How Lilies turn Black Chapter 68 - Legal Illegality (9)

Faint groans and sighs echoed continuously through the spacious living room. 

 

To anyone listening to those sounds or the conversation, it might have seemed like a passionate scene was unfolding, but the reality was far from it.

 

Silvano was leaning back on the living room sofa, while Liliana sat beside him, carefully wiping his wounds and face with a damp cloth. 

 

In other words, they were engaged in a solemn act of medical care.

 

“Ahh… Nice and warm. Feels good.”

 

Watching Silvano close his eyes in satisfaction, Liliana suddenly felt a surge of exasperation. 

 

What exactly was she doing right now…?

 

If being swept up by his pace was a sin, then it was indeed her fault. The moment he boldly demanded treatment, she should have immediately kicked him out to the hospital.

 

Had she not seen the ointment and gauze he’d brought with her own eyes, she would never have let this dangerous man into her home.

 

“What are you doing? Keep going.”

“…”

 

Lost in thought, she had paused for a moment, and now he was impatiently urging her. 

 

The sheer audacity made her blood boil, and she barely resisted the urge to throw the damp cloth in his face.

 

He’s a patient. A patient… I have to endure.

 

Right. Seeing the bloodstains she was wiping away made her violent impulses toward Silvano fade.

 

Though not severe enough to require stitches, the skin on his left cheek was torn open. The sight of the wound was painful enough to make Liliana wince.

 

“But how did you end up getting hurt this badly?”

 

Perhaps sensing the concern in her tone, Silvano chuckled lightly, his eyes still closed.

 

“Instead of that, why don’t you ask how much worse the guy who did this to me got hurt?”

 

At first, it sounded absurd, but upon reflection, it made sense. Silvano wasn’t the type to just take a beating like some fool.

 

Liliana stared at his relaxed face, then suddenly her heart sank as she gasped.

“Don’t tell me you killed him?!”

“Ah, what are you talking about? You told me not to kill him. I only beat them all to the brink of death.”

“…”

“I listen well, don’t I?”

His eyelashes curled softly before Silvano glanced sideways at Liliana. His half-lidded, drunken-looking eyes curved into round crescents.

“See how obedient I am?”

“Haa…”

Finally releasing her tension, Liliana sighed and muttered.

“Yeah, Silvano. You listened well.”

But her reaction, closer to relief than genuine praise, didn’t seem to satisfy him. Silvano turned his head slightly to face her directly, then wrapped his hand around hers—still holding the cloth she’d been using to wipe his face.

 

The unfamiliar warmth spreading over the back of her hand startled Liliana, but only for a moment. 

 

A low whisper crept into her ear.

“What’s with that lukewarm response?”

“…Huh?”

“I did good, didn’t I, sweetheart?”

Her eyes widened. Maybe it was some kind of animal instinct—but a dangerous energy seeped into her bones, making Liliana flinch and try to pull her hand away.

“…What—!”

But Silvano held her tight, refusing to let go, and only let out a low, growling laugh that tickled her nerves.

“Why are you pulling away?”

Liliana froze, trapped in his grip.

 

The quiet living room was filled with unsteady breaths.

Lukewarm water seeped from the crumpled towel, soaking her palm before trickling down her skin in thin streams.

From the inside of her wrist to her elbow—slowly, drawing a faint, wet line.

Maybe because her senses were heightened, even that felt strangely sensual. She swallowed dryly, her eyes scanning Silvano’s face with forced composure.

Then her gaze landed near his jaw. 

 

A reddish droplet clung to the edge of his chin before plopping—once, twice—onto his sweater.

“…Oh, your… clothes might get wet.”

 

Silvano let out a quiet chuckle at the barely spoken words.

“Is that important?”

“Ah…”

“Tell me. What did I do well?”

 

He smirked, slowly rubbing his face against the wet towel pressed to his cheek.

Why was he acting like this today? 

 

His usual demeanor was completely different, leaving her mind hazy. The faint laughter just loud enough to hear. The thin smile lingering on his lips. The low, deliberate tone as he spoke…

 

Silvano’s ambiguous attitude, with no clear intent, made her heart pound uneasily.

“Well…”

 

Liliana averted her gaze, her flushed face stumbling over her words.

“Rumors… seem to be spreading.”

“What rumors?”

