Chapter 13
Photoshoot
Edward felt awkward.
Just as he returned to the study room with the camera, he walked in on Lucia mid-motion, trying to pull off her hoodie.
He froze, slightly stunned, and nearly forgot to announce himself.
"S-Sorry Lucia… it's me."
Hearing Edward's voice, Lucia looked visibly relieved and managed to finally pull off the hoodie.
She shot him a sharp look—clearly annoyed that he didn't knock first or say anything before opening the door.
But instead of scolding him, she stayed silent. Edward, awkwardly sensing her frustration, quickly changed the subject.
"Ermm… the housemaid will be here soon with snacks and drinks. Once that's done, we can start recording. Oh, right—let me set up the camera first."
Lucia, curious about the professional-grade camera, stepped closer and asked,
"Edward, can I take a look? I've never used something like this before. I'm kinda interested."
Edward tilted the screen so she could see it, and Lucia moved in close on his left side, nearly brushing against him.
A faint floral scent drifted from her—a subtle perfume or maybe scented soap she shared with her sisters.
Edward stiffened.
'Oh god, please help me get through this… Keep my thoughts pure and holy…'
Trying hard to remain composed, he focused on adjusting the settings. After a few seconds, he spoke.
"Let me test it first."
Lucia took a step back to give him space.
Not sure what to record, Edward pointed the camera at Lucia and asked tentatively,
"Erm… can I?"
Lucia didn't think twice.
"Huh? Of course you can. That's what I'm here for, right? Let's do a pre-recording. Ah, though I haven't really thought about what kind of scene would be best... Got any ideas?"
Edward paused, camera still on her, then began to visualize it all in his head.
'Hmm… I'll start with a back shot. Low exposure. Dark background. A soft light from the front. Once her wings appear, I'll zoom out and circle to her side with a low angle… Then she slowly turns her head to the camera—yes, that's it. After that, I pull back while lowering the angle… get more of her profile, and then… room lights on, she flaps her wings and jumps forward into the spotlight!'
He snapped back into reality and nodded with excitement.
"Actually, I got something. How about we try this…"
As Edward described the idea, Lucia's calm expression gradually shifted into one of excitement.
She was clearly impressed.
"That's brilliant! Let's try it! But… it'd feel a bit lacking if we only did one scene like that. I'd really love to record a video of me actually flying…"
She laughed nervously.
"Though that might be impossible right now… I haven't even tried flying yet, haha."
Edward tapped his chin in thought, then a new idea hit him.
'Flying, huh? Can't do that here... But what if we went to the family villa? It's near the mountains, and the surrounding area is private property. If we record right before sunrise, there should be no one around. Hm… we'd have to leave right after this shoot to arrive around 3 a.m.… Should be doable.'
He looked back at Lucia.
"I might have a solution, but it's a bit of a trip—it's in another city entirely. So, here's the plan…"
Lucia's eyes widened in surprise. She blinked.
"Wait… you have a villa? With a private area around it?"
Her jaw dropped slightly.
"Wow… I don't even know what to say anymore."
Edward scratched the back of his head, looking a little proud—and a little shy.
"So… what do you think? You up for it? We can head there right after this. Dinner's on me too."
Lucia beamed with a big smile.
"Of course! Let's do it! Hahaha—I finally get to try flying! Yes! ...Well, I hope I manage to fly, at least…"
Just then, a knock came from the door, followed by a woman's voice.
"Excuse me, Young Master Edward. I'm here with the food."
Edward answered promptly.
"Come in."
The housemaid entered, pushing a trolley filled with snacks and fresh juice. She politely asked where to place them.
"Just put them on the table, thank you."
She smiled, gave a slight bow to both Edward and Lucia, then quietly left and closed the door behind her.
Lucia, amused by the entire scene, turned to Edward with a teasing smirk.
"Heh… Young Master, huh? Hehehe."
Edward's face turned red with embarrassment.
"Ah, come on… Let's just enjoy the snacks first. We'll shoot after that."
Still smirking, Lucia teased again.
"Okay~ Young Master Edward~"
Edward gave her a resigned look and sighed, explaining the backstory behind the title.
"She's actually new to this house, but not new to our family. She used to work at one of our villas.
"We usually go there during long holidays—and she's been working for us since I was four. Back then, she started calling me 'Young Master,' just like she calls my dad 'Master.'
"At first, we thought it was just a formality or a joke… but she's been doing it for over 15 years now. She never once stopped."
Hearing the story, Lucia finally understood.
