The morning was uncomfortably sunny, the kind that seemed to mock anyone who had spent the night full of strange dreams. Lily walked down the hallway with her hair still messy and the expression of someone who wished she could return to her pillow, when she heard precise footsteps behind her.
Footsteps of someone who didn't know what it meant to get tired.
— Ah, there you are.
Marvelous appeared beside her like a well-dressed shadow.
— We have an appointment.
— Another one?
Lily grumbled.
— You're always making things up.
— I'm not. I organize.
He lifted his chin with that natural arrogance.
— Today we are going to choose your dress.
Lily froze immediately, as if she had run into an invisible wall.
— I'm not wearing any dress.
— Yes, you are.
— I'm not.
— Yes.
— No.
— Yes.
They stayed like that, staring at each other for a few seconds, like two spoiled children in a silent dispute, until Marvelous sighed:
— If you don't want a long dress, we'll choose something more discreet.
— I don't want anything.
— Perfect, then we'll choose two options.
He concluded, completely immune to logic.
Lily huffed, crossing her arms.
— You're impossible.
— Thanks to my efficiency, yes.
He smiled, giving a slight gesture toward the door.
— Let's go before I have to carry you.
— You wouldn't dare.
— Try me and find out.
Lily immediately turned her face, but her ears were red.
. . .
THE DRESS ROOM
The fitting room looked more like a bored princess's bedroom: scented, mannequins lined up, fabric everywhere, boxes that shone too brightly.
Marvelous, on the other hand, behaved as if he were in his natural habitat.
— Not this one. Too flashy. This… maybe. No, the color is horrible. This one… hm… doesn't suit your personality.
— You don't even know what my personality is…
— I do.
He replied without hesitation.
— Hard to believe.
Lily picked up any random dress just to tease him.
— Then I'll wear this one.
He looked at the fabric in horror.
— Do you intend to go to the birthday or scare people?
— It's just a dress.
— It's an aesthetic crime. Get it out of my sight.
She tried to hold back laughter but failed.
It was nice to see him lose composure, even just a little.
Then Lily noticed something in the corner. A simple dress: light blue, soft, delicate in an almost shy way. It wasn't flashy. It had no sparkles. It had… silence.
A dress that seemed to apologize for existing.
She touched the fabric carefully.
Marvelous opened his mouth to make some comment, but when he saw it, the words died instantly.
Lily holding that dress was… different.
She didn't look forced. She wasn't trying to please anyone. She looked… like herself.
His heart jumped unexpectedly, strong enough to make him uncomfortable.
He cleared his throat, as if he wanted to adjust his own chest.
— This…
The voice came out lower than intended.
— This one looks good.
She smiled, shyly.
Marvelous quickly looked away, irritated with himself.
— Try it on before I change my mind.
. . .
Lily entered the booth. Marvelous stood still, trying to control that strange feeling, as if something was moving the internal wires of his heart, like a machine receiving commands it didn't recognize.
After a few minutes, Lily called in a faint voice:
— Marvelous… I can't close it at the back…
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath.
You will not blush. You will not blush. YOU WILL NOT…
He entered slowly, still maintaining professional composure.
Lily stood with her back to him, holding the dress with a shyness that made his chest tighten.
Marvelous approached, lifted the fabric carefully… and his fingers brushed her skin.
The world went silent for a moment.
— Why are you trembling?
He asked.
— I'm not…
She lied terribly.
— Obviously, you are.
He closed the dress precisely, but his hand lingered a second longer than it should have. Something inside him said to step back. Another part said to stay.
He withdrew, breathing deeply.
— There.
His voice was a little hoarse.
Lily turned around slowly.
And the dress really did look beautiful on her.
— You look…
Marvelous tried to phrase something that wouldn't ruin his reputation.
— … presentable.
Lily gave a tiny smile.
— Thank you, I guess.
He turned his gaze away again.
— Don't get used to it.
. . .
When they returned to the main room, Lily approached the piano. Her fingers lightly touched the keys, without really playing any music.
Marvelous watched her from a distance.
— Are you going to play?
— No.
She replied without looking at him.
— But you play beautifully.
— When I'm alone.
She squeezed the fabric of her pajamas between her fingers.
— In front of people… my hands shake, my mind freezes. I… I always make mistakes.
Marvelous moved closer, slowly.
Lily didn't notice until he was beside her.
— Play for me.
— For you?
She turned, surprised.
— Yes.
He crossed his arms.
— I don't count as "people."
— Hm… you do.
— No, I don't.
He insisted, with irritating confidence.
— I'm just your butler. This isn't public.
She hesitated.
— I'll… ruin it.
— I trust you.
He said simply, almost roughly.
Lily widened her eyes in surprise. Marvelous seemed to realize what he had said only afterward.
— You mean… I trust that you won't destroy my eardrums. That.
— Uhum.
She smiled sideways.
— Of course.
Lily placed her fingers on the keys. The first note came out weak. The second, uncertain.
Marvelous placed his hand over hers, in a way too natural, almost instinctive.
Lily froze.
— Breathe.
He said softly.
— Play with your heart. Not with fear.
She breathed. For real this time.
The music began to flow. A soft, melancholic melody, slightly trembling — but sincere.
Marvelous closed his eyes for a moment, listening.
Something bloomed there.
Something dangerous.
When the last note played, Lily was flushed. Marvelous was… quiet.
Silence.
A charged silence.
The last note hung in the air like a delicate thread of light. Lily's cheeks were red; Marvelous' posture was too rigid for someone who didn't want to show anything.
But he did.
In a nearly invisible way.
— See?
He said finally.
— You didn't destroy my ears.
— What a strange compliment.
Lily chuckled softly.
Her laugh was so light that Marvelous felt something relax inside him, as if a screw had loosened right at the center of his chest.
He looked away.
— If you play like that at the party, no one will dare criticize you.
— I'm not going to play.
She hugged herself.
— It's… it's scary.
Marvelous watched her in silence. The way she avoided eye contact, the way her shoulders were hunched, how fear was greater than she wanted to admit.
He moved a little closer.
— Then play just for me.
Lily raised her eyes slowly.
— Just for you…?
Marvelous opened his mouth, realized what she had said, and shut it quickly. He adjusted his tie as if that would save his dignity.
— For practice purposes…
He said with the driest voice in the world.
— Just that.
Lily didn't respond immediately. Her eyes lowered to the piano. Her fingers brushed the polished wood's edge.
— Maybe I can… if you stay close.
He blinked.
— I'm close.
Lily smiled sideways.
— Really close.
Marvelous tried to speak, but nothing came out. What kind of command was this? Why had his heart decided to run a marathon inside his chest? Why did the air in the room feel different?
He took a deep breath, took a small step, coming so close he could smell her soft perfume.
— Like this… is it close enough?
She asked him to close his eyes, a little suspicious, but he did it anyway.
Her heart raced; what was she feeling? He couldn't understand.
Before he realized it, he got a light smack.
— You know well that you shouldn't come so close to me.
— Oh, really…
He breathed deeply.
They stayed like that for a moment, the sound of the piano still echoing softly in the room. Lily felt the warmth of his presence without moving; Marvelous, on his part, tried to control what his heart insisted on revealing.
— Fine… for today, you win.
He looked away, but Lily noticed the slight blush on his cheeks.
The silence fell again, comfortable and unsettling at the same time, as if the whole house were holding its breath, waiting for what would come next.