How Lilies turn Black

 

Lilia stumbled backward, pawing the floor. All the while, she had to think quickly.

 

‘Theodoro… he’s coming.’

 

He doesn’t like it here. If he knew she was here, after all the commotion earlier, and that she was being dragged here on a whim, he’d be furious…

 

‘Do you think he’ll stay still? No, he won’t… There’s a chance he might take action.’

 

Not necessarily for her sake. 

 

They don’t have that kind of history between them. Lilia has only just become Theodoro’s subordinate.

 

‘But I suppose it’s a good excuse to make a mess of this eyesore, Antonio’s behavior… is clearly disrespectful to Theodoro.’ 

 

Maybe Theodoro would use her as an excuse to take aggressive countermeasures.

 

I wasn’t sure. But there was nothing to lose but to throw words at him.

 “He…!” 

The words came out under her breath, and Antonio glanced back at her.

 “Hmm?” “You think I’m just going to sit in silence when he gets here?” 

Lilia shot back quickly, and Antonio, who was taking over something, smirked. As if he had predicted what she would pin her hopes on.

 “You don’t have to worry, young lady, I’ve got this.” 

He waved the syringe in the air.

 “Sit back and relax, and I’ll explain everything to you. You can’t even speak properly anyway.” 

Lilia’s eyes widened at the sight of the liquid in the syringe. Her pupils dilated in response.

 “Well, what if I were to tell him that you came here of your own accord?” 

No way.

 “After all the commotion earlier… I doubt that our master would be pleased, but he can’t blame me if I say it was your will.” 

Suddenly, I understood perfectly. Why Antonio had been so confident?

 

It was obvious that Lilia, Theodoro, and even Theodoro would fall for the trap he had set up.

 

‘Oh, hell no.’

 

Antonio walked slowly as Lilia hesitantly backed away.

 

There was no urgency in his steps, no rush at all, probably because he knew there was a solid wall behind him that she couldn’t see.

 “…Mm.” “Picture it. Imagine the looks on his face.” 

She sucked in a breath, only to be stopped by the walls. Antonio was getting closer and closer.

 “I’m dying to see it.” 

Before she could fight back, her arm was seized, and a bone-crushing pain shot through her.

 “Hmph…!” “If nothing else, I’ll make him pay for screwing me over.” 

A crooked grin spread across his face.

  

The medicine was more than the right amount, and it seemed to have taken effect.

 

The next thing Lilia knew, she was in the bathtub, drifting between consciousness and oblivion in the warm water, when she gasped and sat up.

 “…Huck!” “Aah! Whoa!” 

Three women jumped up in surprise as I raised my limp body. They quickly regained their footing and helped Lilia to her feet.

 “Calm down. Relax.” 

There was no warmth in their soothing touch as there was in their soulless tones, their faces were lifeless, and it was as if calming Lilia was just one of the responsibilities they had to fulfill.

 

It was better that way, so Lilia quickly recapped the situation.

 

‘Ah… I see they’re prepping, I must have just collapsed.’

 

Thankfully, it wasn’t a dangerous time, and a thick, medicinal aura settled over her briefly lucid mind. 

 

Strength washed over me, and I had no choice but to close my heavy eyelids.

 “Hah…” 

My body felt different from it should. It wasn’t like I couldn’t move my hands, it was more like I felt languid and disoriented.

 

The sensation was strange. Her body would contract with tension, but then it would relax.

 

Lilia laughed, uncharacteristically, drunk on the drowsy sensation.

 

‘Anything goes.’

 

It was warm. The woman’s hands sliding over her skin were soft.

 

‘Even if I stay like this…’

 

Lilia’s eyes widened as she realized where her thoughts had gone.

 

Crazy. I must have gone nuts.

 

What the hell did they drug me with to make me lose my senses like this?

 

She shook her head to clear her mind. She breathed deeply to see if spitting out a breath would take the medicine away.

 

‘I can’t take another dose. I’d be out of my mind.’

 

 

The drugs were nestled in the corner of the bathroom shelf, along with two syringes.

