The Lady in Red

Chapter 4

A few days had passed since Damon last visited the Vandeleur estate. He had been caught up in his duties, assisting his father with work, handling responsibilities as secretary to the crown prince, and training tirelessly for the upcoming swordsmanship examination.

After nearly three hours of training, Damon removed his shirt, wiping the sweat from his brow and changed to a different clothes. He had been preparing intensively for three weeks, with the physical exam fast approaching, followed by the written portion.

"My lord, someone is here to see you," a knight announced behind him.

“If it’s not urgent, I don’t have time to speak with them,” Damon replied coldly, focused on cleaning his sword.

"Uh… it’s Lady Lilith Vandeleur, my lord.”

The moment Damon heard her name, he dropped his sword and rushed off without hesitation.

The knight stood there, stunned, watching him go. “The lady must be quite important for him to leave his prized sword behind.” He picked up the sword, carefully dusting it off before placing it safely on the table.

Damon rushed out of the training grounds, scanning the area until he spotted a woman in a stylish red dress with puffed sleeves and a square neckline. She wore simple jewelry, light makeup, and had her hair down. On one hand, she held a small umbrella.

“My lady!”

Lilith turned, meeting his gaze with a warm smile, and bowed slightly. “Greetings, my lord. I apologize for arriving unannounced.”

Damon took her hand gently. “It’s quite alright, my lady. I’m glad you came.” He reached for her umbrella, holding it for her. “May I ask what brings you here? Or perhaps… you just wanted to see me?”

Lilith smiled, a touch of shyness in her expression. “Actually, my father and sister are here to discuss something with you.”

“Did you come with them?” Damon asked.

She shook her head, then placed a finger to her lips with a mischievous smile. “I came secretly.”

Damon chuckled, lowering his voice. “Of course.” His face grew serious as he continued, “Let me guess, Odessa came with your father?”

Lilith nodded, a shadow crossing her expression. “My father doesn’t want me to be your fiancée. He says… I’m mentally unstable.”

Damon shook his head firmly. “No, it’s you I want to marry—not your sister.”

They walked quietly for a moment before Lilith suddenly stopped and turned to face him.

“Why would you want to marry me, my lord?” she asked, her voice hesitant. “There’s nothing special about me, and there are all these rumors…”

Damon looked at her with a gentle smile. “Because it’s you I care for—not her.”

Lilith’s hand clenched slightly. “Would you still feel the same if… if you knew something terrible about me?”

“Yes,” he replied, without hesitation.

Lilith lowered her head to hide the tears welling in her eyes. His answer was simple, yet it resonated deeply, filling her with a happiness she hadn’t expected.

“O-Okay.” She took back her umbrella and, feeling flustered, walked past him. Damon chuckled softly as he followed her, watching her with a fond smile.

"She's utterly charming," he whispered to himself, following her and savoring the moment.

Lilith felt her cheeks warm as she walked beside Damon, their pace in sync as they neared the mansion.

“What are you doing here?!”

The sharp voice of Odessa made them turn. She stood there, clearly enraged, with their father behind her, his gaze fixed coldly on Lilith.

Lilith managed a polite smile. “I’m simply visiting Lord Lancaster, sister. We’ve become friends since he last visited the mansion with his father.”

Odessa scoffed. “Friends? Please, Lilith. Don’t be ridiculous. Lord Damon is my fiancé—so stop acting so familiar with him!”

Damon stepped in front of Odessa, his glare stopping her in her tracks. “Since when did you become my fiancée? Stop living in a fantasy. I’m not marrying you.” Taking Lilith’s hand, he continued, “This is the woman I intend to marry.”

Odessa’s face twisted with fury. “No! You can’t marry her! She’s nothing but a monster!”

“Odessa!” The Marquis’ stern voice cut her off. “Enough. You’re causing a scene.”

“But Daddy! She’s the one causing trouble!”

The Marquis took Odessa by the arm, pulling her toward the exit. “My apologies, my lord. We’ll be leaving now,” he said firmly, leading a fuming Odessa away.

Lilith turned to Damon, bowing her head slightly. “I’m so sorry for my sister’s behavior.”

Damon chuckled, amused. “Honestly, I think your sister is the one struggling with her sanity.” He held her hand warmly. “Come on, let’s head to the dining room and have something to eat.”

Lilith smiled, her fingers interlocking with his as they walked. She thought to herself, Dear god, even if it’s just for a moment, please let me feel this happiness.

To be continued.