Inside the dining hall, two figures sat. The only sound was the clinking of cutlery as Lilia and Zethan sat across from each other. Lilia wore a simple baggy top and pants, while Zethan was dressed in his business attire, ready to leave after breakfast.
The silence lingered between them as they continued eating. Without a word, Zethan moved his fork and quietly placed a piece of at onto Lilia’s plate.
Lilia refused to look up, silently trying to convince herself that two weeks would pass by quickly. She was already beginning to think of what she could do to while away the ti before she could finally see him again. She didn’t want to miss him too much—even though she was already feeling it, and he hadn’t even left yet. She should get used to it. Imagine if it was for a whole month.
No.
She couldn’t handle sothing that long. In fact, if it were a month, she would have asked to join him and simply be a good girl.
But deep down, she knew she would miss him terribly. She had already gotten so used to having Zethan around that even a short separation felt like he was going away for years.
Zethan’s lips curled into a teasing smile as he broke the silence.
"It seems my wife isn’t planning to talk to this morning. Not even a word? How tragic," he said, feigning offense.
Lilia finally raised her head, her voice quiet.
"Have a safe flight and co ho quickly," she said softly.
Zethan chuckled, then shrugged.
"Is that all?" he asked, his voice low.
Her cheeks flushed lightly as her lips curled into a small smile.
"Yes, honey. That’s all."
Zethan leaned in slightly, eyes narrowing with mischief.
"Oh no, that’s not all," he said.
Lilia giggled softly. As if to answer what he ant, she picked up the exact piece of at he had placed on her plate and brought it to her lips, eating slowly.
Zethan watched her, captivated by the way her lips moved.
Lilia finally lifted her gaze to look at Zethan as she noticed he wasn’t eating. The mont their eyes t, he quickly dropped his gaze, picked up another piece of at, and quietly placed it on her plate again.
"Eat more," he murmured.
Her eyes moved to his again. They stared at each other for what felt like forever before she looked away, her ears tinged a soft pink. She took the piece of at he’d given her and began to chew slowly. Zethan watched her in silence for a while before continuing his own al.
They finished breakfast in a comfortable quiet, but the mont it ended, Lilia wished it could start all over again. She couldn’t bear the thought of him leaving—for two whole weeks. It already felt like an eternity.
Zethan stood just as Lucas appeared by the door, indicating it was ti to go. Lilia rose too, her steps reluctant. She turned to him and spoke softly, looking up at his face.
"Make sure to sleep early. Make sure to eat your als—don’t skip them. Make sure to eat enough food. Make sure not to stress yourself..." Her voice trembled just slightly. "If you don’t do all that, I’ll be really annoyed with you."
A small smile curved Zethan’s lips.
"I will," he said.
"Promise ," she added, her tone firr now.
"I promise," he replied without hesitation.
Her lips lifted into a small smile. Then, before he could move away, she stepped forward and hugged him tightly.
"I’ll miss you. So, so much," she whispered against his chest.
Zethan looked down at her, his lips brushing the top of her head. Gently, he caressed her hair.
"I’ll miss you more than you’ll ever miss , my wife," he said quietly—serious in a way only she could understand.
Lilia finally pulled away, though she didn’t want to. She knew it was an ergency trip—there was no ti to delay. But her heart still ached.
Just as Zethan looked down, Lilia raised her head to stare at him. She pouted her lips slightly, asking silently for a kiss. He didn’t make her wait. With a small smile, he bent down and pulled her in, kissing her deeply. The kiss lingered, warm and full of aning, until Lilia slowly pulled back, realizing he needed to leave—not to ntion, Lucas was there as well.
Zethan gave her one last peck on the lips, whispering,
"Make sure to do the sa, wife."
Lilia nodded.
"Co back ho quickly, okay?"
"I will," Zethan replied, stepping toward the door. Just before he exited, he turned back with a teasing glint in his eyes.
