章 3: Chapter 3: The Trap
The young lass, still somewhat sober, wiped her eyes to ensure she was seeing clearly. She had only drunk a few glasses of wine and was certain her vision wasn't deceiving her.
Basil wasn't in the room, but he had decorated their bed with petals of red roses. Diverting her eyes to the floor as she walked in, she noticed the petals of roses scattered on the ground, leading to the bed. Her breath hitched in excitement.
"Basil?" she called out, her excitement making her forget the fact that no one else was there.
Balloons lingered in the air, and when the words were pieced together, they read: My Sweet Séraphine.
On the bed was a cream-colored invitation card, the kind used for weddings. Printed on it were the instructions: If you're reading this, then it means you're here. Please go ahead with the wine, my love. I'll join you soon.
Basil, leaning carefully to avoid making a noise, craned his neck, with Elodie peering over his shoulder. They both heard Séraphine giggle as she read the invitation.
"So sweet of him," she murmured, her heart swelling with emotion as she glanced around. Then, her eyes landed on the bottle of wine and the two empty glasses beside it—something she hadn't previously noticed.
The wine was already open, of course. Basil wouldn't stress his lady by making her figure out how to open the bottle, or maybe it was pre-opened for other purposes.
Séraphine poured herself a glass and brought it to her lips.
Behind Basil, Elodie was quietly rooting for her to down the wine, much to his annoyance. "Go ahead, mm-hmm," she urged.
Séraphine downed the wine in one gulp.
"Mmm," she murmured. It was too fine a wine to exist. She stared at the empty glass, then picked up the wine bottle to inspect the brand.
Basil has good taste in wine, doesn't he? This one definitely tastes too good, she thought, her mind wandering to what could be keeping him. Her curiosity prompted her to glance at the door she'd left open.
Basil, having anticipated her reaction, immediately sprang back, tripping over Elodie. He quickly grabbed her to prevent a noise.
They hadn't expected that. Their eyes widened in shock as Basil whispered, "Shh!"
Elodie pulled away from him. "You almost messed everything up."
Basil regained his composure and turned back to watch Séraphine. She was now seated on the bed, taking gulp after gulp of wine, enjoying it far too much.
"She's drinking a lot. Isn't that bad?" Basil whispered to Elodie.
Elodie smirked. "The more, the merrier."
Basil rolled his eyes, casting one last glance at Séraphine before quietly dragging Elodie aside to a secluded spot to talk.
"Take it easy! You're going to rip my dress," Elodie protested.
"I'm not even holding your dress, Elodie. Quit the drama," he muttered, leading her into an empty room. Once inside, he shut the door behind them and finally let go of her.
"What's next?" he asked, his voice tense.
Elodie tilted her head. "What's next? I thought we were going with your plan."
"Elodie, quit the act. Didn't we both agree to go with yours? Wasn't it your idea to drug her? So, what's next?"
Elodie crossed her arms and turned her back to him. "Get someone to defile her."
"Defile her? What? Are you crazy?"
Elodie walked further into the room. When she reached the window, she stared out for a moment before turning around and leaning against the windowsill, arms still crossed.
"You heard me, Basil. Or are you scared? Why not do it yourself, then?"
"What? No! Even if I wanted to, not like this!"
"Then why are you complaining? Do you love her?"
Basil immediately cleared his throat. That question—the question he didn't have an answer to. His eyes flickered around the room, avoiding Elodie's gaze.
She knew he loved Séraphine but was in denial. She didn't care to hear it directly from him. In fact, it would anger her more, and she might end up stabbing Séraphine instead.
"I don't care anyway. I've always been yours, way before she came into the picture… So tell me," she trailed off, walking back toward him. "Does it matter, Basil? Aren't I already yours? Aren't I enough for you? I don't even want you to touch her body, but if you'd like to taste her before you let her go, then I approve. I won't be mad, I promise."
Basil was at a loss for words. Ever since he had known Séraphine, he had anticipated the day she would let him touch her body. She had never let any man touch her. Yet, she had agreed to let Basil touch her on their wedding night. Wouldn't doing it the wrong way be a betrayal? Elodie knew that, which is why she was suggesting it in the first place.
"I can't," Basil finally muttered.
Elodie smirked in triumph. "Why? Are you scared she'll hate you afterward?"
Basil clenched his jaw, trying to keep his temper in check.
"I don't want you to do it anyway. I have someone else for the job."
Without waiting for his response, Elodie strode out of the room, dialing her phone.
"Approach the room in thirty minutes. She's ready. Be very careful, and make sure not to raise suspicion," Elodie ordered the person on the other end.
Basil had no option but to support the plan. During the three years he had spent getting to know Séraphine, he couldn't help but fall for her, seeing how compassionate she was toward everyone. What began as pretense had gradually become real. Now that their wedding was fixed, he couldn't break the promise he made to Elodie. He also couldn't admit to her that he loved Séraphine, so he continued to support her plans.
Maybe he didn't sincerely love Séraphine, or maybe he was simply afraid of what Elodie held over him, threatening to bring his secrets to light in front of the great Basil's family.
Basil exited the room, and within seconds, he approached the room where Séraphine lay. She had reclined on the bed, loosely gripping the bottle and glass.
Though she was slowly slipping into slumber, she managed to call out sweetly when he entered, "Basil, you're here."
"Yes, I am," Basil replied, guilt gnawing at him.
Séraphine sat up with effort, and when he sat beside her, she hugged him. "What took you so long?"
Basil's return hug was stiff. When she pulled away, he picked up the bottle, glancing at her. "You drank a lot."
She mumbled, taking his hand. "Basil, don't get mad at me if I tell you this. Promise?"
She held up her pinky finger, giggling. "I think I want you. I feel so hot inside, like I'm going to explode. Will you help me calm down?"
With that, she snorted cutely and buried her face shyly into his chest, still giggling. Basil's heart raced.
"I think you need plenty of sleep, Séraphine," he whispered, but she let out a drunken laugh, lifting her head.
"No, I know what I need. I need you… right now."
She began to undress, but Basil gently stopped her. "I need you too, Séraphine, but not tonight. You're very drunk."
"Of course I'm not. You don't want me?" Her pure amber eyes shone at him, guilt and desire overwhelming him.
It wasn't right for him to take her, only to let her go. Not when the regret would be so deep.
Basil gently helped her lie back down, and he kissed her softly on the neck. Séraphine mumbled, gripping his hair, but soon her hold loosened. She had passed out.
Basil rose from the bed and strode forward, operating something. He quickly set the camera in timer to go live within a few seconds. Without hesitating, he exited the room, leaving it closed but unlocked.
When Séraphine whimpered and rolled over next, it was onto a hard, rock-like chest—cold skin.
"Mmm, Basil. You're naked already, I knew you wanted me too."
The owner of the chest was fast asleep but managed to feel skin against his, and next, soft lips pressing into his. He was exhausted, as if he had fallen from the top of a mountain. And now, soft lips were against his.
It was impossible to resist—not only because he was too tired to, but because it had been so long since he'd tasted lips or had skin so close to his.
Séraphine's skin was warm and soft against his, and the slower she moved, the more he matched her pace. It felt so surreal that, to him, it might have been a dream.
At the far corner of the room, facing the bed directly, a faint light flashed in the dim room, signifying the camera was rolling.
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