How Lilies turn Black - Chapter 12

“Hah….”

Finally, Lilia let out a deep breath as her body slumped. 

It was the moment when the tension she hadn’t been able to let go of until the very end was finally released.

She’d gotten out of Laura’s Club just as she’d hoped, though she didn’t have the words to explain it, just the thoughts that were running through her head.

‘Looks like the guy figured it out and brought me here.’

Thank goodness. In retrospect, I realize how stupid I sounded.

Of all the people who have just gotten a job, she’s probably the only one with the guts to talk like that. I flushed with a sudden sense of humiliation.

Just then, Paul spoke again, snapping her out of her thoughts.

“…I want to apologize for what happened last night.”

His apology was met with more embarrassment than gratitude. Lilia quickly dismisses his hand, not expecting Paul to apologize so politely.

“It’s all right, I’m fine for now.”

“Miss Moretti didn’t have to go through this, and she shouldn’t have. I’m sorry for everything, and Theodoro, as well.”

I wonder if Theodoro truly felt sorry for what happened, or if he was just being nice.

Seeing his face, unmoved by anything, made me realize how empty that statement was, but I shrugged it off. 

Paul continued, “Master Theodoro has been away for a while to educate Antonio. We’re hoping that some psychological damage to Miss Moretti will be alleviated.”

“Alleviate… Of course, I’m grateful.”

Lilia replied somewhat sheepishly, but she was hard-pressed to conceal the thrill of pleasure that spread through her.

‘Antonio… I hope you’re paying for what you’ve done?’ 

Paul had dismissed what happened between them with the gentle word ‘education’… but I knew full well that it was more like merciless violence than it sounded.

That’s a bitter pill to swallow.

It was clear that Paul didn’t know what she was thinking. 

Turning to Lilia, whose expression remained unchanged, he offered her something more contrite.

“This is our way of apologizing to Miss Moretti. I hope you will accept it with pleasure.”

It was a thick envelope. I immediately realized it contained an amount of money.

So far, so good. I was fine with that.

The words that followed were the most unwelcome of all the considerations.

“We decided that for your safety, Miss Moretti, it would be best if you could put yesterday’s troubles with your employment behind you.”

Lilia’s eyes widened, ‘Did I mishear that?’

“…What?”

“I’m sure Miss Moretti would think it better that way, yourself.”

No. I hadn’t mistaken the words.

My head was swirling, and I didn’t know what to say.

‘This is… this is… this is not right.’ 

So things were definitely off track. Lilia bit her lip, resisting the urge to yank her hair out.

How had things gone so wrong?

‘Antonio…!’

Yes, that Antonio. The worst man in the world.

The one man in her life who had been nothing but trouble from start to finish. Why did he keep on getting in my way?

Her anger rose to the top of her head, and her stomach churned.

It got to the point where she wondered if perhaps God had stepped in with both feet to frustrate her.

‘What, do you think I’m going to give up?’ said Lilia inwardly.

If the Supreme Being thought so, he was mistaken. No matter what He does, it would not change her path.

Ten years that have vanished into thin air. 

A decade that I remember only as if I had dreamed it, and all the memories that were incorporated into it.

I won’t give up on them because they’re unfair and futile.

Lilia dug her nails into her clenched palms and lifted the tip of her chin.

“When Sir Theodoro comes back, please let me talk to him about things. Please.”

A steady, even stubborn, gaze met Paul Galliano’s, a determination alive and well in the eyes that refused to be deterred.

For a moment, Paul remained silent, averting his gaze as if meeting her eyes was a difficult task.

Finally, with a weak sigh, he gave in and said, “…All right, then.”

As if it were the last consideration he could offer, even though it wouldn’t change his mind.

Recognizing that made her eyes darken once more, but Lilia pushed the disturbing thoughts out of her head.

It wasn’t over yet because she didn’t accept it. There would always be a hole to climb out of, she told herself.

✨

It was two in the afternoon when Theodoro returned, a few hours later.

Lilia was sipping hot cocoa. A cold breeze blew in through the open door, and he threw off his coat, sending a chill through the air.

Paul picked it up and hung it neatly on the coat rack.

Theodoro’s eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, more so than he had ever seen them before. He glanced at Lilia with weary eyes, and then at Paul.

“What is it?”

His question was terse, but she could guess at the omitted afterword, ‘why Lilia was still here, sitting at the table, and not at home in Moretti’s house.’

Her dry mouth twitched. She swallowed once, and Paul answered for her.

“She says she needs to speak with you for a moment.”

Theodoro took off his rumpled jacket, tossed it to Paul, and sat down in his office chair. He sat roughly across, tilted his head, lit a cigarette… nothing was left untouched.

Neither did the words he spoke next.

“Tell me.”

Now? Here?

Why not? It’s the right place to talk, and it’s the time she’s been waiting for.

But it was embarrassing as hell. I don’t know where I picked up this terrible habit of avoiding looking at people.

Lilia moved her trembling lips toward the man who wasn’t even looking at her.

“I’ve… heard about your decision about the job, and I’m asking you to reconsider.”

Theodoro didn’t answer, just puffed on his cigarette, the thick smoke filling the space between them, making it impossible to make out his expression.

After a long moment, he glanced back at Paul and snapped his fingers.

“Send her back.”

The words were harsh and unkind.

Even worse was his next move. Theodoro dug into the inside pocket of his jacket on the rack and pulled out his wallet. He pulled out a rough stack of bills and handed them to Paul.

“If the money isn’t enough, get her some more and tell her to leave.”

Lilia stiffened in place, her eyes fixed on Theodoro.

‘…What?’ 

The man grew silent, his last words echoing in her ears.

Who the heck would go home without going back to extort more money?

What kind of human being did Liliana Moretti seem to him? 

Her cheeks burned with shame. The words that had been cut from her mind spilled out of her lips.

“…I’m not just asking for more money.”

The air in the room chilled at the harsh, unrefined words, cutting through the skin.

With a sinking feeling in her stomach, Lilia studied their complexions with a frown.

To her relief, Theodoro seemed unperturbed, and Paul looked rather embarrassed, as if he had some semblance of humanity, unlike his master. ….

“Of course, I’m aware of that, Miss Moretti. It’s just that working here isn’t easy. It’s all for your own good, Miss Moretti, and I don’t want you to get entangled in any more unsavory affairs.”

Paul added, shoving a wad of cash into Lilia’s hand., “It doesn’t mean much… but this money should be enough to get you a new job, and I’m sure Miss Moretti will be able to find a better one soon enough.”

Lilia pursed her lips and looked down at her hand. 

‘I don’t think I’ve ever held such a large bundle of money in my life.’

He said it would be enough to last until she found a new job, but it’s more than enough to spend, play, and eat for a few months.

‘I have no idea how it came to be….’

The corners of her eyes furrowed slightly. It was an uncomfortably thoughtful gesture.

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand what Paul was trying to say. There were parts of it that made sense.

But I couldn’t agree with everything.

Lilia looked up, and spoke, not to Paul, who was right next to her, but to Theodoro, who sat some distance away.

“I told you, whether you want to use me… I want you to be responsible for it, Theodoro.” 

Paul’s eyes widened, his face worn with contemplation, but he couldn’t stop the words from flowing from Lilia’s lips.

“I’m already a part of this place…and I’m not going to tell you that I’m worried about my safety, but I’d like you to think of a way to ensure it. If you didn’t want to deal with all that hassle, you should have asked me to leave the bar in the first place—”

“Miss Moretti!”

Paul bellowed, grabbing her by the shoulders.