Odalisque - Chapter 126

Earlier, when Luzia’s face had turned red, it had looked so ugly, but Liv’s flushed cheeks were nothing short of adorable.

Forget the formal trial proceedings—Dimus decided he would deal with Luzia in the shortest time possible. Even if she claimed to be afraid, having Liv in front of him was still beneficial for his mind and soul. Especially since she had come all the way to the capital on her own, he couldn’t afford to waste time on the trial.

Unaware of the sudden changes in Dimus’ schedule, Liv was just trying to calm her flushed face. She finally managed to regain her composure and slowly withdrew the hand she had pressed against his cheek. Her green eyes focused on the long scratch that marred his cheek.

“It looks like it was caused by a nail.”

Liv’s voice, as she spoke, was oddly stiff. Her lips were pressed into a tight line, and it seemed like she was exerting force to keep them that way.

“I’m afraid the scar won’t last long, as it’s just a light scratch.”

“I see.”

Suddenly, Liv’s tone turned curt. She lowered her gaze a little too abruptly and spoke in a blunt voice, “I never realized you were someone who’d let others touch your face so easily.”

“Thanks to that, I have more grounds to press charges.”

Dimus responded indifferently and added as if in passing, “Don’t worry. I won’t hold you accountable for the scratches you make every night.”

He expected Liv’s calm demeanor to turn red again, but instead, she simply looked at him in silence. The green eyes that had briefly wavered now settled quietly, her thoughts unreadable.

After a moment, Liv pursed her lips tightly, and a short sigh escaped.

“Even if it withers and dries up…”

Finally, Liv cautiously spoke again, “Do you know that a dried flower can still be beautiful?”

Dimus had never considered dried flowers to be beautiful. However, what did his opinion matter? He quickly nodded.

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

“But is it right to keep a dried flower in a vase just because it’s beautiful?”

Liv swallowed hard, her gaze dropping as if she couldn’t bear to keep looking at him.

“Perhaps it would be better not to touch it at all. Once a rose has withered, no amount of water can bring it back, and it might shatter if mishandled. Rather than break it and regret it…”

“Then don’t put it in a vase—keep it in a glass case. There’s no need to water it, after all.”

Liv’s uncertain words trailed off.

“And occasionally take a look at it.”

Liv, who had been staring at the floor, slowly raised her head. Her green eyes were trembling intensely.

“Even if it’s just for admiration, keep it by your side.”

Dimus’ lips twisted into a smile.

“If it’s withered yet beautiful, then it’ll stay beautiful forever without fear of decay. That’s not a bad thing, is it?”

Liv’s tightly pressed lips trembled. She looked at Dimus with a face that seemed on the verge of tears, then reached out her hand. Warm breath brushed against his lips—a movement as cautious and gentle as if touching dried petals.

Dimus fully surrendered himself to that shy, warm kiss.

It was the moment when the man, who had once been deemed unattainable by anyone, was finally marked by possession.

***

“Find a way to put her in the convent—no exceptions.”

The abrupt command left Adolf and Charles in stunned silence. After a moment, Adolf was the first to recover and responded with an awkward laugh.

“She is the only daughter of the Malte family, Marquis.”

“And?”

“I mean, she’s an only child…”

“Send the Malte family some effective fertility medicine.”

Interrupting Adolf, Dimus coldly continued, “The Duke and Duchess of Malte are still healthy. They can have another child.”

Even Adolf, who had tried to reason logically, found himself at a loss for words. He knew that explaining how the Malte family would interpret such an outlandish gift as fertility medicine would fall on deaf ears.

They should have been preparing for the next trial, but Dimus’ mind had long wandered elsewhere—specifically, beyond that closed hotel room door.

“Make sure no one approaches until I call.”

Dimus gave his final order to Roman, who was standing a step back, before turning his body. Charles’ face tensed with urgency.

“Marquis! You can’t take more than two days!”

“The next trial date is already set! We can’t delay it!”

Adolf also chimed in urgently, but Dimus entered the room without a backward glance.

The two men, left staring at the firmly shut door, wore helpless expressions. From inside, the sound of the door being locked echoed coldly.

“…Sigh.”

