The soft morning light entered through the window, filtered by the light fabric curtains, but Lily didn't seem to notice. Her chest rose and fell quickly, as if she had just run from something she couldn't explain.
The dream still burned inside her.
Delicate hands on the piano…The melody that seemed made of wind and spring…The woman was so beautiful, so graceful. She played with a calm Lily had never felt in herself.
But her face…Blurred. As if someone had smeared black ink across the image at the last moment.
And then, the sky darkening, the light disappearing, the flowers whispering words she couldn't understand. The beautiful figure turning into a shadow with a cruel smile, bent into something not human.
And then…The hand grabbing her ankle, cold as a piece of ice buried in the ground.
Lily clutched the sheet tightly, feeling her breath falter.
She woke like that, panting, her heart irregular, drenched in cold sweat.
She stayed seated for a few seconds, trying to steady her body. Marvelous would appear in the room if he heard any suspicious noise. The thought made her control herself too quickly, almost by reflex.
She took a deep breath.
It was only a dream.
Just a dream…
But why had it felt so real?
. . .
The rest of the day was silent… too silent.
Marvelous acted normally, organizing schedules, walking with impeccable posture, and making precise observations of everything he saw. Yet, from time to time, he would glance at Lily a few seconds longer than he should, as if trying to measure something invisible within her.
She had managed to hide the dream from him.Or at least she thought she had.
— You've been quieter than usual.
He commented late in the afternoon, without taking his eyes off the clock.
— I'm always quiet.
— More than usual.
He adjusted his tie with exaggerated ease.
— Are you sick?
— No.
— Tired?
— No.
— Emotionally troubled?
— No!
Lily answered a little more forcefully.
Marvelous raised an eyebrow.
— Then everything is normal.
Lily looked away, fidgeting with her fingers, insecure.
Maybe she wasn't normal. Maybe something had stirred inside her in that strange dream.But she couldn't explain it even if she tried.
And Marvelous, irritating as he was, seemed to notice.
He moved close enough for his shadow to cover part of the floor around Lily's feet.
— If there's something… I can help. My job is to solve problems.
— And if the problem is… a dream?
Marvelous stiffened for a moment.
— Then I'll solve that too.
— There's no way.
He watched her from the side, serious, evaluating.
— Hm. I disagree.
Lily felt that if she kept looking, he would discover everything. So she turned quickly and walked to the other end of the hallway.
— We need to get ready.
Marvelous followed her.
— Don't be late for your cousin's party or I'll have to carry you.
— You wouldn't dare…
— Want to bet?
Lily quickened her pace.
. . .
As the sun began to disappear on the horizon, the house seemed larger, quieter, almost suspended in time.
Lily stood in front of the mirror, staring at the light blue dress she had chosen… or that destiny had placed in her hands.
The fabric looked even more beautiful in the evening light.
She swallowed.
It was strange how something so simple could move her chest so much.
— Are you ready?
His voice came soft, yet firm.
Marvelous stepped in only as far as the doorway allowed. He always seemed aware of some invisible limit.
Lily didn't answer immediately.
Then Marvelous saw her.
The way the dress fell on her shoulders.The bluish light reflecting in her eyes.Her silence… that delicate silence, full of hidden worlds.
He froze for half a second, enough for his heart to skip in silent irritation at himself.
— You're… acceptable.
— Acceptable?
Lily murmured.
— I could say "stunning," but you'd end up fainting.
She blushed slightly.
— Don't exaggerate.
He offered his arm.
— Let's go, or we'll be late.
. . .
The night was cold, and the car parked in front of the house was black, immaculate, gleaming. The engine purred softly, like a sleeping metal cat.
Marvelous drove as if conducting an orchestra.
Lily watched the road through the window, the dream still throbbing in her memory.
— Lily.
She turned her face.
— You've been acting strange since this morning.
— I'm not.
— You are.
Marvelous didn't take his eyes off the road.
— If something's bothering you… I'll fix it.
— It wasn't a person.
He frowned.
— Ah. A nightmare then.
Lily hugged herself.
— It was just a confusing dream…
Marvelous adjusted his glove with irritating elegance.
— Dreams don't appear out of nowhere.
Lily shivered.
— This one did…
Marvelous was about to respond but remained silent. For some reason, he seemed to think more than he spoke.
The rest of the journey was quiet, but a silence full of unspoken things.
. . .
The mansion where the party would be held appeared after a long stretch of trees. It gleamed like a modern castle, full of golden lights and people moving in and out like elegant shadows.
Marvelous parked smoothly.
He stepped out first.
The night wrapped everything in a deep blue, almost mysterious aura.
He walked around the car.
Opened the door.
And then…
Lily appeared.
Timid, almost hiding within herself, holding a small piece of her dress as if afraid the wind might carry it away.
Marvelous extended his hand.
— Come.
Lily hesitated.
But his hand was firm. Steady. As if nothing could break while it was there.
She placed her hand in his.
And the world seemed to stop for a moment.
Marvelous helped her down, keeping her close enough to guide her, but not so close as to invade her space.
Still… the warmth of his hand was enough.
When Lily touched the ground, some of the guests immediately looked.
Whispers spread.
Gazes shifted, some curious, some surprised.
Lily widened her eyes, frightened.
Marvelous leaned slightly, just enough for her to hear:
— Ignore them.
— I'm… attracting too much attention…
— And how did you expect not to?
He replied calmly.
— You're… stunning.
She looked away.
— Don't say that…
— It's just the truth.
Lily felt her chest tighten in a strange way, not painful.
Just… intense.
Marvelous offered his arm again.
— I'm here. Walk with me.
And she walked.
The golden light at the entrance illuminated them as they advanced.
Lily, timid but firm.Marvelous, elegant, dangerous, almost supernatural.
The mansion's tall doors opened.
And as they crossed the threshold, it was as if the whole party paused for a moment—like a thousand eyes observing the arrival of the two.
The night took a deep breath.
And then…
Their story continued.