Moreover, with Shia sitting right there, his mere presence was intimidating enough to keep her silent. Even though she was deeply anxious, there was nothing she could do.

Of course, this was just how Tia, the worried white-haired maid, perceived the scene through her panicked lens. In reality, everything appeared peaceful and harmonious.

Lilith was genuinely in a good mood today. Her attitude toward Shia was warm and sincere, not the facade of a dutiful fiancée she usually put on.

“Tia, pour the wine.”

At least the maid wasn’t entirely powerless. She could still be ordered around by her mistress to serve the "big bad wolf" seated across from her.

Shia glanced up and handed the wine bottle to Tia.

For a brief moment, their gazes met.

The young man’s smiling eyes carried an unreadable depth that sent a shiver through Tia. Her anxiety spiked, and she instinctively averted her gaze, lowering her eyes as she took the bottle.

Inserting the corkscrew into the wooden stopper, she uncorked the bottle with a soft pop. A faint aroma of wine wafted into the air as she poured the liquid into two glasses. The soft clink of wine filling the glasses rang clearly in the quiet dining room.

The two glasses were placed before Lilith and Shia.

Lilith picked up her glass and sniffed it lightly. The aroma was crisp and inviting. Taking a small sip, the flavors blossomed in her mouth, leaving her eyes gleaming with delight.

“Good wine!”

Her reaction only cemented her belief that this was truly one of Shia’s treasured vintages. It tasted far superior to the wines from ordinary vineyards.

“If you like it, drink as much as you want. Everything I have, everything you desire, is yours,” Shia said warmly, sliding his own glass toward Lilith.

Lilith’s heart swelled with emotion.

While her tolerance for alcohol was decent, Shia’s high-proof distilled wine, diluted or not, was deceptively potent. At his gentle urging, Lilith found herself drinking glass after glass.

Before long, her cheeks flushed a deep red, her stunning face radiating a delicate allure. Her usually sharp eyes softened into a dreamy haze, shimmering with a glassy sheen. Even her speech became slightly slurred as she leaned forward, placing a hand on Shia’s shoulder.

“Stop… moving… when you talk…” she muttered, her words trailing off.

Shia remained calm, watching her with a faint smile.

Moments later, Lilith’s body went slack, and she slumped over the table, sound asleep.

Now, only Shia and Tia remained at the table.

Tia tensed immediately, her whole body on high alert. She knew Shia’s true nature all too well. He wouldn’t have gone to such lengths just for a casual dinner.

'He wouldn’t… Would he? Could he be planning to take advantage of the mistress being drunk and turn his attention to me?'

The thought sent a chill through Tia. She braced herself to flee at a moment’s notice.

But Shia didn’t even spare her a glance.

His attention was wholly fixed on his unconscious fiancée.

“Lilith?” he called softly, bending down to her level and poking her cheek.

Her skin was warm, soft, and supple. The sensation made him pause, his fingers lingering longer than necessary.

But Lilith didn’t stir.

Shia poked her again, twice more. This time, her lips twitched slightly before falling still again.

'Out cold.'

Shia’s hand moved to her face, his black eyes darkening as he traced his fingers down the arch of her brow, along her elegant nose, and across her smooth cheeks. His smile lingered, but there was an unsettling undercurrent of danger in his expression.

Tia watched in horror as his hand moved lower, landing on Lilith’s lips. He gently rubbed the soft, moist surface, savoring the warmth and delicate texture.

The faint pressure revealed the edge of her pearly teeth. His actions, though subtle, carried an unspoken intimacy that felt utterly predatory.

The atmosphere grew heavy, suffused with an unnameable tension. Shia looked every bit the hunter, poised to claim his prize.

Tia couldn’t hold back anymore.

“What are you doing?!” she burst out, her voice sharp and frantic.

Shia turned his head toward her, his smile widening to reveal a full set of perfect teeth.

“What do you think?” he replied, his tone calm but laced with mockery.

Tia clenched her fists, her arms trembling with barely contained rage.

'This can’t happen. That’s the young mistress! She’s too dignified and noble to be touched by someone like him!'

Having endured Shia’s darker side herself, Tia understood all too well how dangerous he could be. The mere thought of her refined mistress falling prey to him was unbearable.

“You can’t do this!” Tia shouted, springing to her feet, her body taut with determination.

She swore to herself that as Lilith’s most loyal maid, she would never let Shia succeed. With her mistress incapacitated, it fell to her to protect her.

“Why not?” Shia asked, his voice calm, almost indifferent.

Tia froze, struggling for a response.

'Why not? Because it’s wrong, because the mistress deserves better—because…'

Her mind raced, but the words wouldn’t come.

Shia’s demeanor shifted, his smile taking on a more menacing edge as he played the role of the unapologetic villain.

“You tell me—what’s my relationship with your mistress?”

“Fiancé,” Tia replied through gritted teeth.

“Exactly. A legal, binding engagement. So why wouldn’t this be allowed?”

Tia felt a chill run down her spine. As much as she hated to admit it, his reasoning was sound. Despite his flaws, Shia was indeed Lilith’s rightful fiancé.

From a societal standpoint, what he was doing wasn’t entirely out of line.

Shia stood and moved behind Lilith’s chair, his gaze locking onto Tia with a faint, mocking glint.

As he prepared to lift Lilith into his arms, Tia couldn’t stay silent any longer.

“No!” she cried, shutting her eyes tightly.

Her back hunched slightly, fists trembling as an overwhelming sense of helplessness washed over her.

Something deep within her was starting to crack.

All of Tia’s vigilance and caution crumbled in an instant.

Her silver hair fell over her face, veiling half of her expression. Her voice, low and flat, lacked its usual vibrance, as if she had resigned herself to fate.

“You… don’t make things difficult for the young mistress,” she murmured, her lips trembling as she bit down hard.

Conflicted, Tia wrestled with the harsh reality. She knew just how despicable Shia could be.

His intentions were painfully clear—he wanted her to volunteer willingly.

Whether he genuinely planned to act on Lilith or was only trying to coerce Tia herself, it didn’t matter. The outcome for Tia was the same: sacrificing herself for the sake of her beloved young mistress.

After speaking those words, Tia finally raised her head, mustering the courage to meet Shia’s gaze directly.

'It’s happened so many times before. What’s one more time if it means protecting her?'

Shia’s hand hovered just above Lilith’s shoulder. Hearing Tia’s plea, he stopped and turned, genuinely surprised.

“Oh? What did you just say?” he asked.

“I said, if you want something, come at me. Don’t make things difficult for the young mistress!” Tia repe ated, her voice more determined.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com