Chapter 317: Mary Sue's First Kiss Lost, The Arrogant Maid's Declaration of War (3)
This discovery left Lilith utterly devastated.
A first kiss—wasn't it supposed to be given to the one she cherished most?
The ice-cold princess of the White Silk Parfait, the serene and pure Sword Saintess, the proud and aloof Vampire Lady, the naive yet incredibly well-endowed airheaded elf, or even her elegant and intellectual mentor…
Anyone would have been fine.
But why, why did it have to be… him!?
In that instant, Lilith felt the crushing weight of despair.
It was as if she had become a betrayed wife, forced into infidelity, the ultimate victim.
As if she had just been stolen away by some random, undeserving man.
Her first kiss, meant for the most important girl in her life, had been stolen away by her own dog!
Tears welled up in her eyes, her gaze dimming with sorrow.
Her mind went blank, as if all the sounds and images around her had faded away.
For a long while, her body felt strange.
A little too warm.
The sensation of touch gradually pulled her back to reality.
Lilith suddenly snapped out of it, realizing exactly what had happened.
Her eyes hardened with fury, and without hesitation, she bit down—hard.
Golden flames surged around her, turning her into a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Shia winced in pain and staggered back two steps as Lilith shoved him away.
Covering his hand over the bite wound, he couldn't help but suck in a breath.
That was one hell of a bite.
But Lilith felt no guilt for the injury she inflicted.
All of her grievances, all of her fury, had transformed into blazing anger.
Her entire body seemed to radiate fire, yet her flawless face remained as cold as ice.
"This time, you've gone too far!"
Her first kiss was her most precious, most sacred treasure.
She had made it clear—her lips were off-limits, an untouchable boundary.
And yet, he had…
Lilith's face darkened, her fists clenching at her sides, her beautiful eyes flashing with piercing intensity, locked onto Shia.
She looked genuinely angry.
Shia removed his hand from his mouth, lowering his gaze slightly, an apologetic yet melancholic smile appearing on his face.
"I... I'm sorry."
Even though he was apologizing, Lilith felt no satisfaction.
Instead, it almost seemed like *he* was the one who had been wronged.
But he was clearly the one who had wronged *her*!
Shia averted his gaze, looking toward the tranquil garden.
"We used to be so happy, so carefree. Eating together, studying together, playing together every day."
"Whenever I think of those memories, I just… can't control myself."
His deep, affectionate eyes slowly fell upon Lilith again.
His voice gradually grew more intense, more urgent.
"You know how I feel about you."
"You are the treasure I hold in my hands."
"I've been holding myself back, waiting for the right time."
"But just now, all those wonderful memories resurfaced."
"And I couldn't help it… the emotions overwhelmed me."
"You were too good to me."
"So good that I just wanted to express my feelings through action."
"But…"
He suddenly fell silent.
His entire presence seemed to dim, filled with self-reproach.
But he hadn't expected that his passion would end up hurting the girl he loved.
That was why he apologized, why he felt remorseful.
Even so, Lilith found herself unable to scold him.
She couldn't even bring herself to reprimand him harshly.
Because… wasn't this exactly what she had been aiming for?
By taking him down memory lane, reminding him of her kindness, she had hoped to rekindle his attachment and love for her.
Using this method, she had intended to completely claim him, making him her most loyal dog.
But now…
Had she woven a web that ensnared herself instead?
The trick of using past nostalgia had been too powerful—even she, the mastermind pulling the strings, had gotten burned.
To achieve her desired outcome, she should be comforting him right now.
But just thinking about it made her stomach churn with frustration.
She was the one who had suffered the loss here, yet she had to be the bigger person!?
...
Elsewhere.
After serving her lady's meal, Tia returned to her own room.
As Lilith's personal maid, her quarters were within Lilith's suite, right next to her bedroom.
Upon returning, she gazed around at the familiar surroundings, and something deep within her began to stir.
This was the Guen family's estate.
This ancient mansion was where she had lived her entire life.
She knew every person here, every corner of this place.
At the academy, she had been forced to endure Shia's bullying, to feign submission before a villain.
But now…
Tia meticulously tidied up her room, restoring everything to its rightful place.
Looking at the neatly arranged ornaments on the shelves, she smiled.
Shia had just returned to his room, reaching for the door to close it—but his hand froze for a moment.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he shut the door and turned around.
Seated on the sofa in front of him was a white-haired beauty clad in a black-and-white maid uniform.
Her long legs, wrapped in sheer white stockings, were crossed elegantly, the soft flesh pressing against the fabric, making it even more translucent.
Tia lounged comfortably against the sofa's backrest, arms crossed beneath her ample chest, supporting their heavy weight.
Her icy expression, combined with a gaze filled with disdain, landed lightly on Shia.
She lifted her chin slightly, indicating the spot before her.
"Trash, sit down."
A small, single-seat sofa.
Just moments ago, Tia had come to a realization.
This was 'her' territory.
Now that she was back, it was time for Shia to understand who truly held power here.
He was nothing more than a pitiful stray that the young lady had picked up.
And he dared to think he could challenge 'her' authority on 'her' turf?
At the Seven Shields Academy, she had been powerless, isolated, with even her lady taking Shia's side, leaving her unable to resist.
But here, it was different.
An orphan like him had no right to stand above her.
"What are you doing here?"
Shia's voice was calm, indifferent, ignoring Tia's demand as he stood his ground.
Instead of sitting where she indicated, he remained standing before her, looking down at her from above.
The boy was naturally tall and imposing, and with Tia still seated, the height difference was especially pronounced.
Yet, despite his physical advantage, Tia showed not a trace of fear.