"And once I return... I’ll break another record," he murmured with a sly smile.
Lilia’s cheeks turned a deep red as she looked away, flustered at his shalessness. Not to ntion—how clearly he’d just hinted at sothing loudly.
Evie arrived and gave a respectful bow.
"Mrs. Lilia, whatever you need, please let know. It will be prepared for you in advance," she said in a professional tone.
Lilia nodded, quietly deciding that she would spend so ti reading, knowing that when he returned, they’d be heading out for a visit to the beach. The thought alone brought a soft smile to her lips. They would have more ti to spend together—and that gave her heart sothing to hold onto.
Lilia turned to Evie and quietly asked,
"Is there a library here?"
Evie gave a small nod.
"Yes, Miss Lilia. It hasn’t been used in a long ti, though."
Lilia nodded thoughtfully.
"Could you show , please?"
"Of course, Miss Lilia," Evie said respectfully and began to lead the way toward the staircase.
They walked together in silence, ascending the stairs. Lilia’s curiosity grew with each step. She hadn’t expected there to be a library in the mansion, and the thought alone brought a smile to her face.
She was surprised—and excited. Books had always been a quiet comfort to her. And now, they could be more than that. She could use the library to keep herself occupied over the next two weeks while Zethan was away.
They walked into a different hallway, and it was then that Lilia realized just how little she actually knew about the mansion. Maybe one of these days, I’ll explore every corner, she thought. But first...
Evie moved her hand and took out a key—no, a bunch of keys. It was only then Lilia realized that this place hadn’t been used in a very long ti. From what she could guess, it must only be opened occasionally by the staff tasked with cleaning and maintaining the dusty areas.
Click.
The door creaked open as Evie turned the knob. Lilia gasped, her hands flying to her mouth in pure shock. Before her stood another world entirely—a Book World.
Transparent ladders floated in the air, connecting rows of towering bookshelves. What amazed her most was that each shelf held a complete series of books, neatly arranged and titled at the top.
"Oh my... Evie, this place is beautiful! Tell , how co I never knew about such beauty, huh?"
Evie bowed her head respectfully.
"Mrs. Lilia, I didn’t think you would be interested."
Lilia let out a soft laugh.
"Oh, but I am," she whispered gently.
She stepped forward, her fingers brushing across the spines of the books as she slowly wandered through the massive room, eyes wide in awe.
"Oh, Zethan... you did the best thing keeping such magic hidden here," she whispered, just as her eyes landed on a particular book.
It was a plain black book.
Lilia’s hand moved almost on its own as she tugged it from the shelf. She stared at it for a mont, intrigued. The book had no title. Its cover was rough at the top, but the lower part felt unexpectedly smooth beneath her fingers. Her hands traced the texture—rough, then smooth—as though the book itself held a secret story.
Curiosity flickered in her chest.
Maybe I could try this one, she thought. If it turns out boring, I’ll just drop it.
She turned and walked toward one of the cozy-looking seats nearby. It was a soft, foamy chair that gently rocked, with a lamp hanging above—perfect for reading once it got dark.
Wow, Lilia mused, settling into the seat. Very thoughtful of whoever designed this place.
She held the mysterious book in her lap, the silence of the room settling around her like a warm blanket.
"Let’s dive in," she whispered, settling deeper into the soft chair as she opened the book.
The first page was blank—no words, no images, just a deep red shade that reminded her of dried rose petals or aged wine. It felt... unsettling.
She turned the page slowly.
Still nothing. Just a single, empty sheet.
Her brows furrowed, curiosity mounting. With a quiet breath, she flipped to the next one—and froze.
"WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT — R18"
The words were bold and sharp, standing stark against the pale background. Her eyes widened slightly.
Lilia blinked, unsure whether to laugh or be concerned.
"What... kind of book is this?" she muttered under her breath, heart thudding just a little faster.
Her fingers hovered above the next page.
Flip.
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