The streets were piled high with fresh, white snow. 

 

The children, their noses red from the cold, were excitedly making snowballs, and a strangely comforting warmth lingered in the chilly wind, making them forget the freezing temperature.

 

It was the first forecasted white Christmas in years.

 

The pure white petals fluttered down without exception, even on the most gloomy streets of Demercy.

 

A dark blue metal sign hung alone without a neon light. 

 

The writing on it was obscured by the neatly piled snow, making it impossible to read.

 

Bang—!

 

Thanks to a man who noisily flung the entrance door open and shut, the snow covering the sign tumbled down.

 

[De Lucia]

Silvano, who had just arrived, laughed mischievously and shouted.

 

“Merry Christmas, you sons of bitches!”

 

Liliana, who had been fussing over decorating a tree, jumped in surprise and looked back towards the entrance.

 

From head to toe, he was covered in snow—was he a person or a snowman? 

 

Silvano didn’t seem to care about his appearance at all as he stomped noisily into the bar.

 

“Everyone, gather round! Let’s have a gift unwrapping ceremony.”

 

He unzipped his shabby jumper and carefully brought out a large box he had been holding. It was a white box tied with a red ribbon.

 

“A gift? What is it?”

 

“Did you get it from a woman?”

 

Perhaps they were feeling a bit bored. 

 

The men giggled and crowded around the central table. But it seemed the main person who should be participating in this gift unwrapping was someone else.

 

“From a woman? I have to give it to a woman, Lily!”

 

“Oooh!”

“…Me?”

 

Amid the loud cheers, Liliana pointed at herself in confusion, but before she could even grasp the situation, someone’s hands pushed her forward until she was standing in front of the box.

 

“Gift! Gift! Gift!”

 

Her mind went hazy from the sound of the chant, accompanied by the banging on the table.

 

Yet, watching these people enjoying themselves with childlike purity made her heart race. She never could have imagined feeling such a warm atmosphere this Christmas.

 

An indescribable mix of emotions swirled within her at the feeling that the Benedetti ‘family’ was somehow becoming like her own.

 

Liliana pushed her complicated feelings aside and untied the ribbon with trembling hands. 

 

The moment the contents were revealed,

 

“…Huh?!”

 

“Whoa… that’s fucking sexy!”

 

“Damn, this guy’s got high-class taste!”

 

Amidst the boisterous crowd, she turned to look blankly at Silvano.

 

“How… how did you…?”

 

Inside the box was the wine-colored dress. 

 

The very one Silvano had picked out for her at the costume shop. He unfolded the neatly folded dress, handed it to her, and whispered in her ear.

 

“Christmas present.”

 

“What… Where did you get the money?”

 

“I’m not that much of a penniless bastard.”

 

Silvano’s lips curved into a smooth arc.

 

Truthfully, it was a dress he had more or less forced Theodoro into buying for him, so it was closer to being a gift from Theodoro…

 

But Silvano had no intention of revealing that. 

 

It wasn’t like Theodoro was the type to boast about having bought it himself anyway.

 

“Alright, alright. Go change.”

 

Silvano brushed off Liliana’s suspicious look and nudged her toward the waiting room.

 

So, when she changed into the wine-colored halter-neck dress and re-entered the hall, silence fell for the first few seconds. 

 

Everyone was momentarily speechless, staring at her as if mesmerized.

 

But soon after, a loud cheer swept through the room.

 

“Why, why is everyone acting like this… It’s embarrassing.”

 

Overwhelmed by the excessive attention she’d never received in her life, Liliana’s body twisted awkwardly. 

 

But since she was genuinely happy, she shyly lowered her eyes… 

 

Silvano, who didn’t miss the sight, curled the corners of his mouth in satisfaction.

 

“Come here. Sing a song for me.”

 

“A song? What kind…”

 

Liliana found herself led by Silvano’s hand and plopped down onto a table right in the middle of the bar.

 

Had these people all rehearsed this together? 

 

Someone brought a microphone from the stage and placed it in her hand, and now there was absolutely no way out.

 

“Treat us to a carol.”

 

She let out a puff of laughter at the request. Then, she looked over at the band members she’d been playing with for the past few weeks.

 

“Hmm…”

 

The pianist, after rolling his eyes for a second, responded by playing a melody on the keys instead of speaking.

 

She recognized it immediately. 

 

From the title alone, it was a song for a day like today. Perhaps the carol most perfect for Christmas: Nat King Cole’s ‘The Christmas Song.’

 

A subtle smile bloomed on her face as the double bass’s deep notes joined in—doong, doong–Then the guitarist and the drummer began playing the intro…

 

— Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…. 🎶

 

As she sang the first verse, the noise in the bar began to fade. Her voice, spreading through the room, was like a hazy, pale mist. 

 

A voice that usually sounded bitter and somber was, on that day, warmly coloring the space.

 

— …They know that Santa’s on his way….🎶

 

Just as everyone was beginning to sink deeply into her song, a small—ding-a-ling— from a bell sounded at the entrance.

 

Liliana’s gaze naturally drifted toward the door, and Theodoro, who had entered the bar with Paul, slowly came to a stop.

 

In his dark pupils was also a dazzling figure, glowing under the lights.

 

Sitting on the table, the long, slender calves stretched out from under the hitched-up hem of her dress. 

