The Butterfly That Swallowed the Fog - Chapter 32
With the ease of someone watching a fall, the men kept chuckling without pause.
“That bastard’s insane. Mayer’s family’s been close to the temples for generations. The house with the biggest temple in the duchy, and they still sent him there knowing what was coming.”
“He was bragging he’d escaped being assigned to it, but of course it was his own fault for getting caught in that room.”
“It’s a shame. He got that Holy Water delivered so perfectly.”
“We’ll have to conserve the rest carefully now. Let’s treat every last drop like it’s precious.”
They discussed how best to use it while reaching for the glass door. Seeing their faces, Tilia finally let out a small sigh of relief. The one minute that had felt like ten years had finally ended.
At last, it’s over.
Just as she relaxed and started to straighten, a voice cut through the air.
“Hey, about that Meyer guy, what about Bradley’s little sister? She’s actually pretty, right?”
“What? If she’s pretty, swap her for your royal academy scholarship student.”
“…Well, it’s not impossible, is it? Your family’s loaded, after all.”
Even as the last words from George left his lips, Tilia’s face hardened. It seemed her own blood was determined to lure Bradley’s sister into his bed.
Please, let him get run over and die on the way.
Just as Tilia finished her silent plea and began to rise, she realized that Elex’s expression was even colder than her own.
He stood staring at the floor with a face lost in deep, troubled thoughts. Whatever weighed on his mind, the atmosphere around him was thick with something ominous.
Without thinking, Tilia watched him warily while fidgeting with the book in her arms.
He heard everything, didn’t he.
Of course he had. Their voices had carried so clearly, and her own name had been mentioned directly.
He was quick-witted enough to have pieced together her family’s treatment of her through George’s words alone.
The realization that he now understood her wretched situation sent a sudden wave of disgust through her.
She had never truly won against him, yet for four years she had considered him a worthy rival and treated him as such.
Discovering her so utterly pathetic in front of the very person she had compared herself against felt humiliating.
…Enough.
Tilia stared at the worn soles of her shoes for a moment before lifting her chin with casual defiance and walking away with deliberate steps, the sound of her heels echoing across the calculation desk.
If they knew, so what? This isn’t real life anyway. And he’s nothing to me.
She kept her eyes fixed on the counter ahead and held her chin high.
This wasn’t real emotion. The humiliation was a mirage—something she would forget soon enough. There was no need to feel ashamed…
But before she could finish convincing herself, a broad stride caught up with her instantly.
Elex snatched the crumpled book from her hands before she could react.
He tucked it among the other volumes he carried, then strode straight to the counter. Before she could protest, he had already settled the entire bill.
What…
Tilia blinked in confusion, watching the swift exchange unfold before her face finally darkened.
“Elex Davenport.”
She marched back to the counter, voice ice-cold as she called his name.
“Who asked you to buy it?”
He had acted as if he might actually become a romance novel protagonist.
Tilia shot him a smug grin.
“If you want to play the white-horse prince, go find another woman.”
“No white horse, and I’m not interested in playing prince.”
After tucking his wallet into his jacket pocket, he answered casually.
“If I buy it, there’s a condition.”
He accepted the heavy paper bag the cashier handed over and looked at Tilia with a pointed stare.
“Let’s just share one thing together.”
Now what was this?
Tilia eyed him warily, suspicion and caution mixing on her face, then asked bluntly.
“What?”
If the suggestion involved drinking alcohol or tea, she had already planned to kick him in the shin and walk away.
But what came out of his mouth was something entirely unexpected.
“Ice cream.”
…Had she misheard?
Tilia asked, doubting her own ears.
“Share… what? You want me to eat it?”
“Let’s eat ice cream. There’s a small shop not far from here that’s been around forever. My ex told me about it. Haven’t gone since we broke up.”
“…”
Tilia stared at him with a bewildered expression while he rattled off the details.
It was almost laughable—the very woman who had been on edge, ready to assume the worst about any food, now found the idea absurd.
Unable to hold back, a soft laugh escaped her as she replied.
“No thanks. You can eat it alone.”
“You can’t go alone.”
Elex’s cold voice cut through the air.
“You have no idea how pretty that place is.”
“What does a pretty place have to do with going alone?”
“If I go to that flower-filled paradise alone and order ice cream… it would be—”
Elex pressed a hand to his forehead at the thought, clearly horrified.
“You’re a woman. It would be better to just die.”
“…”
“You just thought, ‘Then why not just die then?’”
The sharp-eyed man had caught her glance and she dropped her gaze, answering.
“Then go with that ex-girlfriend you mentioned.”
“Ex-girlfriend? What would I even do with her? It’d be like getting slapped.”
“…I don’t care. Ask someone else.”
“So I’m asking you right now. Come eat ice cream with me instead of some woman dripping with jewelry.”
He extended the paper bag overflowing in his hand, his expression suddenly sincere.
“If I buy it, will you eat just one bite?”
At some point his face had shifted into something earnest.
“I really… I want to try it so badly.”
“……”
Tilia stared at the ice cream before her, then lifted her head.
While she ignored the dessert completely, Elex had already buried his nose in the tiny plate and was devouring the ice cream with single-minded focus.
Why did I come here?
Tilia let out a sigh so deep it made the ice cream in front of her appear to melt.
She should have just left. Pretended none of this mattered and walked away.
But whether she had come by chance or because his desperate eyes had somehow ensnared her, she had walked into this ice cream shop herself.
A sparkling, adorable place ringed with flowers—utterly her type of dessert shop.
Tilia looked at Elex with a hesitant expression and asked.
“…Tastes good?”
He didn’t answer. He simply nodded absentmindedly while fixing his eyes on the chocolate-dipped ice cream before him.
It was a relief, though.
Every table had delicate lace curtains acting as dividers.
Without them I never would have come inside.
Still watching Elex with a pout, Tilia realized too late that she had forgotten the condition and stretched out her hand.
“Hand over the book.”
“I already put it under your chair.”
Tilia glanced at the paper bag tucked beneath her feet, then dropped her hand in embarrassment.
She casually looked down at the ice cream he had ordered for her.
Decorated around the rim with elaborate flowers, the porcelain spoon that came with it was even shaped like a cute little bunny.
…Yeah. A man coming here alone must have looked pretty pathetic.
Tilia let out a soft laugh and picked up the adorable spoon, tapping the bright, painted flower on top.
It crumbled with a crisp sound, revealing it was actually delicate chocolate shards.
Incredible.
Tilia unconsciously brought the spoon to her mouth and her eyes widened.
It tasted worlds beyond anything she had ever bought.
Yet as soon as it touched her tongue, it melted instantly, and there was no greasy richness to it—only a sweet flavor that felt almost too light.
Probably because it’s expensive. It’s delicious.
Tilia glanced at her own untouched ice cream, then slipped the spoon out of her mouth while watching Elex devour his with unyielding speed.
Given how good it was, she could understand why he had come here so desperately.
Even with so much money, he still only visits once… he must be really eager.
She lowered the spoon near his ice cream, carefully observing his face.
He appeared completely indifferent toward her.
The shop outside the lace curtains was empty, quiet. The ice cream on his waffle had already melted to about a third.
“…”
Tilia stole another glance at Elex, then lowered her head to the dessert plate.
Should she eat it? No one would even notice anyway.
Hesitating, she scooped up a small portion of ice cream with her spoon and carefully brought it to her lips.