Harmony of Hatred: The Wicked Pianist

The night sky concealed a darkness even profounder than usual. The wind bit cold, as if carrying tidings of changes that could no longer be reversed. Edric stepped into his residence with slow yet steady strides, his body enveloped by the cold, dark aura that had just merged with his soul. He was no longer the same man. Everything had changed. Every corner of the opulent main hall, every shadow dancing on the walls, now felt alien to his newly awakened inner eye. The colors that were once vibrant now seemed muted, and the sounds of the house felt like echoes from a world he had left behind. A terrifying and intoxicating power throbbed within him, a promise of dominion that felt more real than the cold marble beneath his feet.

But unexpectedly, a woman sat waiting for him in the drawing-room. Lilian. Her dark silk evening gown seemed to match the feigned smile on her swollen face, a smile ordered by his father to be displayed tonight. Edric's father, with all his manipulation and control, had instructed her to be there—to comfort, or more precisely, to masquerade as someone who cared for Edric's heartache. Lilian's eyes tried to project deep concern, but Edric, with his new senses, could perceive the artifice of her performance. He saw the fear behind Lilian's eyes, fear for her status and ruin of reputation, not genuine sorrow for him.

Edric stared at her flatly, for a moment wanting to expel her from the house with a single word, to shatter this pathetic illusion. But his mind, now governed by darkness, chose another path—a sharper path, full of vengeance. If Celia and William could play him, then he too could play Lilian—a woman who had secretly once hoped to be the only one in Edric's heart, but who now was merely an easy pawn in the chess game of power. A dark idea, cold as the moonlight, yet so alluring, crept into his mind. This was not just about expulsion; this was about a lesson. A performance.

Without much speaking, Edric called for Thomas, who emerged from the corridor shadows with alacrity. "Thomas," Edric's voice was heavier, more authoritative. "Your task tonight is to ensure not a single servant remains in the house. All of them. Immediately."

Thomas gasped, startled by such an unusual and sudden command, especially at this late hour. He glanced briefly at Lilian, who sat transfixed. However, loyalty and an undefined fear of Edric's new aura compelled Thomas to merely nod in obedience. "Yes, Master Edric. I will see to it at once. No one will remain." He immediately turned, his steps hurried, sensing the menacing urgency in his master's command.

Now, only the two of them remained in the spacious main hall, illuminated by flickering candlelight.

Silence.

Deadly.

Edric told Lilian to go up to his room, and expressionlessly poured her a glass of rich red wine. The sweet aroma of wine filled the air. "Drink," he uttered in a low voice that made Lilian's hairs stand on end. There was a new note in his voice, a melody both captivating and threatening.

Lilian looked at him, hesitant, but Edric's cold yet mesmerizing gaze made her unable to refuse. She finally sipped the wine slowly. When her eyes met Edric's again, he had changed clothes. He wore only sleep trousers—no top. His body was clearly visible in the dim light of the room; his perfectly sculpted chest, pale skin glistening with cold sweat, and the eyes now filled with both passion and darkness. A lethal contrast.

Lilian fell silent, her face flushed crimson, then quickly averted her gaze. Edric's new aura was so potent, so intimidating, yet undeniably, so alluring.

"Edric... what is the meaning of all this? Why are you dressed like that?" she asked nervously, her voice almost a whisper.

Edric approached, his steps calm, yet every movement exuded a newfound power. He leaned down, and whispered in her ear, his voice like a forbidden melody. "Isn't this what you desire, my dear? Isn't this what you've always dreamed of, behind all the performances and obligations?"

His fingers, which once danced on piano keys, now touched Lilian's chin, gently lifting it, forcing their eyes to meet. Edric's gaze was a bottomless well, captivating and drawing her in. "I only wish to fulfill all your fantasies and desires tonight. Every hidden wish you possess."

Lilian swallowed hard, a thin thread of fear and uncontrollable desire now entwining her. She knew she ought to refuse. Yet her body—or perhaps her mind, no longer fully sane, captivated by the lethal aura Edric now possessed—was drawn to Edric's figure, which now felt so... tempting. Edric's aura that night was not merely sensual, but almost lethal, promising sensations she had never known.

Without warning, Edric kissed Lilian's lips roughly. The kiss was not about love, but about deep pain, about a wounded ego, and about newfound power. A cold retribution. Yet Lilian did not resist. She responded. With equal fervor, as if her fear had melted into a wrong flame.

That night, they were trapped in a perverse passion, a dance led by vengeance. They made love without restraint—in the bedroom, in the cold kitchen, in the music room beneath the shadow of the grand piano, even in his father's ambition-laced study. Lilian did not know what demon possessed Edric, but she surrendered to his every touch, every gasp, every rage that flowed through his embrace and sighs, feeling an intoxicating dark power she did not comprehend.

As night edged towards dawn, Lilian looked at Edric lying beside her, their bodies still intertwined by the remnants of spent desire. "You are extraordinary..." she whispered softly, exhaustion mingling with satisfaction.

Edric merely smiled wryly, a thin sneer that showed no emotion. "I just wanted to satisfy you. That's all."

No love. No feeling. No regret. Only vengeance cloaked in passion. A kiss of vengeance.

As the morning light began to seep through the curtains, Lilian prepared to leave before anyone knew she had spent the night in Edric's room. But before she could step out, Edric pulled her back and kissed her lips again. This time, deeper. Slower. A cruel farewell kiss, confirming his dominance, ensuring he was the last sensation Lilian would experience. Then once more, they drowned in a dark embrace that never truly contained affection.

When Lilian finally dressed and was about to leave, she said, "See you at the palace concert." Her voice sounded happy, oblivious to the ruin that had just occurred.

Edric replied with a tempting smile, the smile of a predator. "Don't forget to dress as beautifully as tonight, my dear."

As the door closed behind Lilian, Edric stared blankly at the mirror. The reflection he saw was not that of a man who had just made love, but a new figure, darker, crueler. His blue eyes now hid behind a faint, almost imperceptible red gleam, his lips forming a cold sneer. "This is me," he whispered to his reflection, his voice filled with absolute conviction, almost like an echo from an abyss. "The new self. Freed from shackles. Now, the world will dance to my rhythm. All my plans will come to fruition. The true symphony has begun."

Today was the day of his concert at the palace. The day he had planned as the end of everything. He would leave this city. Leave Lilian. Leave everything. He would go to Lumièrebourg and live freely as a musician...

With or without Celia.

Because love had died.

And from those ruins, a new Edric was born. The Maestro of Darkness.