 

As Lilia’s gaze settled on it, she heard a sarcastic snort from beside her.

 “You think she’s some kind of ghost that knows we’re short on drugs?” 

Lilia’s eyes darted from place to place, barely regaining their composure. This was how much the medicine had worn off.

 

Perhaps my confused expression meant something different to the women.

 “Wait. I’ll give you another dose when you’re done with your bath.” “And here’s the good news, you’ll have to do it every time you have guests from now on.” 

The last part made my head spin.

 

So the women here do drugs for every customer?

 

I’d always known that the brothels run by the family purchased large quantities of drugs, but I hadn’t known the extent of their use.

 

Swallowing the rising alarm down her throat, she opened her mouth to speak.

 “…And you, as well?” “Of course we do. It’s what keeps us here, you naive brat.” “…” 

My heart dropped, and a rush of despair filled the void.

 

‘These women must have been forced into it.’

 

I know. They’re not here because they like the place, they’re here because they’re bent over for Antonio.

 

Given the unusual things that happened within the organization, they probably owed him money.

 

‘…Wait a minute.’

 

Suddenly, an idea flashed through my mind.

 

‘If I get it right, I can use this to…’

 

My brain began to work more and more sharply as I realized that the drug was starting to wear off.

 

Not without guilt at the thought of exploiting a sad situation. But Lilia felt differently. It would be for their benefit, not his.

 

Lilia blurted out,

“You want to… get away from here, don’t you?” 

The words were barely out of her mouth when a frighteningly venomous glare shot out and pierced her skin.

 “What?” “Help me, it’ll be your chance to get out of here.” “What the hell are you talking about, the last person I’ve ever met who’s drugged up and talking this crap—” “Theodoro will be visiting here soon, and if you can explain the circumstances of how I was forcibly taken… he’ll do something about it.” 

What she got back was the reaction she expected.

 “You think you’re going to sway him? You’re just an extra? You’re dreaming. If anyone saw you, they’d think you were his secret lover.” 

Lilia calmly explained the reason for this show of force. 

 

If they knew of the confrontation between Theodoro and Antonio that was about to take place here, they could only hope.

 

She had only one request,

“Just let me avoid the drugs they assigned me.” 

That’s it. As long as she could speak humanly in front of Theodoro, that would be enough.

 “I’ll mention that I had your help… and he won’t turn his back on you for helping me clear this place out.” “…” “Help us, we’re in the same boat, this might be our… only chance to get out of it all.” 

The bathroom was silent, not even the sound of water. The women were silent, and only the whitish steam of the water spoke for them.

 

After a while, the answer came back. It was a long silence, but it wasn’t the answer Lilia had hoped for.

 “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear you. I don’t feel confident enough to take a risky gamble… I’m stuck with the Benedettis anyway, and they’re not going to help me save myself, especially not with a man who has no blood or tears.” 

The other two women were silent. Lilia knew it meant sympathy.

 

‘Ah…’

 

The embers that had been waiting for the right moment to flare up died.

 

What more could she say to convince them?

 

‘No blood, no tears,’

she couldn’t argue with that, for it was a truth she knew better than anyone else.

 

In silence, the bath ended.

 

The women dried her off and dressed her in a robe, all the while avoiding eye contact, which Lilia found unexpectedly grim.

 

They must have their reasons. She didn’t even resent them, figuring their reality was too stark for them to take the risk.

 

‘I suppose it can’t be helped.’ 

 

Better to use the time to think of something else.

 

‘What should I do…? Should I try to squirm when they’re about to inject?’

 

Well, that’s not a good idea.

 

In a good hero novel, she would have fought back by snatching the syringe and injecting them with it… but in real life, she knew she had no chance.

 

Thoughts flashed through her mind and then faded away. 

 

Meanwhile, the women had cleaned up the bathroom and were preparing to move to the dressing room just outside the door.

 “Come with me. We need to get changed and put on makeup.” 

Lilia snapped out of her reverie and stared straight ahead. Two women, already carrying finished clothes, were beckoning.