Ilus bit her lip. In her efforts to curry favor with Iliana, she had nearly exhausted her dignity.
But if she could survive past her twentieth birthday, it would all be worth it. If she… No, she shouldn’t think about that outcome. She… she would definitely survive!
Her teeth sank into her lower lip, almost drawing blood. Ilus pushed herself up on numb arms, straightening her body with excruciating slowness.
Every movement of her joints tugged at nerves of shame. She didn’t dare stand fully upright, only curling her body and wrapping her arms around herself in a futile attempt to cover up.
She shuffled slowly to the edge of the bed. When her knees touched the back of her legs, she trembled again.
It was so cold! She stiffly lifted one leg, sinking her knee into the soft mattress, then the other. Perhaps because she had been kneeling for so long, her body lost its balance all at once, and she rolled into the center of the bed.
A chill assaulted her. She curled up, turning her back to Iliana, shrinking herself into a tiny ball.
The cold enveloped her exposed skin from all sides, raising goosebumps. She was shivering—half from the cold, half from fear and unspeakable humiliation.
Of course, just as she had thought earlier, if she won this gamble, all this humiliation would be worth it.
Now that she was being so obedient to Iliana, the woman had no reason to kill her anymore, right?
It was at that moment that a rustling sound of fabric came from behind her. Ilus kept her eyes tightly shut, her hearing becoming abnormally sharp.
She could distinguish the soft sound of a skirt falling to the floor, the faint click of a belt buckle being undone, then the rustle of a garter being loosened and stockings being slowly drawn off. Each sound was like a tiny brush scraping against her taut nerves.
Because this meant Iliana was coming.
Sure enough, she only felt the other side of the mattress sink slightly. Iliana had gotten into bed.
The other woman did not approach immediately, merely lying there quietly, seemingly observing Ilus’s reaction.
And Ilus could sense her presence—that faint, familiar fragrance was invading her space.
Time passed, second by second, stretching unbearably long. Ilus still maintained her curled-up posture. Her muscles were beginning to ache, but she dared not move.
Iliana had not taken any action, and an Iliana who remained inactive like this was the most terrifying.
After all, whenever she acted, it would plunge Ilus into torment.
The quilt was indeed cold. Her exposed shoulders and back were already growing numb from the chill. And it was right then…
“Young Lady.”
Iliana’s voice suddenly sounded from extremely close by, her warm breath almost hitting the back of Ilus’s neck.
Ilus’s entire body stiffened. Muscles that had just begun to relax instantly tensed again.
One of the other woman’s arms reached over from her waist. The black lace gloves were gone now, fingertips directly touching Ilus’s icy abdomen. Ilus gasped sharply, her whole body jerking as if electrocuted, yet she had nowhere to escape.
That hand didn’t exert force, merely lying flat against her taut, flat stomach. The palm was warm, and where skin met skin, a patch of scalding dampness gradually began to form.
Iliana’s fingertips lightly traced the curve of her side, carrying a somewhat teasing intent. She seemed particularly eager to see Ilus’s trembling back.
“Young Lady, relax.”
The maid’s voice was right against her ear, hoarser than usual.
Ilus couldn’t do it. Every one of her bones felt locked in place. Her breath caught in her throat, turning into short, rapid pants.
Iliana’s hand began to move, slowly, inexorably, stroking over her abdomen, upward, stopping below her ribs, then following the dip of her spine all the way down, skimming over the small of her back, finally stopping at the edge that was slightly raised from tension.
Fingertips lingered there, barely touching.
At this moment, Ilus kept her eyes tightly shut. Her nails dug deeply into her palms. The girl felt like a bow drawn to its limit, the string stretched taut, about to snap the next second.
But Iliana was unhurried. That hand circled back again. This time, the entire palm covered her abdomen, pressing slightly, drawing her curled body backward.
Her back pressed against a patch of warmth. Iliana’s chest pressed against her. Through the thin fabric of her nightgown, she could feel soft curves and a steady heartbeat.
Another arm came around, clasping her waist, locking her completely into the embrace.
“Young Lady, I saw you shivering from the cold just now. Are you warmer now?”
Iliana’s chin rested on her shoulder, a trace of lazy amusement in her voice.
It wasn’t shivering from the cold; it was clearly shivering from fear of her.
Although Ilus silently refuted this in her heart, in reality, she could only nod along with Iliana’s words.
Ilus’s nod was almost imperceptible, but Iliana clearly sensed it. She let out a low chuckle, and the sound sent a ripple of unease through the girl.
“Good.”
Iliana’s lips brushed lightly against Ilus’s ear.
“Young Lady is always so afraid of the cold. How about I help keep you warm from now on?”
The arm wrapped around her waist and abdomen shifted. It wasn’t a caress, but a tighter gathering, almost with a possessive force.
Ilus was forced to sink deeper into the warm embrace behind her. Her icy back was gradually warmed by the contact, but this warmth only chilled her heart.
She was like a small animal caught by the scruff of its neck by a predator, temporarily ceasing its struggle, stiffly enduring this suffocating intimacy.
Iliana said nothing more, just held her quietly, her breath evenly spraying against Ilus’s neck. Time flowed in the silence, each second stretched unbearably long.
Just as Ilus thought this night would pass in this awkward stalemate, Iliana suddenly opened her mouth and bit down on Ilus’s shoulder.
Her white teeth sank slightly into the tender skin. Though it didn’t draw blood, it still made Ilus gasp sharply.
It hurt too much! This exceeded what she could bear! Ilus wanted to break free, but the arm around her waist held her firmly in place.
Iliana showed no intention of easing up. The girl’s muffled groan was trapped deep in her throat. A sharp, wet, stinging pain came from her shoulder; Iliana’s teeth seemed about to pierce through her skin.
“Mmph…”
A broken whimper finally escaped her lips. Ilus’s tears welled up uncontrollably, dampening her eyelashes.
Hearing Ilus make a sound, Iliana finally released her bite. Her tongue slowly licked over the tooth marks she had left. That wet sensation sent another violent shudder through Ilus.
What… what did she want to do? Could it be she still wanted to eat her?
“My apologies, Young Lady. You simply smell too good. I couldn’t help myself~”
As she spoke, Iliana’s lips pressed against the reddened ring of tooth marks, slowly rubbing, her breath scalding.
A sudden doubt arose in Ilus’s heart. Would Iliana really spare her?