Odalisque - Side Story 11

Liv squirmed a bit in Dimus’ arms, but soon relaxed and leaned against him. She buried her face into the crook of his neck and began to whisper.

“When you said that my actions are killing you, you meant that being apart from me is unbearably difficult, right? It’s a common expression, but hearing it from you doesn’t make it sound light at all. So I’d appreciate it if you could avoid using such frightening words.”

Dimus decided not to say that it wasn’t just a metaphor. That would only scare her even more.

Unlike his relaxed body, his mind grew clearer. Dimus judged what Liv could and could not handle.

The nightmares that plagued him each night might invoke her sympathy, but the extreme obsession and delusions he struggled with would more likely evoke fear.

Liv was a woman who could accurately assess what she could and couldn’t handle. To avoid losing her again, Dimus felt the need to manage his own instability, to ensure that his mental illness never became apparent.

Fortunately, she was by his side—a woman who served as a safety device for him.

Dimus closed his eyes.

It’s fine. As long as the safety is on, the trigger won’t be pulled.

The revolver in his chest would not be fired.

***

Liv asked Dimus on a date.

It was true. She spoke in a somewhat shy yet clear tone, saying, “I’d like to ask you out on a date.” And this, despite seeing each other every morning and eating dinner together every night!

They even agreed to meet at an outdoor location after taking care of their individual tasks, rather than leaving the mansion together.

Ever since Dimus discovered that she had tried to complete a painting in secret, Liv no longer hid her work. Now, she openly announced she was leaving to paint, and today, she mentioned she would go to the Pendance mansion in the morning.

Though Liv didn’t say anything specific, Dimus instinctively knew her painting was complete. Today would likely be the day she presented the finished piece as a gift.

“I want you to put extra thought into your outfit.”

“Should I wear something more elaborate?”

“Hmm.”

Dimus rubbed his chin, narrowing his eyes as he stared at the prepared clothes.

Dimus always felt pleased when Liv made requests of him. And this date proposal was, in its own way, also a request she made of him.

However, what made it different from her previous requests was that she was planning to give him something. Because of that, his feelings weren’t just pleased—they were complicated.

When it came to material things, Dimus lacked nothing. Frankly, if not for Liv, there would be nothing else he desired. Liv surely understood this well. There was likely little she could give him that he didn’t already have.

So was that why she secretly painted for him? A painting by Liv was certainly a unique and special gift—something that couldn’t be obtained anywhere else.

If that were the case, then he needed to fulfill his role as the recipient properly.

“Alright, something elaborate.”

Dimus resolved to make sure Liv wouldn’t be disappointed, even if it meant putting on an appropriate act. After all, the fact that she had asked him on a date for the first time was enough to make the occasion interesting.

***

The man stood out even from afar, his appearance splendid.

Typically dressed in black or dark shades close to black, today Dimus wore a blue tailcoat, and that alone drew attention.

The smooth fabric resembled the piercing blue of his eyes, adding an icy quality to his look, while the finely crafted silver buttons and silver-thread embroidery lent an air of sophistication. Underneath, he wore a vest and shirt made of ivory silk, with his collar turned up and wrapped with a cravat.

The unusually voluminous cravat was fastened with a sparkling diamond pin. The glimpse of a handkerchief added a touch of elegance, making him look like a fine gentleman. The perfectly tailored trousers highlighted his long legs attractively.

But no amount of finery could overshadow his features.

His platinum-blond hair was elegantly swept back, revealing a smooth forehead. His brow furrowed slightly, likely annoyed by the attention from all directions. Yet, with his sharp nose, pale skin, lips pressed into a firm line, and defined jawline, it was inevitable that anyone who saw him couldn’t help but stare.

Even Liv, who had seen his face just this morning, stood frozen, gazing at him now. She found herself admiring his beauty all over again.

The feeling she had on the day they first met—when his appearance had stunned her into silence—resurfaced.

‘I’ll never get used to this…’

With that thought, Liv snapped back to her senses and took a step forward.

Dimus, who had been standing casually, holding his cane loosely, noticed her approach. For a moment, the previously indifferent look in his eyes gained a faint light, and Liv felt as though she was witnessing a statue coming to life.

“Liv.”

