Milis instantly took a step back in fright.
Roman didn’t know her, but could she not recognize this notorious little aunt?
When she was a child, people in the Church either shied away from her, respected her, or were gentle ladies like Sylvia and Catherine who patiently taught her.
So it was no wonder that this mother fox Rosalind left such a psychological shadow on her.
She looked up and down at Rosalind, then uneasily glanced at Roman beside her, only to meet Roman’s innocent eyes.
“How do you know her?”
“J-Just! Just! This sister helped me out of a jam.”
Roman said softly.
“Is that so?”
Milis looked at Rosalind suspiciously.
In her memory, this aunt, who didn’t interact much with her but left a deep impression, wasn’t exactly clean in her private life.
But she didn’t care about that. It had nothing to do with her anyway, and besides, it was just rumors.
Those Sword Aristocrats loved to stir up scandals everywhere.
What she minded was the invitation Rosalind had just given Roman.
“Just now, were you inviting Roman to dance?”
Milis narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“That’s right.”
Rosalind replied frankly.
“Sorry, Roman is my dance partner tonight.”
Milis lifted Roman’s hand, declaring her claim.
“You little tiger, still so protective.”
Rosalind let out a helpless laugh, fanning herself, then folded her hands.
“Since Saintess Highness says so, then this aunt can only give up.”
Hearing Rosalind’s slightly ambiguous words, Milis snorted in displeasure.
She thought to herself, so the rumors aren’t groundless after all.
To seduce Roman the first time they met—if not for Roman’s Holy Child status, she’d probably have dragged him to bed to ‘teach him knowledge’ already.
With that thought, Milis pulled Roman away, not wanting to talk more with Rosalind, and walked toward the ballroom.
Rosalind watched the two leave with a gentle smile.
Suddenly, her enchanting eyes narrowed slightly, and she turned to look back.
Sylvia’s eyes, the same color as hers, were staring straight at her.
***
A lively and cheerful waltz began to play.
Roman suddenly felt a kick.
He snapped back to reality to see Milis holding out her hand to him, waiting for his response.
“Give me your hand.”
Roman still didn’t move.
“Don’t know how?”
Milis forcibly took Roman’s hand and held it gently.
“It’s fine. I’m the lead anyway. Just trust me with your body.”
Familiar words, familiar movements.
Roman looked at Milis’s face and felt a wave of guilt rise in his heart.
He shook his head silently.
“I’m not feeling well. Let’s not.”
He refused.
What happened with Milis in the afternoon could still be considered self-defense and resistance, but if Milis wanted him to obey her willingly, to submit—he’d never agree.
“Let’s not?”
Milis’s gentle expression immediately turned cruel.
She pulled Roman into her arms, placing his hand on her waist, and began to dance, gripping his hand tightly.
Roman silently tried to keep his distance.
“You…”
Milis pressed her ear close to his, relentless.
“Are you thinking of Luo Xiya?”
“Your first dance was with her, wasn’t it?”
The words made Roman recall that night.
He and Luo Xiya danced all night, finally collapsing in a drunken haze.
Beautiful memories made Roman’s lips curl unconsciously, which only made Milis’s smile more ruthless.
“If so, then you’d better get used to tonight.”
With an elegant spin, Milis whispered in Roman’s ear.
“After all, from now on, you’ll be dancing with me almost all the time. Forget her sooner, and you’ll be happier.”
Roman glanced at Milis, but refused to play along.
He slid his hand down her waist and, using all his strength, pinched Milis’s butt hard.
“Hiss…”
Milis’s cruel expression collapsed, her eyes rolling up, her little tongue unconsciously poking out.
Her whole body trembled as if electrocuted, and considering she was still in a vacuum state, she almost couldn’t stop the liquid from leaking out…
“You…”
“Don’t threaten me again.”
Roman moved closer to Milis’s ear, his face pure and innocent.
“Otherwise, I’ll never spank your butt, bite your neck, or help you there again.”
He finished awkwardly, watching Milis’s reaction, and finally let out a sigh of relief.
But at that moment, all desire to dance vanished.
With Milis rekindling those memories, he began to miss Luo Xiya.
Since even the Holy See said so, he would return tomorrow.
He thought to himself.
What Roman didn’t expect was that he’d see Luo Xiya soon, without needing to return to the Lily Territory at all…
***
“Kuhuhuhu!!!”
Rosalind laughed brightly, covering her mouth.
“My dear sister, when did those two become so close?”
She teased Sylvia, waving her fan.
“….”
Sylvia was silent, confusion in her eyes.
After a few seconds, Rosalind spoke again.
“It’s rare for us sisters to meet. Since you came to see me, don’t you have anything to say?”
Sylvia was silent for a moment, then spoke coldly.
“I just wanted to remind you, even if you wander outside all day, you should still care about your family.”
At the word ‘family,’ Rosalind clenched her silver teeth, then smiled, showing her white teeth.
“Thank you for your concern, Matriarch, but I don’t feel like I have a family to speak of.”
“Husband and child are there—how is that not a family?”
Sylvia replied indifferently.
“Heh…”
Rosalind stared at the cold, heartless ‘Matriarch,’ unable to hold back her sarcasm.
“The husband you arranged for me? I gave him away long ago. As for the child? Whoever wants to take care of them can go ahead.”
As she spoke, bloodshot lines appeared in Rosalind’s eyes from anger as she glared at Sylvia.
“….”
Sylvia glanced at Rosalind and sneered in response.
“Of course. With your figure, appearance, family, and wealth, you can play however you want outside. It’s a hundred or a thousand times happier than being at home. No wonder you refused my arrangement.”
“You believed those words too?!”
“Why not?”
Sylvia replied ruthlessly.
“Seeing how you seduced that child earlier, how could I not believe it?”
A mix of grievance and anger welled up in Rosalind’s heart, and she nearly burst into tears.
She was clearly a virgin, but couldn’t say it out loud—let alone about the rumors she herself had spread.
Her daily appearances were all for show; afterwards, she would find a private room alone to drown her sorrows.
But saying such things now would only invite Sylvia’s ridicule, so she simply couldn’t be bothered to explain.
“You’re right.”
She smiled alluringly.
“I’m just that cheap.”