 

And why did his voice have to be so sweet and paralyzing? The shiver piercing her eardrums crawled into her mind, making her eyelids tremble.

“Th-that if you don’t switch suppliers, men in suits might come in a crowd… or sometimes just one man… and, um, you have to be careful of the latter. They say if you cross the wrong one, your business could be ruined… That kind of rumor.”

“Hmm.”

 

“Thanks to… the rumors, the stores we were keeping an eye on… switched to our side without us even pressuring them. You… did well.”

 

That should’ve been enough to satisfy Silvano. But no proud response came. Instead, his index finger suddenly touched the tip of her chin.

 

Silvano gently turned her face toward him, locking eyes with her.

“‘You did well’—those words should be for me.”

 

Messily disheveled bangs. Beneath them, the corners of his eyes curved like crescent moons.

 

For a moment, her breath caught inexplicably, her mind going blank. She couldn’t do anything but give the expected answer.

“Y-you did… well.”

“Did I?”

 

The smile on his lips grew deeper. Though a smile couldn’t possibly carry a scent, an intoxicating fragrance seemed to fill her nostrils.

 

“Liliana.”

 

Before she knew it, the fingers resting under her chin had lightly withdrawn.

 

With no time to register the faint chill that replaced them, Silvano placed a hand behind Lilia’s back on the sofa and began to lean in.

 

“Have you given it any more thought?”

 

“Wh-what thought?”

 

“You know. Instead of just praising me with words.”

 

As he spoke, Silvano drew closer, until barely a hand’s width remained between them.

 

At the moment Lilia unconsciously held her breath… he slowly lowered his head. The tip of his nose nearly touched the delicate hollow above her collarbone.

 

The faint strands of his hair brushed against her skin. 

 

A tickling sensation—no, something stranger—spread in electric waves.

 

“…Hah!”

 

But Silvano didn’t move further. 

 

Instead, his warm breath dampened her skin as he whispered, “…Praising my achievements… with your ‘whole body.’ With all your passion and devotion.”

 

“…!”

 

The instant she heard those words, her mind snapped awake. Lilia shoved his shoulders fiercely and shot up from her seat.

 

“I—I already told you I’d never do that.”

 

Though her tone was sharp, she couldn’t hide the slight tremble in her voice. 

 

Stupid… As if her pounding heart wasn’t proof enough.

 

Lilia threw a towel onto the coffee table and turned away coldly. But there was no way Silvano would let her go.

 

Thud!

 

The moment his hand closed around her wrist, his utterly composed voice flowed over her—unfazed by her razor-sharp reaction.

 

“Ah, did you not apply the ointment? It stings like hell.”

 

“…Let go. Look in a mirror and do it yourself.”

 

“How cruel. ‘I don’t like this, I don’t like that’… How am I supposed to stay motivated like this?”

 

“…”

 

It wasn’t Silvano who was losing motivation—it was her. If she kept acting like this every time, how could they ever work together?

Her legs felt weak, but her anger burned so fiercely that the heat wouldn’t subside.

“I’m the cruel one? This… despicable man.”

Liliana shook off his hand and sat back down on the sofa, stirring a cold breeze as she did.

Yes, just the ointment. Nothing more. She couldn’t let herself be swept away by his smug attitude and give in to him.

As she tried to calm her boiling frustration, she snatched the ointment from the table.

 

Meanwhile, Silvano, lounging lazily as he watched her, was thinking,”Haha… Still not easy, huh?”

It wasn’t easy. Luring her in was never going to be easy.

He reached out, twirling a strand of her shimmering platinum hair around his finger. The moment his fingertips brushed her back, her slender body flinched. 

 

A cold warning followed.

“…Take your hand off.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Silvano licked his lips and grinned.

“This is so much fun.”

The fact that it wasn’t easy only made it more entertaining. 

 

What could he do?

Every time Liliana resisted, pushing him away with all her might, she had no idea how thrilling it was for him.

 

That proposal about showing physical gratitude and praise if the job went well?

Honestly, he didn’t expect her to agree right now. It was just bait—something to slowly reel her in.

Of course, if he really wanted to, taking her wouldn’t be difficult at all.

There was no need to bruise her pride with demands… 

 

He knew he could have her whenever he wanted. He knew dozens of ways to make her moan instead of scream right this instant.

But yes—slowly conquering her.

That was what mattered most to Silvano.

“Where’s the fun in tasting everything at once?”