He even slightly lifted the corners of his lips. The smile was subtle, but it was enough to draw gasps from those secretly watching him.

Even from her vantage point, Liv could spot a few women stumbling behind a nearby alleyway. Seeing their flushed faces, Liv quickened her pace, feeling somewhat flustered.

“What brings you out here?”

Usually, he wouldn’t even get out of the carriage, let alone open the curtains.

From his expression, he clearly wasn’t pleased with the attention he was receiving. He could’ve just waited in the carriage.

Liv’s eyes drifted toward the waiting carriage nearby.

“You could have waited inside.”

“Since you were the one who asked me on a date, I thought it proper to at least step out of the carriage to greet you.”

Though Dimus’ thought process often deviated from common norms, there were times when he would take his wise butler’s advice to heart. It seemed today was one of those times.

Seeing Dimus’ puzzled expression, Liv averted her gaze slightly, murmuring, “Mr. Philemond’s suggestions aren’t always perfect.”

“Was this one wrong?”

Dimus mumbled quizzically, clearly curious to understand. Instead of answering, Liv examined his attire again. Up close, it was evident that today’s outfit was more elaborate than usual. Even the cufflinks seemed meticulously chosen.

Normally, his fair and handsome face stood out against his dark coat, but today, even in this more elaborate coat, his face shone just as brightly.

Truly, it seemed as though the clothes were relying on the wearer for their splendor.

“Was Mr. Philemond also behind your outfit today?”

“No, but is this outfit wrong too?”

Dimus raised an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly.

“Judging by the look on your face, it seems you approve.”

“…I couldn’t possibly say otherwise.”

No one in their right mind would call this look unappealing. If anyone did, they surely had issues with their eyesight.

Blushing slightly, Liv nodded honestly, and a faint smile played on Dimus’ lips.

“I thought so.”

Dimus extended his arm to her.

“I look quite good in blue, don’t I?”

Liv placed her hand lightly on his offered arm, walking alongside him as she spoke, “I didn’t know you liked blue.”

For him to say, “It suits me well” implied that he had worn blue often or taken care to examine himself in it. Given how uninterested Dimus usually was in his appearance, this revelation surprised Liv.

Catching her curiosity, Dimus answered indifferently, “It was the color of my uniform.”

“The uniform you wore during your service?”

Liv’s eyes sparkled with interest. Without turning his head, Dimus noted her reaction with a glance and spoke matter-of-factly.

“Everyone said it was a uniform made just for me.”

He didn’t say it boastfully—in fact, his tone was so dry it bordered on emotionless.

“It suited me so well that Philip couldn’t bring himself to discard it and kept it in storage.”

Liv imagined Dimus in a uniform similar in color to today’s attire. Of course, it looked incredible—perhaps even more stunning in person. Beautiful, even.

Seeing Liv fall silent, Dimus suddenly stopped walking. With her arm hooked around his, Liv had no choice but to halt as well.

She looked up at him with a puzzled expression, and Dimus leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping low.

“Should I wear it in bed for you?”

In bed, wearing that blue uniform…

Liv’s eyes widened, her lips moving soundlessly. Without needing a mirror, she could feel the heat rising to her face. Her cheeks were surely flushed in an unbecoming shade of red, and she was too stunned to even think of covering them.

Dimus watched her intently, his lips curving mischievously. There was a hint of mischief in his blue eyes.

“This seems to be the right answer.”

Liv, having missed her chance to refute him, quickly averted her eyes. To hide her embarrassment, she coughed awkwardly and tugged on his arm.

“Ahem, let’s get going.”

“Alright, where are we headed?”

Dimus followed her lead easily, and Liv responded to him resolutely, “First, we’ll have lunch, then we’ll take a stroll, and after that, we’ll go on a flower boat ride!”

***

Once, Milion had boasted about building a beautiful flower boat and enjoying a boat ride on it—and eventually, she fulfilled that promise.

When Liv had been struggling to find the perfect spot for a special occasion, Milion had willingly lent her the flower boat. Thanks to Milion’s generosity, Liv’s plan for the date could be made even more beautiful.

After lunch, they took a light stroll to aid digestion, eventually arriving at the lakeshore. The sky was bathed in the colors of sunset, and the lake’s surface reflected warm hues, adding a sense of tranquility to the scene.