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Couples’ Quarrel (4)
“I’m really sorry for coming suddenly. The clothes… I can’t wear an overcoat indoors if it’s not a formal event…” Lily clasped the robe tightly.  His steps moved away and stopped somewhere behind her back.
“Stop standing and come this way, Lily.”
Lily turned to the direction he was, entranced by his polite voice. She walked slowly forward.
After walking a few steps, the distance between them narrowed, and she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, pulling her toward him.
“Ah!” Surprised, she stumbled and held a hand out for support, landing on a firm thigh.
Lily stood between Vlad’s legs as he sat on the desk.
His scent, familiar and strangely erotic, intoxicated her. She could feel his body heat as well, rescuing her from the cold just as a greenhouse protects the flowers within it.
It was the heat that left traces deep inside her every night.
Her body reacted first, back stiffening at the peculiar feeling.
His thick arms wrapped around Lily’s waist as if reading her body’s signals. He leaned his forehead on her shoulder. “…It seems like I’m starting to become a fool because of you.”
The blood drained from Lily’s face.
After all, I’m not supposed to be here…
“But, ironically, it doesn’t feel bad.”
He had been so angry that his teeth were grinding a few seconds ago.
Now he could understand the stories of women causing ruin to cities.
Vlad hardened. As pale as if he had swallowed poison, he pushed Lily away slowly.
His touch wasn’t strong at all, but Lily was pushed back a few steps like a sheet of paper.
“…Vlad?”
He lifted Lily on the desk he was sitting on. Then he took a few steps away from her.
Lily, who sat quietly at his desk without knowing what was going on, raised her head in the direction that she thought he would be.
“Now tell me. What made you walk all the way here?”
He had regained his composure.
Lily lowered her head again and fiddled with her fingers. “That’s… I was wondering if you could forgive my friend. I’m not asking for a complete pardon. He has a fairly high position at the Isles so I thought it wouldn’t be good… ” Her voice grew smaller and smaller until her final words were barely a mumble.
Again, the answer that came back was silence.
There was only a deep sigh, as if trying to suppress emotion.
Lily, too, thought he must have known everything that had happened.
“Why should I do that?”
As Lily hesitated, his sharp voice continued again.
“He is a felon who insulted my wife and I, even laying his hands on you. Why should I forgive him when his limbs should be tied to horses for him to be torn to death?”
Lily’s face turned blue. She sprang up from the desk and walked towards him. “I’ll apologize to you for him. I’ll ask him to apologize to you as well. It must not have been his true intentions.”
“Why would you?”
Lily stopped walking.
What do you mean, why?
“Why do you, who should be accusing him, keep covering for him all the time?”
“I’m fine. I’ve just been grabbed by the shoulder and nothing big has happened… I’m just worried since he’s my friend…”
“Friend.” He laughed out loud. “I think that man has a different opinion from you.”
“What…?”
“Even if there is no difference in status, it is difficult to call a man who bullies and bruises a woman a friend. Go back to your room if you have nothing more to say.”
Lily grabbed him in a hurry. She had an instinctive hunch that the conversation should not end like this. “I understand that it is the duty of a knight to protect the honor of the lady. As the lord, you have to punish him… I’m sorry to ask you knowing it’s unreasonable, Vlad…”
Vlad wavered at her trembling voice.
“If you’re angry with me, I’m okay. If you’re thinking about your honor as a lord or knight, I’ll tell everyone it’s my fault. I’m like family with him, so it’s okay…”
“Are you serious?” He strode aggressively toward Lily.
Lily stepped backwards until she was blocked by the desk. He slipped his arms on either side of her.
She was completely trapped between him and the desk.
“You don’t know what you think of your husband… And it’s okay for your family to exclude you. Is that really what you mean?”
Lily’s eyelashes shook, hidden under the black cloth. The conversation was moving in a strange way.
She couldn’t understand what he was referring to. Lily lowered her head as if avoiding him and nodded. “If that’s what you’re curious about… I’m really fine. It doesn’t matter at all.”
“…Damn it.” He cursed and placed Lily on the desk with his rough hands.
“Ah, Vlad…!”
His voice felt like a punishment.
“You must learn about yourself.” A firm hand grabbed Lily’s knee and spread her legs wide. “You don’t even seem to know what you don’t like, so let’s get to know what you like first.”