"Ahh… So that's why I've never seen her before. But I guess it makes sense… for her to call you by that name."
Edward looked puzzled but also curious.
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
Lucia offered a soft smile, her gaze shifting toward the window as she explained.
"It's like… a bond between her and your family. By calling you that, it makes her feel personally connected to you. More than just a servant or employee—it's her way of showing closeness."
Then, she turned back to him with a bright grin.
"Also! Let's be real—your family is just too rich! That kind of honorific is kind of expected, especially with everything I've seen today."
Edward wasn't quite sure how to respond, so he just stuffed a pastry into his mouth and smiled.
"Yeah… It's a blessing, for sure."
They continued snacking and chatting until it was time to prepare for the video shoot. Edward fetched several portable lights, LED lamps, and a tripod while Lucia helped him arrange the space.
Filming began smoothly. They did several takes to get the perfect shots, and by the time they were done, it was nearly 6 PM.
Lucia wiped her forehead, visibly sweaty and a bit flushed. Her dress clung slightly from the moisture and had become wrinkled from all the movement.
"Huft… Didn't expect it to be this exhausting," she said, catching her breath. "Should we just save the editing for later? After we get that flying footage?"
Edward, though behind the camera, had done a fair bit of moving around himself. Thanks to the air conditioning, he'd cooled off quickly, but he still felt a bit winded.
After taking a sip of juice, he reviewed the footage on the camera and gave a thumbs-up.
"Yeah, let's edit everything after we get the flight scene. The footage we have now looks great. A few minor tweaks, maybe—but honestly, minimal editing might be better."
Lucia didn't know much about video production, so she simply nodded in agreement.
"Right. So… shall we head to the villa now?"
Edward paused. His first thought was to offer dinner at home before departing—but then he remembered how uncomfortable Lucia still was around unfamiliar people. Better to leave early.
"Let's just head out now. Oh, by the way, you looked pretty uncomfortable in that dress. Want to change into something more casual before we leave?"
Lucia looked genuinely grateful.
"Yes please. Uhh… but what am I gonna wear? Don't tell me it's your mom's clothes…"
Edward nearly choked at the thought.
"Of course not! We keep a set of guest clothes for this kind of situation."
Lucia blinked.
"Wow… You really are something else. I need to reevaluate your entire family. You're way richer than I realized. I mean, every time we played games here, I never noticed half this stuff!"
Edward smiled, his tone growing more thoughtful.
"To me, this is just normal. But I know a lot of people dream of having a life like mine, and I don't take that for granted.
"I try to understand others' perspectives whenever I can… Even if I don't always get it right."
He gestured for her to follow.
"Alright, let's head to my room so you can change. I'll go grab the clothes. Any preferences?"
Lucia stood up as they walked toward the door. She thought for a second.
"Any girl's clothes are fine—as long as it's not too revealing. Uh… Also, can I ask for a favor?"
Edward paused, a little curious.
"Sure. What is it?"
Lucia hesitated. Her face reddened slightly.
"Uhh… Can you ask the housemaid to come instead? I need to ask for some… undergarments…"
Edward's expression froze. She darted ahead to open the door, clearly trying to escape the awkward moment.
Edward followed, still processing.
'I really don't know how I'm supposed to act around Lucius now… Or rather, Lucia. I still see her as "him," but that's getting harder. Her appearance… it's just—damn.'
Lost in thought, Edward walked right past his bedroom.
"Hmm? Edward, did you move your bedroom? I remember it being that one."
Snapping back to reality, he blushed and chuckled awkwardly.
"Haha, yeah—my bad. I was… thinking about something. Anyway, here we are."
He opened the door and stepped aside.
"You can sit on the bed or wherever's comfy. I'll go get the clothes—and I'll ask the maid to stop by, too."
Lucia stepped into the room without hesitation and plopped down on the bed, like she had so many times before.
She glanced around the room fondly, then smiled.
"This really brings back memories… I remember us binging anime for hours, playing games until morning like we didn't even care about the time."
Edward smiled after hearing Lucia's nostalgic comment, his own thoughts drifting back.
"Yeah… It was fun. Anyway, wait here for a bit."
He left the room and gently closed the door behind him, walking at a brisk pace. His mind, however, was anything but calm. He couldn't stop thinking about Lucia—his longtime friend—now resting alone in his bedroom, dressed as a beautiful young woman with an incredibly alluring figure.
'No! Keep your mind clean, Edward! Focus! Alright... time to pray for divine help…'
He finally arrived at the walk-in closet, a spacious storage room for all household clothing.