The hallway on the top floor of the hotel was filled with sighs—no one knew whose.

***

Following Dimus to his lodgings had been an impulsive decision.

Well… after embracing and kissing him with her own hands, perhaps what followed was inevitable. However, when Liv had first left Adelinde, her heart hadn’t been entirely clear. Even after arriving in the capital, it hadn’t been.

That was why she hadn’t bothered to contact any of Dimus’ attendants, such as Adolf or Charles, in advance. Even as she followed Dimus, she still hadn’t fully decided on her feelings.

Liv thought of the large crowd that had gathered in front of the courthouse. People were chattering about Dimus, each with their own opinion. His impressive appearance, his enigmatic connections, his audacity in confronting powerful figures—these were all topics of discussion.

It was the same sort of talk she had heard often in Buerno. The “unrealistic Marquis Dietrion,” who seemed to have nothing to do with her.

Listening to the conversations floating in the air, Dimus suddenly felt unfamiliar. It was hard to believe that the man clinging to her in Adelinde was the same person who had become the subject of everyone’s attention.

If Dimus hadn’t noticed her first, Liv might not have approached him at all. Even now, standing on the top floor of a luxurious hotel, being led here by his hand, she still felt a sense of unreality.

Liv absently rubbed her arm and belatedly looked around the room she had entered. Everything in it was lavish and of the highest quality—no need to scrutinize it in detail.

Crossing the thick red carpet, Liv moved into the inner room, where she found a long velvet sofa, a table, and a lit fireplace. The shelves were filled with expensive-looking liquor bottles and glasses, and a large, beautiful tapestry hung on the wall.

Past the sitting area was a room with a grand piano. A piano in a hotel room—perhaps it was meant to be enjoyed with the view.

Without thinking, Liv’s fingers brushed the piano keys, and a memory from the past flashed through her mind.

She remembered nervously pressing the keys, the man’s hand that touched her back, clothes falling to the floor, the continuation of their performance in their bare skin…

Quickly pulling her hand away from the white keys, Liv fanned her flushed face and hurried into the next room.

This time, she expected to find the bedroom, but instead, she found another sitting area with a beautifully embroidered sofa, and tables adorned with ornaments decorating the walls.

As Liv absentmindedly glanced over the glittering decorations, she suddenly stopped.

At first glance, it looked like a water jug. But the swan-like handle, the unusually narrow spout, and the delicate, fragile-looking material revealed its true purpose—decoration, not utility.

The surface was engraved with geometric patterns and adorned with finely crafted jewels, extending to a base inscribed with the artisan’s signature.

“Do you like it?”

Liv, who had been staring blankly, quickly tried to turn around, but before she could, a thick, firm arm wrapped around her waist.

“Everything displayed in this room is rare. There’s no harm in purchasing them.”

Though they weren’t artwork, each piece had its own value.

As Liv felt the man’s presence close behind her, she muttered quietly, “Because they’re made by artisans who are no longer with us?”

“I didn’t expect you to figure it out so quickly.”

Dimus’ words, whispered into her ear, sounded like praise. Without taking her eyes off the ornament, Liv replied, “At the very least, I can tell the artisan who made this is no longer alive.”

Dimus’ movements, which had been teasing her neck and ears, suddenly stopped. Liv, however, continued staring at the base of the ornament, taking in the signature over and over.

“…It’s the work of the Rodaise couple.”

“Yes.”

Liv’s lips twisted subtly.

“My parents made it.”

She hadn’t expected to find her parents’ work here. Her expression changed in an odd way.

The hotel had quite a bit of history. It had been operating even during her childhood, making it over twenty-five years old.

The top floor, in particular, had always been a place where distinguished guests stayed, and her parents had once joked that they’d eventually have their work displayed here.

“I never imagined I’d come across my parents’ work so soon.”

Liv Rodaise was born in the capital city.

She had lived there until she entered boarding school, moving through various neighborhoods of the city. Despite being from a middle-class family, her parents’ skill had ensured a prosperous childhood filled with happy memories. Every corner of the city held memories for her. Until her parents’ carriage accident, her memories of the capital were only good ones.

It was because she couldn’t bear those memories that she had wandered with Corida through the provinces.