NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: Burned
"What do you mean... I should take off my clothes?" Ivy asked, nervous and awkward at his vague words. Her mind was giving her the wrong idea. He had asked her to undress... The words themselves felt vulgar and inappropriate.
"What do you think I mean? Is that where your mind is going, Ivy?" Lucien slightly glanced at her, raising his brow, his lips curving into a smile that wasn't really a smile. His fingers gestured, pointing to her body from head to toe, and Ivy's cheeks flushed a full shade of tomato red.
"No, my mind did not go there! You are overthinking things," she panicked, covering herself in mock defense. Lucien chuckled slightly at her reaction.
"Well, take off your clothes," he said again, his face losing the playfulness it had just moments ago. His words made Ivy panic once more.
Her eyes widened as she stared at him in disbelief. "Excuse me?"
She kept her guard up once more.
"I might decide to do what you're thinking if you don't take off your clothes," he added.
At his words, Lucien gave her a skeptical glance, his lips curving into a smirk that could make any woman squirm.
Ivy felt her heart racing at that moment, as if it would leap out of her chest. She looked at the villain. His approach was something she couldn't understand. From the book she'd read, the villain wasn't a person who flirted; he was serious, cold, and menacing.
But she thought she couldn't reject him. Her mission was to get closer to the villain. If he wanted closeness, then she would give it to him.
"Okay, fine. I'll take off my clothes. You're my husband, after all," Ivy said, smiling innocently. Her eyes were bright and sweet, and her smile so genuine that Lucien couldn't take his eyes off her.
He found himself swallowing hard, his Adam's apple rising and falling.
"Was that it? Was that what you wanted to do all this time?" he asked, suddenly leaning closer, his breath brushing her face. Ivy's eyes widened with bashfulness, her chest rising and falling in his embrace as their bodies drew closer together.
Unconsciously, she closed her eyes. Then she heard his voice in her ear.
"What were you expecting? Were you expecting that I would kiss you?" Lucien asked with a slight chuckle. His hand stretched to hold her chin, and Ivy's eyes snapped open. She blinked twice, her gaze hesitant as her lips parted slightly, unable to form words. Lucien's eyes darkened as they lingered on her parted lips, as if he were tempted to do something. But Ivy's anxious voice brought him out of his trance.
"No, I wasn't thinking like that! You're changing my words," she said, her face flushed as she tried to explain herself.
"Oh, is that so?" Lucien asked, raising a sarcastic brow. Ivy swallowed hard, unsure of what he might do as his hands moved to her back.
"Please consider lowering your voice. I want to let you know that this could potentially be painful," he cautioned. Before she could process what he meant, she felt immense pain.
"Ouch! That hurt!" she exclaimed. His hands were on her injury, and it felt like he'd used flames on it. She couldn't help but glare at him. He had burned her injury.
"I warned you first. Don't look at me like that," Lucien said coldly, shrugging indifferently.
"I shall take my leave, Duchess. Your injury has been treated by me," Lucien said, immediately retreating and maintaining his distance, as if he hadn't just been so close.
Ivy was surprised and slightly relieved. She could only mutter, "Oh, okay," before the door closed behind him. Lucien had walked away.
---
The moment Lucien left, and it was only Ivy alone in the room, the system appeared.
"Host! Host! What was that? You look like you're in love!" it chirped in excitement, its chibi body rubbing against Ivy. She caught it in her arms, holding it in place.
"What, Birdy? I think you're talking nonsense. I've read the book. I know how cruel the villain can be," she said, rubbing the system's head, her cheeks flushed without her noticing.
Ivy rolled her eyes and snapped, "And besides, I haven't fallen in love with him." The system shrieked, finally breaking free from her hands, and flew above her, twirling.
"Oh, is that so, Host? Is it?"
Its voice rang like an annoying Christmas song in her head. Ivy huffed, chasing the system and pinning it onto her pillow.
"You better shut up, Birdy," she warned. "Because if you don't, I might just throw you out the window."
"Host, if you throw me out the window... you're done!!" the system's muffled voice came from the pillow.
Ivy quickly released the system upon hearing its threat. There was no way she was going to try that again.
So she begged the system, holding its body up like a child.
"Hey, Pukë, I'm sorry. Forgive me, would you?" she said and kissed its face.
The system grimaced. "Ew, Host! Where did the TikTok dialogue come from?" With that, it disappeared from her arms, showing her its tiny butt before leaving.
Ivy sighed, closing the window. Now that the system was gone, old memories came rushing back, and she thought of her current situation.
Never in her life had she thought she'd transmigrate and seduce a man.
Seduction, or whatever they called it. All she knew was that she had successfully seduced the villain.
She wasn't a hundred percent sure about that, but...
A knock came on the door, bringing Ivy out of her daydream. She got up and went to the door.
As it opened, she saw a short maid standing there. The maid, with two pigtails, reminded Ivy of a hedgehog she once had as a pet. Ivy couldn't help but wonder if her shapeshifting form was a hedgehog.
"Um, excuse me, are you a hedgehog by chance?" Ivy asked without thinking twice. The maid's cheeks turned pink.
"Yes, I am," the maid said nervously.
"Duchess, I have news to deliver," the maid blurted out, stopping Ivy before she could explore her curiosity further.
"What is it? Speak up," Ivy urged sweetly.
"Duchess, you have been invited to Lady Seraphina's party."