 

The bare skin of her arm revealed where the draped fur had slipped down.

 

The brilliant blonde hair that complemented the red dress, the white eyelashes blinking very slowly at him, and even the red lips moving past the microphone…

 

Theodoro silently removed his fedora. Without taking his eyes off her for even that moment.

 

💫

 

De Lucia bar was bustling at 9 p.m. as the atmosphere warmed up. 

 

Plates of turkey and salmon dishes covered the tables. Pasta, cake, champagne…

 

While the musicians were on break, music flowed from the speakers, and the members who had brought partners danced around the hall in pairs.

 

After Theodoro handed out drinks to everyone, the Christmas party was in full swing.

 

“Why don’t you two dance as well?”

 

A couple dancing past Liliana and Theodoro playfully suggested. 

 

Perhaps caught up in the excited mood, he—who she expected to frown immediately—surprisingly responded gently.

 

“Don’t mind me. Enjoy yourselves.”

 

Liliana, startled by the sudden mention of her, let out a sigh of relief. 

 

Out of the corner of her eye, Theodoro did seem more relaxed than usual.

 

Sunk into the sofa, he was lazily tilting his chin up, gazing around the hall. His thin, half-closed eyelids and the sullen eyes beneath them—his expression still looked indifferent and tired, but a subtle glint of pleasure and contentment shone in his pupils.

 

She should have looked away then…

 

Her eyes fell on his hand, swirling a glass. The moment she noticed the prominent veins on the back of that hand, Liliana flinched and lowered her head. 

 

The memory of that very hand resting near her chest a few days earlier flashed through her mind.

 

‘No, no. Don’t think about it. Get a grip. Why am I suddenly remembering that? I’m not crazy.’

 

Feeling unsettled, Liliana stared at the floor for a while before picking up her handbag to calm herself.

 

What she pulled out was a thin tin case. 

 

It was cigarettes—something she had started turning to often since the day she first got blood on her hands. Whenever her thoughts grew complicated, she’d suddenly crave one, and now, whenever her mind grew restless, her hand would reach for it almost instinctively.

 

As she took a cigarette from the case and fitted it into a long holder, Theodoro’s eyebrow twitched. 

 

He clicked his old silver lighter, lit it for her, and asked.

 

“Did you always enjoy smoking?”

 

“…No, I learned.”

 

“Learned? When. From whom?”

 

“…It’s nothing you need to know.”

 

A deliberately indifferent answer. A cold voice.

 

“How absurd.”

 

Theodoro let out a short laugh and turned his head away.

 

That was exactly what Liliana wanted. She was beginning to feel an instinctive danger from facing him for non-work matters, from having personal conversations like this.

 

Unfortunately, the situation was not going her way at all.

 

Liliana was sitting with her legs crossed, her chin resting on her hand, holding the cigarette holder in her mouth. 

 

Suddenly, Theodoro, sitting beside her, glanced at her again and stood up. Then, he plucked the cigarette from her holder and put it between his own lips.

 

“…Huh?”

 

As she looked up at him blankly, Theodoro took a deep, deliberate drag and then crushed it out in the ashtray.

 

“Don’t smoke. What good is this for you?”

 

“…What? No—”

 

“Stand up.”

 

He cut her off sharply and held out his palm. As if telling her to take it.

 

‘What’s with him all of a sudden…?’

 

She stood up with a clearly puzzled expression, but the hand held out before her remained…. 

 

With a feeling of her heart tightening, she gently placed her fingertips on Theodoro’s palm.

 

As if he’d been waiting, his strong fingers closed around her slender hand, leading her to the center of the hall.

 

“What… are you doing?”

 

“My shoulder.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Put your hand on my shoulder.”

 

Her thoughts were moving a beat too slowly…. 

 

As Theodoro wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, Liliana had no choice but to place her hand on his chest in her daze.

 

Only then did Liliana realize that Theodoro intended to dance with her. Her widened eyes were full of shock, but his dress shoes were already moving slowly to the melody.

 

Amid the cheers coming from all around, Theodoro’s lips curved into a loose smile.

 

“It’s a rather big party the day after tomorrow. Consider this practice.”

 

Ah… I’m in trouble.

 

Was it really possible to keep things strictly professional like I hoped? He expects me to press close and dance with him at a business party?

 

Her slightly wavering eyes suddenly squeezed tightly shut. Because the hand wrapped around her waist slid lightly up her spine.

 

“…!”

 

“If you act like a block of wood that day too, I’ll be quite troubled, Liliana.”

 

It must be her imagination, but she thought she detected a hint of playfulness in his voice.

 

And, as always, that enticing scent rushed to the tip of her nose. Liliana turned her flushed face away and began to match his steps.

 

— Although it’s been said many times, many ways… Merry Christmas to you. 🎵

 

The Nat King Cole carol she had been singing began to play again, swelling sweetly and enveloping them both.

 

And outside, in a dimly lit alley.

 

Unlike the cozy light spilling from beyond the frosted glass windows of De Lucia, a man stood on the street where only a cold wind blew.

 

A gaunt face with prominent cheekbones. 

 

His body was unattractively skinny, but his eyes were sharply vivid and intense. He hugged a large box of unknown contents and grinned a sinister smile.

 

“Merry Christmas to you, Benedetti.”