CHAPTER 26: SIP OF SOUP

"Losiya, long time no see."

The girl in a light blue long dress accepted the hand of a male servant and stepped elegantly down from the carriage. In front of the carriage, another male servant had already knelt on one knee once the horses came to a halt, positioning his sturdy back to serve as a step for the noble lady.

Stepping onto the man’s back, Tania descended in a smooth, composed motion.

Watching from the ground, Losiya pursed her lips and frowned, unable to hold back a mocking remark: "That carriage of yours doesn’t look very big, yet there’s no shortage of men inside, huh?"

Standing in front of Losiya, Tania adjusted her slightly curled brown hair and replied with a helpless smile, "Can’t be helped. You know I can’t live without them."

From her facial features, she was definitely the type to be considered a beauty—but that ever-present look of playful disdain on her face made her hard to like.

"So this is your domain? Still as deserted as ever..." Tania said with feigned interest, looking around and shrugging.

"Maybe because someone isn’t welcome here," Losiya replied with a smile.

After the laughter faded, she dropped her playful expression and stared at Tania. "Did you come to my domain a few days ago?"

"Ah?" Tania showed an annoyed, impatient look. "Besides being narcissistic lately, have you also started imagining things? That so-called ’Spiritual Dissection’ you’re doing might’ve messed up your own mind."

As soon as she finished speaking, a sharp blade of energy suddenly slashed past, lifting a strand of her hair and cutting a single lock clean off, which drifted to the ground.

This kind of precise control and speed was nearly impossible to detect. Everyone around froze, stunned into silence. No one dared to say a word.

Because Losiya’s hand had remained on the hilt of her sword the entire time—her body hadn’t even moved. No visible action at all.

Tania frowned. Instead of showing fear, she displayed a faintly seductive expression.

With her hand still on the hilt, Losiya narrowed her eyes slightly, releasing a quiet, chilling pressure.

"Haha," Tania laughed softly behind a raised hand, speaking casually,

"Clearly you’ve already accepted my invitation. So how about letting me in? If you didn’t want me here, you could’ve just refused."

Losiya placed a hand atop the veil of her hat and turned away with a smile, gesturing that she could come along.

Tania followed behind her, silently observing.

Although Losiya held the title of Count of the Hundred Lilies, she’d never been one to travel with an entourage. Tania had expected her to send just one servant for the greeting—but unexpectedly, she had come herself.

Also... how had she known Tania had come here a few days ago?

Pretending to be aloof earlier, she was now growing suspicious.

But she quickly calmed herself.

She held a handful of powerful cards now—otherwise, how would she have dared come to the Hundred Lilies territory in person?

Thinking of the face that had kept her tossing and turning for nights, even her legs grew a little unsteady. Her thighs instinctively pressed together as she licked her red lips with a glimmering tongue.

"Right, let them wait here," Losiya suddenly said.

Tania understood the reason, but still asked knowingly: "Why?"

"My manor doesn’t welcome any men."

Losiya added silently to herself—even her own father had never stepped inside.

"Doesn’t welcome any men," Tania repeated every word slowly, then couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.

"Done laughing yet?" Losiya turned and smiled.

Meanwhile, the men behind Tania were frozen stiff, not daring to move a muscle. They stood silently by the carriage, heads bowed, utterly still.

Tania glanced back at them and showed a trace of annoyance, dismissing them with a wave of her sleeve.

"Of course I’m allowed to laugh."

Then she turned to Losiya and said, "A week ago you snatched that boy from my hands, and now you tell me no men are allowed in your manor. Are you just trying to oppose me on purpose?"

Losiya hadn’t expected her to bring up Julian the moment they met. Her irritation flared, and she refused to answer the question.

Tania didn’t mind in the least, continuing smoothly,

"These past few days I’ve been filled with regret. After all, I had originally agreed to your price without hesitation. But in a moment of doubt, I let you take him. Now, every night in bed, I don’t even want those other men touching me—it’s all so dull and meaningless."

"Is that so? With your nature, aren’t men like your clothing—different every day? Do you even care about your outfits that much? The ones in your carriage probably won’t even last a few more days before being replaced."

"No, no, no."

Tania shook her head earnestly, trying to correct Losiya’s view: "I’ve always been about quality, not quantity. Those men, while decent, are disposable once they lose their novelty. But that boy—he’s different."

Losiya remained silent. It was one of the rare moments she didn’t deny the point. After these past few days, she knew all too well—Julian was indeed different. No, he was one of a kind.

"Everyone is different," she said, still clinging to formality.

"Why does that sound so forced coming from your mouth?" Tania replied, shaking her head in exasperation.

"Lord Farad has always been ruthless. Sure, everyone is different, but the gap is decided from birth. Take you, for example—you were born a winner. I, on the other hand, was destined to be just another spoiled brat."

It sounded like praise, but somehow Losiya felt uncomfortable no matter how she interpreted it.

It was as if Tania were saying: *All your pride is simply due to being born lucky.*

Being prone to overthinking, Losiya couldn’t help but apply that logic to Julian.

*"You only have him because you happened to be luckier."*

Her naturally possessive heart bristled at the implication. Glaring at Tania, she replied offhandedly,

"How dull. I actually think Lord Farad is far too generous. Someone like you still gets to enjoy wealth and pleasure, while some people—kind, intelligent, and understanding—must suffer."

"By ’some people,’ do you mean Julian?" Tania asked directly.

Watching Losiya tighten her grip on her sword hilt, Tania added with a sigh,

"Seems the countess who never had interest in men has finally developed a taste for the mundane. You must’ve already spoiled and enjoyed that boy to your heart’s content. I wonder if I’m allowed a sip of the leftover soup."

That line was a **naked** reveal of her true intent—a near-provocation aimed at Losiya.

Losiya stopped walking. She turned around with a smile at the corner of her lips, looked Tania in the eye, and enunciated every word clearly:

"A sip of soup? Not impossible."

Now it was Tania’s turn to be dumbfounded. She hadn’t expected Losiya to say something so out of character.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice tinged with excitement.