Chapter 226 - Devil's Whisper

Lilianne wiped her fake tears with a napkin, as tentatively as she could. Some young men approached to console her—and straightaway, she realized that she garnered unnecessary companions. Men, with no name and no elegance. Lilianne sipped on her tea as she smiles at these men. "I would like to be alone now. Thank you very much."

She knew that she need not to be polite to these nameless cretins. Commoners are nothing to her and are in no way beneficiary other than lowly servants. Lilianne Disfiegro's fake tears dried so quickly as if she didn't cry in the first place. Her mother, Luna Disfiegro, taught her how to bewitch people at such a young age, to the point it all came naturally. Too naturally. 

Lilianne crossed her legs as the waitresses cleaned up the leftovers that fell to the floor.

Faustina Feuerlon had left.

However… Lilianne still felt no satisfaction. Faustina did leave with a funny expression painted over her face, but she didn't react initially the way Lilianne wanted her to. Usually, higher nobles would preserve their pride most of the time. Lilianne half-expected Faustina to slap her—and if she does that, her reputation would hit rock bottom. That is what Lilianne would want. Of course, she wouldn't sacrifice her face, so she would try to stop it by acting like a damsel when that transpires.

But then, Faustina only walked away with her dirty dress. 

"I can't say that was satisfying," Lilianne mumbled to herself as she sips on tea. "Well. It's good enough."

The waitress then ambled towards Lilianne's table, offering her a dessert.

"We deeply apologize. This is in the house."

Lilianne raised her brow. "I already finished my food, didn't I?" her tone was a tad sarcastic, which sent the waitress clearly taken-aback and fl.u.s.tered. Lili, who eats her food primly, couldn't eat dessert that looks too jam-packed. 

"I—um—" The waitress stutters.

"Is there a problem, My Lady?" 

Lilianne then shifted her glance to the man who just arrived. "Are you the chef?"

For a chef, the man looked handsome with a lean built. Lilianne crossed her arms, putting emphasis on her bosom. But the chef who came didn't even look fazed over Lilianne's alluring face. Lilianne then smirks to herself.

"Why am I given such a heavy dessert?" Lilianne exclaimed. "I appreciate the thought, but I think the chef made such a rash choice."

It was true.

Pudding a la mode consists of a crème caramel, whipped cream, ice cream, and fruits. That is too heavy for Lilianne, who sighed in return. The top cooks in Feuersturm would shake their heads with such an amateurish mistake.

"The desert is specially made from modified ingredients cultivated in Magierstadt's research facility." The chef exclaimed.

Lilianne could see from her peripheral how the people whispered to themselves about how the chef personally came to Lilianne. This only made Lilianne's confidence in spring high.

Of course, she is Lilianne Disfiegro. Feuersturm's future queen, who holds beauty, influence, and fame.

"Have a taste and see for yourself." The chef said with a smile.

Lilianne did so. And the chef was right, the pudding felt like it melted in her mouth, making her eat more. Soon she halved the portion without feeling full. 

"I'll let you enjoy your meal." The chef exclaimed, bowing to Lilianne.

And unbeknownst to her,

The chef smiled to himself.

"Fool."

**

"Where are you going, chef?"

"Just to get some clean air. The sous should be fine on his own. Just keep an eye on the clock and pay attention to those soups. We must maintain the momentum!"

"Yes, chef!"

The man then smiled as he proceeded to go to the backdoor.

And as he exited the kitchen…

"You better make this entertaining, or else all that effort I exerted will be put into waste."

The handsome man's appearance slowly transitioned from a lean and toned man's body to a curvy, hour glass figure. The hair that was short with a clean cut then turned coal-black, curling down to the waist. The voice which sounded just like a man a while ago transitioned into a lady's foxy tone.

The chef that was a man earlier had ceased to exist.

An a.d.u.l.t woman, wearing a black dress which exposed half of her bosom walked towards the hooded albino on the side. The chef was beside one of the barrels, fast asleep. The woman, noticing this, gave the white-haired man a glare.

"I told you to take care of him, didn't I?" The woman exclaimed threateningly. "Why is he alive?"

Her voice was sharp, and her red eyes were glaring daggers at him.

"It would alert Magierstadt. I just put him to sleep. He would not remember anything."

