Whatever was going on inside the wardrobe, Veil paid it no mind as he opened the door. Not far away, Alice quickened her pace the moment she saw him, breaking into a light jog until she practically leapt into his arms, hugging him tightly.
With a small pout, she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek and said apologetically, "Sorry, Young Master. Things at the orphanage have just been a mess lately. I've had to juggle classes and take the kids out for field activities—it's all so time-consuming."
She sighed, looking genuinely guilty. "And Granny, the head of the orphanage, hasn't been doing too well recently. I even had to go door-to-door to gather donations because we were afraid the kids might get too rowdy and refuse to sleep."
Veil lowered his gaze to the girl who rambled on and on. Oddly enough, he didn't find her chatter annoying in the slightest.
Maybe it was because his mind was always too full, too clouded with schemes and calculations. But when faced with someone so pure-hearted and simple, it felt like a cleansing of the soul.
Not that it made him a better person.
But at the very least, it put him in a better mood.
He reached out and gently patted Alice's head, offering a helpless smile. "So… what if I told you I don't want you wasting your energy on that place anymore? Would you listen to me?"
"I…"
Alice opened her mouth, caught in a dilemma.
The orphanage had raised her, and Veil… Veil was the person she had entrusted her heart and future to.
Without the orphanage, she would feel lost—grieving and torn.
But without Veil… she wouldn't survive.
Seeing the turmoil in her eyes, Veil chuckled softly. "Relax. I'm teasing. It's good to stay busy sometimes."
He had no intention of depriving her of what she cherished.
A girl like Alice—naïve and sincere—should remain just that.
And maybe that's what he liked. Because every time he playfully teased her—called her little bunny or tugged her into his arms—her cheeks would flush red, and she'd bury her face shyly against his chest like a frightened quail.
"I want to take a bath first," Alice murmured against him, her voice soft as a whisper.
Veil withdrew his hand and nodded. "Go ahead."
He watched her retreating figure, slim and delicate, disappearing into the bathroom. Then, with a swift motion, he shut the bedroom door behind him.
Opening the wardrobe, he found Harvey had already helped Blood Mandala straighten up—but the bow on her wrists remained.
After all, not many people knew how to undo that kind of knot anymore.
With a few quick and practiced moves, Veil untied the bindings and prepared to let the sisters go.
But as soon as they stepped out of the wardrobe, instead of leaving, they stood frozen, staring at each other.
"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you last night to stay away from that man?!" Harvey's expression darkened instantly.
Even though she hadn't seen what happened, she had heard everything while hiding in the wardrobe. She could easily imagine the humiliating scene her sister had just gone through.
As her older sister, how could she bear to see her only family treated like that?
Blood Mandala lowered her head in silence, guilty and unable to respond.
Just as things were about to explode, Veil calmly raised his phone and sent a file to Harvey.
She clicked on it, frowning. "What's this?"
"Clues," Veil said nonchalantly. "Information you've been chasing. Just a part of it, of course. The rest… well, let's just say you and your sister will have to pay a price to get it."
"I can't open it," Harvey muttered anxiously, tapping the screen.
A moment later, the file loaded.
Her eyes narrowed as she scanned it—pages upon pages of data regarding donations and the people involved in building several wells years ago.
She frowned. "According to this, I can probably track down the people responsible for the construction. But the mastermind… it looks like their traces have been deliberately erased. Even if I find the people from back then, I probably won't be able to dig any deeper."
"Exactly," Veil nodded. "It's just a decoy. There's no way you'll find the real culprit unless you pay the price."
He cast a suggestive glance at her chest, his meaning crystal clear.
Ding! Female Lead Harvey's anger has increased. Congratulations, Host, you've gained +500 Villain Points.
Harvey suppressed the fire rising within her and gave her sister a sidelong glance. "We'll talk later."
Blood Mandala, suspicious, asked, "What are you two talking about?"
She felt like she was being kept in the dark—completely out of the loop.
Harvey sighed deeply and replied, "A recent unsolved case. The perpetrator still hasn't been brought to justice."
She had no intention of telling her sister about the discovery of their aunt's body. Who knew what chaos that might cause?
After all, that was Blood Mandala's biological mother.
If she lost control and did something extreme…
Blood Mandala was stunned. The whole thing seemed unreal. "You mean he has information you don't?"
She pointed at Veil, clearly shaken. Her worldview was beginning to crack.
A cop needing clues from Veil? And even willing to pay a price?
"Let's go," Harvey said, grabbing her sister's hand. "This has nothing to do with you. Don't get involved again. Stay away from this place."
This grudge—she would carry alone.
The debt they owed their aunt's family was too heavy. Her little sister… no matter what, she had to keep her safe.
After the sisters left, some time passed, but Alice still hadn't emerged from the bathroom.
Girls, especially after a long day, always took their time in the bath.
Growing a little impatient, Veil stepped inside.
The bathroom was spacious, steam hanging in the air. Curtains veiled the center, and the sound of water cascading down masked his footsteps.
Alice didn't notice he was there until she felt someone behind her. She turned sharply, startled—then relaxed when she saw it was him, her surprise giving way to bashful complaint.
"Young Master, what are you doing?"
"I can help you."
She trembled slightly and turned as if to face him, but his arms had already wrapped tightly around her from behind.
"Don't move," Veil whispered low against her ear, his voice deep and hoarse, filled with tenderness. "Let me remember you… like this."
His lips found her shoulder, trailing kisses upward like someone tracing the pages of a beloved book. His fingers followed the curve of her waist, teasing gently, sometimes lingering with bold intent.
"You always do this… so suddenly," Alice murmured, cheeks flushed, voice soft as water.
"You made me addicted," Veil chuckled, his breath hot against her skin. "Even just once… I want something romantic. Even here."
She didn't reply, only turned her head and kissed him softly, a quiet consent glowing in her eyes.
The water kept running. Steam fogged the windows. The bathroom became their private, gentle world.
Eventually, the shower stopped.
Wrapped in a towel, Alice stepped out from behind the curtain, her face glowing red, wet hair clinging to her collarbone. The moment she exited the steamy room, Veil scooped her into his arms.
"What are you doing?" she gasped, squirming slightly.
"You said you were cold," he said, voice husky, almost dangerous. "Let me warm you up."
He carried her steadily into the bedroom. Under the soft, warm lighting, the bed looked like a stage prepared just for the two of them.
He laid her gently down, brushing damp strands of hair from her forehead and dabbing away stray droplets.
Alice gazed at him, her eyes glimmering with emotion, as if she could see a flame quietly flickering within his gaze.
"You're… being really forward tonight," she said softly, the corners of her mouth curving up with a trace of amusement.
Veil lowered his forehead to hers, murmuring, "You don't know… how beautiful you look after a shower. I can't help myself."
He didn't rush. He kissed her gently—her eyes, her nose, her lips—tenderly savoring her like a precious treasure.
And she didn't push him away.
From bathroom to bed, in the silence of that night, the two of them slowly erased the weariness of the day with each other's warmth.
Breaths mingled, emotions entwined.
And just like that, the night deepened in gentle, unspoken intimacy.