner...? Lilith, do you really need to tell such brazen lies even in front of me?"
Cecilia snorted and leaned deeper into the sofa. "Did you think I wouldn't know that this 'nobody cleaner' entertained the duke until morning? I just want to see with my own eyes what this amazing boy who satisfied the duke looks like."
The office air froze cold. Lilith dropped the pretense of sweetness, staring straight at Cecilia with icy eyes. "Even for Countess Cecilia, some things are off-limits. The boy is exhausted and needs rest right now. Even for a distinguished guest, I can't hand over our cleaner—so please, head back."
The two countesses' gazes clashed sharply in the air, generating taut tension.
"Oh my. No need to bare your fangs like that~? As a senior in the Heruen brothel business, shouldn't I at least get a quick peek at your promising new face?"
Cecilia leaned back leisurely, lightly swirling the red wine in her glass. Her pink eyes oozed blatant leisure and arrogance. Even as Illusion's Banquet devoured Star's Night's share at terrifying speed, Cecilia had Heruen's market lord—a powerful marquis—backing her solidly. The martial prowess and capital she'd amassed over years formed an insurmountable wall that upstart Lilith couldn't dream of breaching head-on.
"Besides, rejecting my goodwill so firmly will make it hard for Illusion's Banquet to do business in Heruen going forward, won't it~?"
Cecilia's voice was endlessly tender like a mother's, but the implication was pure icy threat. "We're in the same boat, helping each other survive. Keep being so stubborn, and we'll just tire each other out. I'm not saying I'll devour your cute boy right now—just let me sip tea and see his face. Ignore my humble request like this, and Heruen's night streets might get a bit noisy~."
Lilith barely suppressed her rising fury, forcing a strained smile. Her hands on her lap clenched the dress fabric tightly. She'd anticipated Cecilia invoking the marquis's power for blatant pressure, but facing that arrogant face made it utterly repulsive.
"I'll deeply engrave your senior's loving advice, but this time it's truly impossible. That boy is Duke Rozena's specially favored exclusive from the start."
Lilith emphasized "duke" heavily, firing back. "If you indulge your curiosity and mishandle him, and Duke Rozena's toy gets even slightly damaged... how do you plan to take responsibility for that grave consequence?"
"Damaged? Oh dear, such hurtful, scary words~."
Cecilia trailed a hand lightly over her unrealistically voluptuous breasts, letting out a small burst of laughter. Faint milky stains seeped through her thin neckline. "I've never damaged my cute sons, you know. I shower them with overflowing love, let them suckle my warm milk, and make them the happiest men in the world. All I want is to kindly teach that poor, pitiful cleaner boy—as a senior—that a far warmer, better environment than Illusion's Banquet exists~."
It was a blatant declaration of intent to steal Demian, plain for anyone to hear. Lilith's red eyes flashed murderously. No matter Cecilia's market lord backing, with the Seven Dukes' absolute Demon Capital authority behind her, Lilith wouldn't yield an inch.
"Such touching maternal love, but that boy is already perfectly tamed under my hands. He'll never need another environment his whole life."
The two rulers' gazes tangled sharply in the air, the office thick with imminent explosion of tension.
The taut office air scattered instantly with Cecilia's soft laugh. She curved her pink eyes prettily and set her wine glass lightly on the table. "If you're drawing blades like that, I won't force it. It'd make me look like a senior bullying a cute junior over her toy~."
Rising gracefully, Cecilia brushed her skirt. "I just dropped by to see my pretty junior's face after so long. It's been ages. Hehe, I'll withdraw for today, so don't be so anxious~."
She left with a sweet smile, no lingering attachment, opening the door and gliding out.
Staring at the firmly shut door, Lilith's brow furrowed deeply. What...? She just left like that? That lecherous old milk cow? Storming my brothel, picking a fight, just to 'see my face'?}
A foreboding chill crawled up her spine. Cecilia wasn't the type to retreat empty-handed so innocently. Gripped by ill omen, Lilith urgently rang the silver bell on the table, summoning the Maid Chief.
"You called, Countess?"
"Where's Demian right now? Call him here."
The Maid Chief flinched at Lilith's chilly tone, unable to hide her fluster. "Pardon? Demian... he just clocked out moments ago..."
"What? Clocked out? He left on his own without my permission?"
"Well... Duke Rozena's service ended safely, and he said as a mere cleaner, he had no need to stay longer, so he packed and left. You hadn't ordered us to keep him, so..."
A dull shock hammered Lilith's mind. Her vision spun, breath catching. Damn it... no way...!}
Cecilia's real reason for coming and holding her with pointless sparring: a perfect distraction to keep her eyes off Demian. That milk cow hadn't targeted the brothel's Demian, but the defenseless one walking out on his own two feet.
"That crazy bitch...!"
Lilith spat vulgarly, kicking her luxury chair violently. Pale-faced, she bolted out the door without even dismissing the Maid Chief.
......
"Haa..."
A heavy sigh escaped naturally. Finally, heading home. A full week trapped in Illusion's Banquet.
No matter how luxurious the beds and facilities, nothing beat the comfort of my tiny, shabby one-room. First, crash hard at home. Sure, through the worn soundproofing, I'd hear neighboring demon women rutting like beasts all night, or male prostitutes wailing as they got pounded... but what could I do? Shove earplugs deep and pass out.
Lilith Countess had uncovered my full plan to flee to Gastia Kingdom; my scraped-together funds, broker contract—all gone up in smoke. My life was as good as over, but for now, sleep it off and think tomorrow. My head felt ready to burst.
Shambling down a dark alley, it happened.
"Where you off to in such a hurry~?"
My spine chilled; steps halted abruptly. Two shadows blocking the narrow alley ahead: a pale-skinned vampire with flashing red eyes, and a dark elf demoness with copper skin and sensually exposed curves. Like predators spotting prey, they scanned me up and down, red tongues licking lips slickly.
"Hey, pretty little bro~ Wanna come hang with big sis for a bit?"
The vampire whispered stickily. Instinctively, I backed away. Not your average horny street thugs prowling back alleys. Those badges gleaming on their chests in the moonlight: marks of semi-noble status, proving upper hierarchy in the Demon Capital's order.
"W-who are you...?"
Terror shook my voice pathetically. Why target me, of all people, semi-nobles? Reason screamed run, but my legs were stone, frozen.
The dark elf grinned sinisterly, gripping my chin with strong fingers. "Don't be so scared, cutie. Just come with us for a little while. Be good and follow, and we won't get rough. Okay~?"
With her blatant words came thick magic power choking my throat. Overwhelmed, I could only freeze like a mouse before beasts.