The woman crossed her arms, still not satisfied. She sauntered her way towards the hooded man, with heels clicking against the cobbled floor. The man didn't dare to take a step back, nor face her head-on. He remained neutral, knowing his place.

"I did all this just so I can toy with her before Father returns," the lady asserted. "If this doesn't pleasure me as you've claimed to be, then…"

The woman traced the shawled man's neck with her long, sharp nails. She then pushed her nail deeper, drawing blood from the slight scr.a.p.e.

"You know that your life is mine now, don't you?"

The man stares at her.

Foxy, red eyes that screamed danger. Hair as black as a fallen creature like a Nyx. An alluring face and a fatal charisma that draws men into a trick.

Yes. This was her power.

Bewitching people to fall to her traps.

He shouldn't have given to temptation.

Now he's bound to serve her until she disposes of him.

She licked her full, red lips as she leans to him. "A servant must know how to pleasure their master. After all, that is one of my virtue. My virtuous sin."

"So this better pleasure me." She said coldly.

"Yes, Lady L.u.s.t."

**

Fifteen minutes have passed and no one was coming back to the restaurant. Lilianne was starting to get irate. What in the world is taking Anakin and Ezekiel so long?

The people around the restaurant were already giving her stares. The men who are just spectators from earlier were having hope in their eyes. Lilianne did not spare them glances, as she only felt disgusted. These plebeians should know their place; she is Lilianne Disfiegro! She does not, in any way, deserve this kind of treatment. She's a woman that is brimming with appeal, yet she is not an easy girl who will entertain those who are way below her!

Lilianne clenched her fist. She's not used to this. Any minute later than this will foul her mood more.

"Don't tell me…"

Lilianne gritted her teeth, coming with a realization.

They're with Faustina!

What if they found her? What if she cried her way to Ezekiel's arm?

'Oh, Ezekiel! Lilianne did this to me!' Faustina cries, showing her ruined pastel dress.

'What? Lilianne, explain yourself!'

'I didn't do it, Ezekiel. Believe me!"

Lilianne could hear it. Ezekiel's disappointment. Even though it was only from her imagination, it looked too vivid, and it isn't even far from reality. There is a high chance they would run to Faustina who is in that state.

Gritting her teeth, Lilianne stared down, hiding her angry expression from the people. Her fist trembled as her anger boiled.

Why didn't she think this through? That girl may try to earn Ezekiel's favor by gaining his sympathy! And it was obvious how Anakin was fond of her. Even if Lilianne was his sister, it doesn't seem like he would side with her now.

That girl.

"She's wretched from the start…"

She's going to take everything away from her. The moment she appeared, Lilianne felt an unsettling feeling when Faustina was around. And now she was given the reason.

That girl is meant to take everything away from her.

EZEKIEL.

The ideal man she desires most in the world.

She'll try to do it.

Lilianne's hands were trembling, and she was biting her lips hard. Unbeknownst to her, almost everyone had noticed this. The waitresses and receptionists eyed her with worry painted to their faces.

Faustina.

So doing petty things to her isn't enough.

Lilianne had to do better than that. 'That's right… I can just do better.'

"I can just kill her."

"…Miss Customer?"

Lilianne lifted her head, which then brought a gasp to the waitress.

Lilianne was smiling widely.

'Kill her. That's right. Kill. Kill.'

"Are you alright, Miss Disfiegro…?"

Everything begun to blur as Lilianne only hears one voice. A voice in her mind. A woman's voice.

'Kill her. The girl who stole your lover. Kill her. She has to die.'

Lilianne then stood up from her seat. She then walked past the waitress, eyes unmoving, head facing forward.

"Miss Disfiegro—" the waitress exclaimed, stopping Lilianne by holding her by the shoulder. "Y-you brought the table knife…"

Lilianne then turned sideways, glaring darkly at the waitress.

"I did not take anything. Why would you, a lowly waitress, accuse me, Lilianne Disfiegro, of stealing a tableware?"

The waitress then bowed deeply, "I-I'm sorry! I misspoken!"

Lilianne then ambled her way out of the restaurant.

'Kill her.'

She then drew the knife from her sleeve.

"Where are you," Lilianne sang. "Faus-tina?"