Luckily, another housemaid was inside, organizing laundry after ironing. Edward walked up to her with purpose.
"Ma'am Anni, where are the guest clothes? They're kept here, right?"
Anni, a much younger maid compared to Ma'am Sisi (the senior housemaid who always called Edward Young Master), looked up from her work and smiled.
"Yes, sir. They're stored here. What kind of clothes do you need?"
"Something for a girl, about this tall," he gestured, "Anything simple will do. She's changing before we head out in about thirty minutes."
Anni moved with practiced ease toward the right section of the room—where the guest clothes were kept.
"How about this simple white one-piece dress? And maybe these accessories? A bag, too, just in case."
Edward nodded and accepted everything, then remembered Lucia's earlier request.
"Oh, by the way, do you know where Ma'am Sisi is right now?"
Anni paused for a moment.
"She should be helping the head cook with dinner prep. She's probably a bit tied up. I can assist instead if that's alright?"
Edward hesitated for a second, then nodded. He figured Lucia just needed help from another woman, so Anni should be fine.
"Alright, please follow me. My friend needs something—she's waiting in my room."
Anni didn't ask further and simply followed Edward back down the hall.
They reached the bedroom door. Edward knocked gently and called out.
"Lucia? It's me."
Hearing no response, he cautiously opened the door.
Lucia was lying flat on her back across the bed, eyes closed. She looked peaceful, clearly having dozed off. Anni caught a glimpse of her and couldn't help but blurt out her thoughts.
"Oh my… She's so beautiful… Master Edward is really lucky. He finally found a girlfriend…"
Edward flinched at the maid's unfiltered remark and quickly walked toward the bed to wake Lucia, pretending he hadn't heard a thing.
He gently nudged her arm, speaking softly.
"Lucia… Wake up… Lucia…"
Lucia's eyes fluttered open. Realizing she'd fallen asleep, her face turned red with embarrassment.
"Ah! Sorry! I dozed off… Hehe… Your bed's just way too comfortable."
She sat up—then froze as she noticed another person in the room. Her blush deepened. She turned to Edward with a sharp glare and whispered.
"Why didn't you tell me there was someone else here?!"
Edward, meanwhile, was panicking internally.
'Holy moly… She's just too cute! Argh! Get it together, Edward! She's your friend! And… she's still a guy inside!'
Lucia didn't wait for a response and turned to the housemaid.
"Hello. I'm Edward's friend, Lucia. Ma'am, I have a small favor to ask."
She leaned in and whispered something discreetly. The housemaid nodded, handed over the dress and accessories, then left to retrieve what Lucia had asked for.
Edward finally snapped out of his daze. Smiling awkwardly, he tried to restart the conversation.
"Uhh, sorry about that. But hey, you were the one napping! Anyway… are you going to wear the dress now? Want me to step out, or will you change in the bathroom?"
Lucia sighed, walked over to the bed, and sat beside him.
"I'm waiting for something first. I'll change in the bathroom, don't worry."
Edward nodded, then asked another question to fill the silence.
"By the way, are you hungry? Would you rather eat here or go out? Dinner should be ready in about thirty minutes—my family always eats around 6:30. But if you prefer, we can eat somewhere else."
Lucia frowned slightly, clearly debating. After almost a minute of thought, she gave her answer.
"If it's not too much trouble… I'd rather eat outside. I feel like something awkward might happen if I eat dinner with your family. I'm not ready to explain everything to people who don't know my situation."
Edward understood immediately. As they were talking, the housemaid returned, carrying a tote bag.
Edward had a hunch what was inside but kept his expression neutral. Lucia gave her thanks and took the clothes and bag into the bathroom to change.
A few minutes later, she emerged, now wearing the simple white one-piece dress.
The dress reached just above her knees, exposing her legs. It hugged her body gracefully, the fabric flowing with her curves. Even without revealing much skin, the dress radiated charm and elegance. The previous outfit had been more dramatic—a V-neck with an open back that showed some cleavage—but this one had a quieter, almost ethereal beauty.
To Edward, though, both looks were equally devastating.
He stood frozen, staring at her.
Lucia blinked.
"Uhh… Edward? Are you okay? Do I look weird in this?"
"Ah—oh! No! Not weird at all! It looks great on you! Erm… yeah! Let's go! We'll stop by and say goodbye to my mom, then we'll head out!"
Blushing, Edward quickly turned and made his way to the door, his steps slightly rushed.
Lucia chuckled softly at his reaction, her smile warm. She followed him out.
The two of them were finally ready to depart—to the villa, and to the next step of their video project.