The Butterfly That Swallowed the Fog
The back was already damp with cold sweat when dawn finally came.
Her heart had been racing so hard she could barely breathe—heart racing from the fear that he might really run straight to his father and spill everything. Even now her ribs ached as if they were bruised all over again.
“Still, it’s a relief.”
Tilia placed a hand on her side and muttered to herself.
George was such an idiot. And she had come up with the excuse so quickly.
“He’s probably taking the letter back home again.”
Only after she had calmed herself a little did Tilia lumber over to the bed and flop down.
She could have simply lied her way out of the situation, yet the moment she had accepted his request, she already knew why.
She had planned to send him far away under the excuse of accompanying her to the interview, so that even if he caught a glimpse of something suspicious, he would still be out of the picture by then.
He was slow-witted, but he could still pull the same unpredictable stunt today. She had to have insurance against that possibility.
“And I also need to make sure he never sets foot in my room again. Scare him off.”
Tilia let out a small sigh and buried her face in both hands.
“Brad Reynolds….”
She had heard the name before. He had definitely been one of the men she had seen at the bookstore.
“So it looks like he’s finally going to trade his sister for me.”
The same conviction she had felt about George washed over her: he was not exactly high quality.
But it did not matter. She herself was not particularly high quality either.
A cold smile curved her lips as the plan formed.
***
The Ambrose family carriage pulled up to a place that felt strangely familiar to Tilia.
She had visited this very bookstore just three days ago to buy books.
“You’re meeting him at the bookstore?”
“What are you talking about?”
George’s voice came out brash and loud, as if trying to intimidate her.
“This place is a membership-only social club that’s all the rage right now—each room is private! You country bumpkin probably wouldn’t understand.”
Where in the world did the money come from for something like this?
Tilia looked at her own blood, the one who was supposed to be family but who drained the family dry, with contempt and asked.
“You’re coming with us?”
“No, just the two of us!”
George rubbed his hands together excitedly. “That way I can… uh, I mean, just the two of us will be there!”
“…”
She had been grateful he did not join. It made handling the aftermath so much easier.
“Got it. See you later.”
“Yeah! Don’t worry, I’ll handle him even if I’m late!”
Tilia stepped out of the carriage after George had left her with a wave and a wink.
“Lady Tilia Ambrose?”
As soon as she touched down, a servant in a perfectly tailored tuxedo approached her, as if he had been waiting.
“Yes.”
Tilia smiled gently and answered in a soft voice.
“I heard a gentleman is waiting for me.”
***
Clink. A single drop of dark liquid fell into the transparent glass.
It was not ordinary tea, yet it blended seamlessly with the water already in the cup.
Brad Reynolds laughed so hard his face twisted as he uncorked the bottle of concentrated holy water.
Even one drop was said to be enough to drive anyone mad. He would not have been able to stop himself.
How beautiful she must be.
Brad imagined Tilia Ambrose the way she was described—sitting between his legs, beautiful beyond words.
George’s face was not unattractive either. She had to be pretty.
“Idiot.”
A smirk crossed Brad’s face at the memory of George’s stupid expression.
The boy had genuinely believed that if he introduced Tilia, he would receive her sister in return.
“You wish, you fool.”
No matter how much he schemed, he would never sink that low. And besides, George was not the kind of brother you could simply trade away.
If he brought someone like that into the Ambrose house, their father would not leave him alone.
“But you, Tilia, you’re different. You can take a little rough treatment.”
George nodded, fingering the bottle in his pocket.
“The effect is guaranteed, but just in case…”
He thought for only a moment, then pulled out the bottle again. This time he poured one extra drop into the tea.
“No, maybe the young lady will be more stubborn than I expect.”
He added another drop for good measure, then another…
Only after he had drained half the bottle did he screw the cap back on with a satisfied nod.
This should be enough. She would probably pass out completely.
He gave the liquid a quick stir to mix it, then waited with eager eyes for the door to open.
Was this her first time? Probably.
The moment she entered.
She stepped out as if she had stepped straight from a painting—Tilia Ambrose was even more breathtaking than anyone had described.
That was why her friends had all said the same thing.
The Lady of the Ambrose family, with her raven hair and clear green eyes, would stop a man in his tracks on the street.
She had a hint of haughtiness, but it only made her beauty more captivating.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Brad Reynolds.”
Brad rose from his seat too late, frozen by the sight of her.
“I am afraid I cannot move properly when I am in the presence of such a beautiful woman… Forgive me. Please have a seat over here.”
He guided her to the chair opposite him, ignoring the frantic pounding of his own heart.
Me? Spending the night with a woman like this.
His anticipation ran deeper than his body. He watched her sit with that noble, haughty posture and felt his lower half stir.
“Thank you for accepting my sudden request. I saw you from afar, fell for you at first sight… Yet I have committed such rudeness and, strangely enough, I feel no regret at all.”
Tilia glanced at him once, then lowered her eyes to the teacup in front of her—the one she had to drink no matter what.
Chance.
“I heard you enjoy Earl Grey tea from the Old Continent.”
Brad lied smoothly, saliva not even touching his lips as he pointed at the cup.
“I specially brought the youngest leaves from the Old Continent to brew this tea. I hope you like it.”
“…”
Tilia said nothing, simply staring at the cup without moving.
Why isn’t she drinking?
Did she suspect something?
Brad waited, growing more anxious, when Tilia finally spoke for the first time since entering the room.
“Before that, could you close the curtains?”
She gave him a bewitching smile, her eyes sparkling as she tilted her head at the bewildered Brad.
“The curtains by the window. I came out without telling my father, so I’m afraid someone might see.”
“Ah, yes!”
Only then did Brad realize what she meant. He stood up clumsily and crossed the room to close the curtains.
That was right. They should not be seen doing this. And there were already too many strange people here!
Brad returned to his seat, smiling, once the curtains were drawn.
Tilia was already holding the cup.
Brad’s cloudy eyes followed her every movement.
Her hand moved slowly, as if the cup were burning her fingers, and finally her red lips touched the rim.
She swallowed.
Done!
Brad cheered inwardly as Tilia drank it all.
She smiled at him, cup still in her grasp.
“It tastes quite good.”
“Really?”
“Have some. It would be a shame to waste it all.”
Brad’s dry throat demanded the rest. He lifted the cup and drank deeply.
The smile of the rare beauty before him made the tea taste sweeter than it should have.
Too bad to keep her for just one night.
Brad already regretted it and pictured the future with her.
Even as a mistress, I suppose. Or would a wife be better?
She kept looking at him and smiling, as if checking if he liked her. Brad subtly matched her gaze, trying to soothe his burning throat.
She’s disgusting. But how long until the effect hits? I added plenty of the concentrated stuff—it should knock her out soon…
Just then.
Why… was her body swaying?
His thoughts dissolved. The world darkened the instant he saw her sway.
Everything went black in an instant.
And then.
BOOM.
The heavy body collapsed to the floor.