"In the end, Serena Hamovi, Chille, you are still here," said Delfina Delettrez Fendi, holding the gold-cast Lorinlande ring and pressing it down on the trade contract, along with the family crest of a red sword and iris.
"Why not stay? With such a large sum of money, why not take it?" Chille lightly laughed as he watched Delfina Delettrez Fendi take his hand and slip the ring onto his ring finger.
"I love money. I love these cute little things that jingle and shine," Chille said, exhaling a breath onto the ring, unfazed by Delfina Delettrez Fendi's disbelieving and contemptuous expression.
"Hmm." The maid, who was familiar with Chille's character, pursed her lips. "Master, do you really expect me to believe that?"
"In my previous life, I was a pauper, experiencing all kinds of hardships and poverty. What's wrong with loving money?" Chille responded, looking at Delfina Delettrez Fendi's skeptical and disdainful face.
"Now that I have crossed over into this world as a noble, I naturally want to enjoy myself. Why should I settle for less? The taste of fine wine, luxurious food, and..." leaning forward, Chille hooked his finger under the maid's delicate chin, lifting it lightly.
The young count caressed her delicate and beautiful face with indulgence and arrogance, as if admiring a exquisite piece of art. He spoke softly, his words gentle, but his gaze devoid of warmth. "A dangerous beauty."
"Master Chille," Delfina Delettrez Fendi gently pushed away Chille's hand. "Is this how your etiquette teacher taught you?"
"Because every time I face you, I can't help but feel admiration," Chille replied with a charming smile. "And then, full of love, you relaxed your guard before me and stabbed me in the throat with a knife. Swift and precise."
The maid sneered mockingly. "Master's love is truly bloody and ruthless."
"After all, when I found out that you, Delfina Delettrez Fendi, were actually a Demon, I was momentarily stunned and didn't know what to do." With a blink of his gem-like eyes, Chille held Delfina Delettrez Fendi's hand, gently pressing it against his chest.
"But it's truly wonderful that you are unharmed, Delfina Delettrez Fendi. I was genuinely scared for a moment. Listen, can you hear it? My heartbeat."
"I suppose you were scared because you saw that I was still alive," Delfina Delettrez Fendi responded, her hand feeling the warmth through the thin fabric of his clothes.
As her tender heartbeat lightly tapped against her fingers, danger and fragility intertwined. Delfina Delettrez Fendi looked at the gaze of the young count, so gentle and smiling, yet sly and cunning. She pursed her lips slightly, hiding her inner resentment and annoyance—this damn little bastard.
Ahem! Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she cleared her throat and assumed a solemn expression. She withdrew her hand and picked up the contract from the table.
"So...don't tell me that you're doing all this for the money? It's obvious that Mrs. Tiegov wants something more."
"This is not just some money. It's almost the entire wealth of an ordinary noble," Chille replied, taking the contract from the maid and thoroughly examining it before neatly putting it away. A faint, cold smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"The love flowers blooming in my heart need the fountain of money to water and nourish them."
"Hmm." The maid crossed her arms, her disdainful expression directed at Chille. "Enough with these nonsense. What does Mrs. Tiegov actually want?"
"It's actually quite simple."The young count smiled gently and calmly, but his tone was icy cold. "A dying noble mother, an immature noble lady, substantial assets, and a group of covetous relatives."
Chille tapped lightly on the tabletop, making a rhythmic sound like a drumbeat echoing in the room. "Now that the noble mother has entrusted her only daughter and most of the family fortune to me, the only ones left in the family are those relatives. What do you think she wants to do now?"
"Why did Madame Diagofo entrust all of this to you?" Delfina Delettrez Fendi asked in a soft voice.
"Because as the Count, I have power and influence, enough to protect the two of them, whether they win or lose in their upcoming struggles." The young count spread the unequal trade agreement on the table and pointed to the lines of text, speaking slowly. "In fact, this contract will only take effect if Madame Diagofo and her daughter continue to hold the position of the head of the Hamovi family. Therefore, it also affects my stance. It can be said that it is both a pledge and a safeguard."
"Losing money can be earned back, but if the position of the family head is lost, then truly everything is lost."
"At the same time, Madame Diagofo is actively encouraging her daughter, Serena Hamovi, to get closer to me, even hoping that we can go further."
"This way, Miss Serena can not only protect the family fortune in a different way, but also, following the tradition of female dominance, eventually have everything of the Lorraine family."
Chille's expression remained gentle and calm, as if narrating something unrelated to himself. "If you know all this, why keep her here?"
The maid Miss stared at the young count intently. "Naturally, it's because I am kind-hearted."
With a light touch on her cheek, Chille reached out and affectionately pinched Delfina Delettrez Fendi's face. "Is it because they have something I need?"
Delfina Delettrez Fendi pondered for a moment, then chuckled, fingers stroking her chin. "Humans are really interesting creatures."
Shrugging his shoulders, the young count made no comment on Miss Demon's ambiguous words. "Since we've come this far, how is Miss Serena's situation now?"
A mysterious and ominous smile appeared on Delfina Delettrez Fendi's beautiful face with its purple pupils shimmering.
...
"This is your resting room, Miss Serena."
Walking slowly into the room with its walls of cornflower blue, fresh and elegant, the white curtains gently swayed in the evening breeze, carrying a hint of mist and floral fragrance.
Serena looked at the quietly standing Delfina Delettrez Fendi. Her leather suitcase was placed on a chair beside her. She softly asked, "Do you need help with your belongings?"
"No... thank you, I can handle it myself."
"Then please rest here for a while. I will come and invite you to the banquet once it begins, is that alright?"
"Okay."
Making a slight curtsey, she walked out of the room. The dim light gradually faded, and the tall and glamorous figure of the maid seemed to melt like a candle, dissolving into countless shadows that disappeared.
Meanwhile, after a brief inspection, Serena noticed that a small box seemed to be missing from her luggage. She blinked her beautiful emerald eyes in confusion and quickly turned back to walk outside. In the next moment, she saw clearly yet hazily the humanoid shadow twisting and distorting as it fell from behind the door facing the hallway.
Her heart stopped for a moment.
