Chapter 12 : Chapter 12
Volume 1
Chapter 12 : There Will Always Be a Butterfly That Flaps Its Wings
“You—!”
The teacup in Selicia’s hand instantly shattered into icy fragments with a loud crack.
A deep blue frost spread rapidly outward from beneath her feet, and in the blink of an eye, a terrifying chill engulfed the entire room.
The aura of death brushed against Muen’s heart with chilling clarity.
He clenched his teeth, barely suppressing the urge to tremble on the spot.
Fortunately, fate finally seemed to favor him for once.
Selicia suddenly staggered.
The frost that could have frozen Muen solid in an instant stopped just a single step away from him, unable to advance any further.
“Despicable.”
Selicia shot him a glare filled with icy hatred and a trace of unwillingness.
Yet in the end, she could do nothing. Under the effect of the drug, she collapsed weakly to the ground.
“Haa…”
With the killing intent gone, Muen finally let out a long breath, though a lingering fear still remained in his eyes.
“As expected of Selicia…”
If the drug had taken effect even two or three seconds later, he might have been killed by her without hesitation.
“But no matter what, I still won in the end.”
Having survived the ordeal, Muen could not help but feel a surge of joy.
“Do you even understand the cunning of a modern office worker?! Do you know the sheer brilliance of my table-tricking tactics—hiding the truth in plain sight?!”
Just now, he had indeed been pushed to the brink by Selicia’s caution, which exceeded his expectations.
But what she had never imagined was that both cups of tea had been drugged!
Muen had gambled—he bet that after seeing him drink first, Selicia would temporarily lower her guard.
And thankfully, he had won.
“I should thank that shopkeeper too. The drug is incredibly potent—it really knocks someone out the moment it touches them!”
Expensive things truly had their reasons for being expensive.
It was well worth the full 130,000 Aemir!
If he ever needed something like this again, he would definitely return to that shop.
“Now then… the real show begins.”
Looking at the unconscious and defenseless Selicia, Muen felt nervous once again.
But having come this far, there was no turning back.
The arrow had already left the bow.
…
The fire in the fireplace flickered as warmth gradually returned to the room.
Muen bent down and carried Selicia onto the sofa.
As for why not the bed… inviting Selicia into a room with a bed for a private meeting would have been suspicious to anyone.
Fortunately, the sofas in the Duke’s residence were large enough.
“So, what should I do next?”
“If I remember correctly, in the original story, Muen Campbell was caught by the protagonist while he was undressing Selicia…”
Muen glanced at the door.
In the original story, that idiot of a previous self had not even bothered to lock the door while doing such a thing.
That was why the protagonist, who had wandered here by chance, could simply push the door open and witness Muen Campbell attempting to violate Selicia.
“Since that is how the original plot unfolds…”
“If I am going to act, I might as well go all the way!”
Staring at the sleeping Selicia, Muen could not help but feel his mouth go dry.
This was likely the most vulnerable she had ever been.
The icy aura that usually surrounded her had completely dissipated, replaced by a faint fragrance that continuously teased his wavering self-control.
Her white gown was simple and elegant, yet it only further highlighted her cold and captivating beauty.
“Forgive me for this. It is neither proper to look nor to touch, but I have no choice.”
Muen murmured an apology, then slowly extended his trembling hands.
He gently lifted Selicia’s light body and reached for the zipper at the back of her dress.
His hands refused to cooperate. It took several attempts before he finally found the zipper.
Ziiip—
As the clear sound of the zipper sliding down rang out, Muen’s heartbeat quickened.
He swallowed, though his throat felt dry, and his trembling hands grasped the straps of her dress resting on her pale shoulders.
Then, slowly—very slowly—he slid them down along her arms.
Her skin was smooth, reminiscent of a ribbon of silk floating atop milk.
And the fullness of Selicia’s figure became evident at this moment.
Even as the straps slipped away, the dress still clung firmly, guarding what lay beneath.
Left with no choice, Muen extended a finger once more, hooking the front of the dress and gently pulling it downward.
A faint curve revealed itself, followed by the soft outline beneath.
Only when even the pale fabric beneath had been partially exposed did Muen reluctantly withdraw his hand.
“This… should be enough, right?”
With her clothes disheveled and her figure partially revealed, it was clear at a glance that this was no ordinary conversation.
Muen glanced at the tightly shut door.
The protagonist still had not appeared.
“Is it not enough?”
After a moment’s thought, Muen removed his own formal jacket, revealing his fairly well-built upper body.
He then braced his hands against the sofa, positioning himself over Selicia.
Though there was no actual contact, the posture alone was enough to appear extremely intimate.
In a Soaring Phoenix story, this level of ambiguity would already be enough to send readers into outrage—a full-blown scandal.
If no one came to stop this soon, it would be downright rude!
But…
The protagonist still did not appear.
“Could it be that the timing is off? Do I need to wait longer?”
Thinking this, Muen maintained the position, waiting as time passed second by second.
Three minutes…
Ten minutes…
Half an hour!
“What the hell?!”
His arms already aching unbearably, Muen finally broke down.
“What is the protagonist doing?! The heroine is lying beneath me, completely at my mercy—come save her already!
There has been more than enough time to do anything by now!”
Yet despite his frustration, the protagonist—Ariel, Selicia’s destined savior—still showed no sign of appearing.
“Did I do something wrong?”
Muen began to retrace his steps.
First, inviting Selicia to a private room—there was no issue with that.
This plan had already existed in Muen Campbell’s mind, and the room had long been prepared.
It could not differ from the original.
Then, drugging Selicia.
That was clearly successful—she was lying beneath him right now.
Finally…
There was only the protagonist, who, in the original story, had gotten red wine spilled on her dress by a clumsy maid.
She had gone off alone to find a restroom, gotten lost due to her poor sense of direction, and by sheer coincidence stumbled into this room, interrupting Muen Campbell’s crime.
But why had she still not arrived?
Had she gotten even more lost than expected?
Wait.
A clumsy maid?
Muen suddenly realized something.
The maids of the Duke’s residence were all highly trained.
They could walk a tightrope while carrying wine glasses without spilling a drop.
How could “clumsy” possibly apply to them?
Let alone accidentally spilling red wine on a guest—such a disgraceful act! If something like that truly happened, the head maid would have to resign to take responsibility!
Unless…
The maid spilling the wine was not due to clumsiness at all.
But because…
She was ill.
Yes. The maid must have made that mistake because she was sick!
And where was that maid, who was supposed to drive the plot forward?
She was resting.
Resting because of Muen’s orders.
She would not appear at tonight’s banquet, nor would she accidentally spill red wine onto the protagonist’s dress.
Which meant…
The protagonist might never show up.