Khanyi did not know why he could transform from a ferocious demon into a tender prince in an instant, but she was clear that she could not escape. She had to fulfill her promise to stay by his side until the day he wanted to end it. She couldn’t even choose death, no matter how he treated her. This time, it seemed he was casting a vast black net around her, aiming to ensnare her soul. But regardless of whether the story was mad, cruel, beautiful, or enchanting, it was ultimately just a story, a fairy tale told to little girls. She was no longer a little girl and would not be easily deceived by this beautiful facade.
That day, he returned very early, before the sun had set. He walked through the door in the glow of the sunset and saw her bent over cleaning the leather sofa in the living room. He took off his hat and hung it on the coat rack, standing at the door, and said to her, who was busy with her head down, “Tonight, there is a concert. Would you like to accompany me?”
Khanyi’s hands stopped, still with her back to him. She clearly remembered that the day after he brought her to this house, he politely invited her to a ball. That “please” had no meaning of respect. Now his tone had softened a lot, but it still made her unwilling to accept and unable to refuse.
She remained silent, and this silent reaction was taken by him as consent. “We’ll set off in an hour,” he said, and then he quickly walked up the stairs.
She also walked back to the basement, changed into a black plaid skirt, and stared at herself in the mirror. The skirt was a bit loose because she had become even thinner than before. Her complexion was too pale, her lips cracked, devoid of any color. She instinctively pressed her lips together. When she was studying in America, girls liked to dress up and happily attend balls with boys.
She had attended such gatherings, but she always went bare-faced, never using any cosmetics. Back then, her complexion was rosy, radiating the glow of youth. Now, she looked as pale as a wandering soul and clearly could not go out like this. Suddenly, she remembered that Irina had given her a lipstick, which she seemed to have casually put into her handbag. She rummaged through the dark red small bag, took it out, twisted off the cap, and applied it to her lips in front of the mirror. A pale face with lips as red as flowers looked even more jarring. She tore off a bit of tissue and wiped away the sticky residue from her lips.
He was already waiting for her in the hall. He wore a black formal suit, specially tailored for social occasions by the SS. He had many clothes in his several wardrobes, so many that they were overwhelming, but the vast majority had never been worn. She had once diligently fulfilled her duties as a maid, taking them out one by one to wash and iron them.
He saw her dark eyes resting on his knees, a smile appearing at the corners of his lips. “This is the seasonal formal wear. Although I don’t like changing clothes, as it wastes too much time, I can’t let the superior’s kindness go to waste, right?”
Khanyi remained silent. She recognized this outfit, tailored for him by the royal tailor with a white wig. She couldn’t help but admire again how skilled that tailor was; the clothes fit well, were neat, and looked sharp. However, his expression seemed a bit haggard.
She knew he had been returning to this house every midnight for a week and then immediately rushing back to the embassy, like a transport driver making night runs, shuttling between two countries. He not only enjoyed tormenting others but was also a masochist himself; only a masochist would self-t*****e like this without sleeping all night.
He stepped forward, took her hand, and walked out the door. The driver had already brought the car to the entrance. He opened the car door for her, and as she sat inside, he held onto the car roof, bent down, and said to her inside the car, “The color of your lipstick is beautiful.”
Khanyi frowned, instinctively bringing her hand to her lips. The lipstick she had just applied was not very clean, leaving a thin layer of light pink mark.
The car arrived at the theater entrance. He gentlemanly opened the door for her, unceremoniously linking his arm with hers. Khanyi was pulled out, and she saw another car approaching. The door opened, and a tall officer stepped out, also displaying gentlemanly manners as he opened the door for the lady sitting in the back seat. A girl in a black evening gown supported his arm as she emerged from the car.
Khanyi recognized the man; he was the one who had shown great interest in her at his promotion banquet. She quickly lowered her head, hiding behind him, because that steel-gray gaze, even seen through glass lenses, shot towards her from afar, sending chills down her spine.
“Philip!” He pulled her forward quickly, greeting an old friend.
“Ryan, I never expected to see you here. I thought you would stay at the base.”
“You have to let me have a weekend,” he chuckled, his gaze falling on Philip’s companion, “And this beautiful lady is?”
Khanyi stared at her in a daze. This was an Eastern girl with black hair and black eyes, dressed very ladylike, but the mischievous glint in her dark eyes revealed that she was actually just a little girl. Unlike the other little girls she had encountered, she was not enchanted by Ryan’s god-like handsomeness; she merely tilted her head to glance at his face and then lowered her eyes, curiously studying Khanyi. Khanyi was equally surprised to see an Eastern girl here.
