Before I Lose My Head

Chapter 8

I made my way back to the Velvet Moon with light, breezy steps, slipping through the back corridors straight to my private quarters inside the club.

I shut the heavy wooden door behind me, tossed my dignity and my red silk dress aside, and flung myself onto the soft bed like a corpse!

I let out a sigh of relief, rolling around on the pillows, then buried my face in my hands, releasing a wicked, excited little cackle.

"Hehehe~ I finally saw my future husband's face! Finally, people!"

I lifted my head and propped my chin on the pillow, replaying that sharp jawline and those dangerously handsome features in my mind.

"Oh my god, that jawline alone needs a license, it's that lethal! And those poisonous eyes? Absolute perfection! I don't care how ruthless or tyrannical he is, all that matters is that he's illegally handsome!"

I hugged the pillow tightly to my chest and bounced on the bed, laughing.

"My dear husband, your future wife saw you today, and she is never letting you get away!"

And as I hugged the pillow with an idiotic grin plastered on my face, I started thinking, fast and serious:

"Okay, Lillian... how are we going to meet? Should I fake a trip and fall in front of his horse? No, way too cliché, and the horse might actually trample me to death before the story even starts! Should I sneak into a royal ball? Or somehow get him to come to the Velvet Moon?"

I tucked my hand under my cheek and started drafting plan one, plan two, plan three...

But the warmth of the bed, combined with the sheer exhaustion of running through the slums, started creeping into my heavy eyelids.

"I'm going to make him... fall for me... whether he likes it or not..."

I mumbled drowsily, my voice fading bit by bit.

And before I could even reach plan four... I passed out into a deep sleep, face buried in the pillow, smirking wickedly in my dreams

The next morning, I wasn't woken up by rooster crows or warm sunlight, but by a loud, relentless pounding on my bedroom door!

"Lillian! Wake up, quick, Lillian!"

I struggled to c***k one eye open, clutching the pillow tightly, grumbling with drowsy irritation.

"Who's the i***t who dares wake up the future wife of the prince at this ungodly hour?"

The door burst open, and the manager rushed in, breathing rapidly, sparks practically flying from her eyes with excitement.

She ran to my bed and shook my shoulder eagerly.

"Lillian! Waking up today comes wrapped in gold! There's a high-ranking nobleman, someone very important from the upper class, who just arrived in the private hall!"

I rolled my eyes, turning onto my other side.

Lillian: "So what's new? Nobles come by every day and empty their pockets at my feet..."

The manager: "No! This is completely different!"

the manager cut in, almost whispering, gripping my hand.

"He paid an outrageous amount! An entire pouch of rare gold coins, just for you to sit with him and have one single drink! I have never seen this much money paid at the club before!"

At that moment, sleep vanished from my eyes instantly!

I bolted upright in bed, my pupils widening the moment I heard the words 'rare gold.'

I wiped my face and said with a sly, satisfied smile,

"A full pouch of fine gold? For just one drink? I love people who understand my artistic value!"

I jumped out of bed and headed straight for the mirror to quickly fix my hair and dress, my mind racing at full speed: Who is this wealthy nobleman?? Either way, gold is never something you turn down!

I quickly brushed my hair, dabbed on a light touch of fine perfume, then descended the stairs with a pride and confidence that walked ahead of me, heading toward the closed VIP hall.

I pushed the door open with a coquettish air, glancing quickly at the nobleman sitting in the dim light, sipping his wine. He wore clothes embroidered with silver thread, every inch of him screaming obscene wealth and arrogance.

"Good evening, my sir..."

I said in a soft, enchanting voice, gliding forward smoothly and taking a seat across from him with effortless grace.

The nobleman smiled smugly, looking me over with obvious admiration.

"Ah... the beauty everyone's been talking about! I'd gladly pay double just for a conversation with you, Lillian."

I smiled cleverly and began pouring his drink with practiced skill, drawing him into conversation with sweet words that sent his head spinning. Midway through, as he was boasting about his wealth and his high standing in the kingdom, he pulled out a lavish leather wallet to count some papers, and a gilded invitation card, sealed with the broad imperial crest, accidentally slipped out.

The nobleman quickly snatched it up and tucked it back away with puffed-up pride.

"Oh, pardon that... that's an invitation to next week's imperial reception. Of course, it's an event only attended by the elite of the elite, high-ranking statesmen like myself."

In that instant, my eyes lit up like lightning!

An invitation to the imperial ball?! And the prince would be there?! This wasn't just an invitation... this was my golden ticket to my future husband!

My whole demeanor shifted instantly into the most coquettish, bewitching femininity I could muster. I leaned my head toward him, rested my light hand on his, and gazed into his eyes with a softness that could melt stone.

"Oh my, sir.. an imperial ball? I would give anything, with all my heart, to witness the grandeur of that palace, even for just one night! But sadly, a girl like me doesn't have a distinguished, high-ranking escort like yourself to take her..."

I sighed softly and lowered my lashes with manufactured sorrow.

"If I had a man of your stature and wealth by my side, I'd be the luckiest girl in the entire capital..."

The nobleman swallowed hard, completely enchanted by my tone! His mind melted away, unable to resist my charm or the words that flattered his pride so precisely.

He pulled out the gilded card immediately and placed it in my hands with a boastful smile.

"Consider the invitation yours! It would be the greatest honor of my life to have the most beautiful woman in the capital as my personal escort to the imperial ball!"

I took the invitation, smiling at him with my sweetest possible smile, while inside I was dancing and cackling ruthlessly: Target successfully captured! Thanks for the free ticket, you fool... the second we step inside that palace, I'm vanishing from your sight and making a beeline for my dear husband!