Odalisque - Chapter 88

Liv had no time to comfort Corida, who was distraught about not being able to play with Million. After returning from the lakeside, she fell ill.

Liv, who had never had the luxury of being ill at her own will, caught a terrible fever for the first time. She had been more vulnerable to it, having never succumbed to an illness even after overexerting herself at work or getting soaked in a heavy downpour while searching for medicine.

Worried that her frail sister Corida might catch it, Liv locked herself in her room and, for the first time, refused the Marquis’s call.

Until now, she had never imagined refusing him, but once she did, it was surprisingly easy.

That night, as she shivered in bed and soaked her pillow with cold sweat, she dreamt of a future without the Marquis.

Whether it was a nightmare or a promising dream, she couldn’t tell.

***

“It’s hard to see your face lately.”

Luzia, sitting elegantly on a lavish sofa with her chin propped on her hand, smiled sweetly.

“It’s been a while, Dimus.”

Dimus sat across from her with an indifferent look. He had no intention of reciprocating Luzia’s greeting.

“I don’t have much time for a long conversation, so let’s finish this quickly.”

He checked his pocket watch as soon as he sat down, making it obvious to anyone that he had more pressing matters to attend to.

Luzia narrowed her eyes and smirked sarcastically. “What could be so urgent? Is your mistress waiting?”

“Yes.”

Luzia, who had been attempting light banter, faltered.

Dimus glanced at her and spoke coldly, “I’ve been quite taken with her lately.”

In truth, Dimus deeply regretted the time he was spending here with Luzia. If not for a specific reason, he wouldn’t have agreed to meet her.

Luzia didn’t seem to believe him. She gave him a dismissive smile, as if hearing a dull joke, and shook her head. “There’s no conviction in your face when you say that, so just drop it.”

“I don’t see why you think I’m lying.”

Dimus was in the process of accepting that his recent behavior was rather unusual. Specifically, his attitude towards Liv was clearly out of the ordinary.

It wasn’t like the emotions he had felt while collecting artworks. Initially, he had thought of her as just another intriguing acquisition.

Dimus truly became aware of his peculiar state when Liv hadn’t shown herself for a few days, claiming to be ill. Thinking back, he had spent quite a lot of time with her lately.

They had always ended up in bed whenever they met, but it hadn’t been just that. He had taught her shooting techniques, taken walks, brought her to the hunting grounds for no reason, and had her sit idly in his study. Liv had permeated his once monotonous daily life, and he realized her absence through it.

People often say you don’t notice a presence until it’s gone, and that was exactly what Liv’s presence had become to Dimus.

In the meantime, Dimus learned that, shortly before falling ill, Liv had briefly boarded a suspicious white four-horse carriage. He also found out that Luzia was the owner of that carriage.

And so Dimus responded to Luzia’s request to meet. Luzia, by her very existence, was a burden to Liv. Even more so now that Luzia seemed bolder than before. Dimus intended to respond accordingly.

“I’m aware of your unpleasant personality, and I expected some resistance, but this should suffice. We must make a good impression when Cardinal Calliope visits.”

Luzia, unaware of why Dimus had come to this meeting, already looked triumphant as if everything was going her way.

She handed Dimus a document she had prepared in advance. “These are our terms. Let’s settle this with an overseas deployment. All records can be erased.”

Dimus scanned the content of the document briefly without a word.

“As for Zighilt, there’s no need to worry. Thanks to Stephan, he’ll have to keep his head down for a while.”

The document contained the expected content—a proposal to accept Dimus as a member of the Malte family. In essence, it was akin to a marriage proposal, albeit devoid of any proper decorum, resembling a cold transaction.

Dimus had received similar “marriage proposals disguised as business contracts” before. The first time had been while he was still in the military. Back then, Luzia had placed Stephan and Dimus on her scales. Stephan’s appeal lay in his illustrious family, while Dimus had everything except for a family name.

And the scales had tipped towards Stephan.

“I remember you judged my worth too low to break up the union between two noble houses.”

“Marriage between noble houses is dull and outdated. Who wants to live like that these days?”

Luzia’s attitude shifted in an instant, just as it had in the past.

Dimus, amused by her answer, casually tapped the document with his fingertips.

“Isn’t this just as outdated in the end?”

Dimus gave her a cold smile and added, “I’m also not particularly interested in old-fashioned women.”

Luzia’s smile faded slightly. Realizing that the document alone wasn’t enough to sway him, she spoke in a gentle voice.

“I heard you picked up a new hobby recently. But art collecting? Isn’t that too refined for you? You, who killed people on the battlefield, now plan to spend your days leisurely admiring art in the countryside?”

“Good point. As you know, I need to see blood periodically to stay satisfied.”

Dimus turned halfway towards the door, where Charles, who had accompanied him here, was standing.

“Bring him in.”

Charles, with a bow, opened the door. Luzia’s guards looked on with alarm at the sudden turn of events, while Dimus leaned back lazily in his chair, as if mocking their reaction.

Moments later, Roman entered amidst some commotion from outside. He was dragging a man along, half pulling, half carrying him.

Roman brought the man to a stop beside the sofa. The man’s face was streaked with dried blood, and he shivered as he scanned the room, his eyes widening when he spotted Luzia.

“L-Lady Malte!”

Luzia frowned.

Dimus, still lounging, asked in a bored tone, “Do you know him?”

“Not at all.” Luzia shook her head coldly and looked away.

The man’s face crumpled in despair, and he spoke in a trembling voice, “M-My lady! Please, spare me…”

But he never finished his plea. Dimus pulled a silver revolver from inside his jacket and loaded it without hesitation, his movements so fluid that they seemed almost casual.

Bang!

The deafening sound of the gun echoed.

“Ugh…”

“Ah!”

“My lady!”

The man’s chest turned red with blood. Luzia screamed and jumped up, her guards quickly stepping forward. But Dimus was faster. He pulled the trigger again before they could react.

One of the guards let out a groan and collapsed. The remaining guards were swiftly subdued by Roman and Charles.

Luzia, left defenseless in an instant, stumbled backward, her face pale.

“W-What are you doing?”

“The problem with people who’ve never known fear is that they think they’re immune to all danger.”

Luzia, her face white as a sheet, clenched her teeth. “D-Do you dare threaten me? I am Malte…”

“Didn’t Stephan tell you? One of my acts of insubordination was breaking his arm. Using your family’s name is a poor decision.”

“Dimus!”

“Didn’t they teach you not to call someone’s name carelessly? Poor upbringing, Lady Malte.”

Bang!

A piece of fabric tore and fluttered in the air.

Luzia froze, looking as though she might faint at any moment. The bullet had torn into the luxurious sofa she had been sitting on just moments before.

Dimus finally gave a satisfied smile as he confirmed Luzia, so pale she looked as if she might not even be breathing.

“Now it’s quiet. Much better.”

Relaxing into his chair, Dimus pulled out a cigar case. Charles quickly approached to light it for him.

“So, what was it again? You said you’d erase my military record?”

Dimus exhaled a puff of smoke, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Did you really believe I ‘can’t’ go back? I find it hard to believe that the smart Lady Malte truly held such a naive belief.”