Chapter 101: You’re Such an Idiot
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 101: You’re Such an Idiot
“Mmm….”
“Hooo….”
The thirty-minute carriage ride to Ristorante Oro for dinner was a quiet one.
Surprisingly, the two didn’t manage to exchange a single word.
They were a man and a woman sitting across from each other in an open-topped carriage. The vehicle traveled at a leisurely pace through the streets, ensuring the wind wouldn't mess up their hair.
Bathed in the bright glow of the streetlights that illuminated the night, every passerby turned their head to look at them at least once.
It was because both possessed unbelievably beautiful features.
Sera and Yoo Eon both opened and closed their mouths several times, stealing glances at one another. Just as Yoo Eon finally gathered the courage to speak—of all times, it had to be then.
“Um…”
“We have arrived.”
“Sigh… Yes. Understood.”
* * *
I’m going to lose my mind.
To be honest, I liked it. What was the point of lying about something like this? Sera was beautiful to begin with, and seeing her all dressed up like this, lacking in nothing, was a sight to behold. As a man, it was impossible not to be pleased.
Of course, I hadn't imagined her outfit would be this revealing. I was worried she might catch a cold in the cool spring night air. Fortunately, the high back of the seat blocked most of the wind, but still.
I was about to unfasten the cape chain on my coat and speak to her when—
“Um…”
“We have arrived.”
“Sigh… Yes. Understood.”
We had already reached Oro. There wasn't much point in offering her my coat now, but…
This won't do!
It was too revealing. Regardless of how much I liked it, letting other guys feast their eyes on Sera’s body was an unpardonable sin. Though she had a shawl draped over her to significantly reduce the exposure of her back, arms, and chest, the shawl shifted every time she moved her arms, causing the exposure to spike.
“Shall we head in, Sera?”
“Ah… Yes….”
I took off the coat I had draped over my shoulders and placed it over hers, then fastened the chain tightly so it wouldn't slip off. I had wondered why Ms. Ariel had bothered adding a chain where there wasn't one before; it must have been part of her calculations.
I didn't care anymore that this single outfit had cost over a dozen gold coins. The value of that investment had already been returned. Before Sera could even stand up, I opened the low door, stepped down first, and offered her my hand.
“Watch your step.”
“Mm… Okay.”
Sera was wearing high heels with thin, long stilts she wasn't used to. Every time she carefully descended the carriage steps, her voluptuous femininity swayed…
Shouldn't you have sent her out with actual underwear on?!
Gratitude aside, Ms. Ariel was truly a terrifying woman.
“Well then, I hope you have a pleasant dinner.”
Once Sera had successfully dismounted, the old coachman closed the door and bowed his head slowly in greeting. He then approached me and handed me a slip of paper.
“What is… this?”
“Once you have finished your meal, please proceed to this location. The carriage will be waiting there.”
“I see. Understood.”
It was a paper containing a simple map and an address. I tucked it safely into the inner pocket of my vest and turned around.
“Yoo Eon.”
“Sera. Shall we go in?”
“Yes….”
An angel was standing there.
* * *
The people dining in the first-floor hall of Ristorante Oro were certainly the precious daughters of high-ranking noble families.
But for some reason, the men sitting across from them were staring blankly into the distance, forgetting their manners and their food.
There was only one reason: an angel had just walked through the entrance of Ristorante Oro.
—Hah…
—My god, is that even possible?
—Unbelievable. I’m finished for today.
Even the noble young ladies, armed with bright red lips, thick eyeliner, seductive smiles, and coquettish voices, suddenly began to look like low-class harlots.
They had dressed their best to win the favor of the person before them and had refined their behavior through long periods of etiquette training. They had prepared expensive gifts and arranged the finest feast in a magnificent location.
They had spent a fortune trying to win the heart of the woman sitting across from them.
“Ha.”
A bitter taste filled their mouths.
The moment they saw the woman entering the lobby, they felt branded as losers.
Because the woman they had worked so hard to obtain was far inferior to the woman who had just entered their field of vision for a fleeting moment.
“Hm? Is something the matter?”
They didn't want to hear that nasal voice anymore. They could no longer play along with the woman across from them, who was full of nothing but vanity and a greedy desire to gain something from this foolish, formal dinner.
“I’m sorry. I’m leaving.”
Of course, this wasn't limited to the men dining in the first-floor hall. While the men facing the entrance were feeling a sense of relative deprivation and despair at Sera’s beauty…
The women sitting in positions where they could see the entrance were feeling the exact same way.
—Oh my…
—How can he look like that…
They were certainly born into nobility. The stars in the sky were theirs, and everything was within their grasp. Men had always needed them, and they had satisfied their own desires through those men.
In exchange for subtly showing off their well-maintained skin, they received expensive gifts. By uttering a few sweet words, they were treated to rare delicacies that commoners could never dream of.
The beauty they had spent their lives cultivating became a weapon to conquer men. Having always held the power of choice, they had the right to pick whatever they wanted from the list of those who approached them.
And yet, satisfaction was elusive. Just because one has gold doesn't mean diamonds don't shine. Just because one has a house doesn't mean a carriage isn't needed.
All added value increases a man’s worth, but ultimately, the destination of all those choices is choosing a partner to spend a lifetime with.
As women, what attracted them most was physical appearance.
He had a tall stature and a face like a sculpture. Beneath that boyish, gently smiling face were broad, intimidating shoulders. Below the rolled-up sleeves of his white shirt were thick, well-defined forearms with bulging veins.
He wore an expensive Blanc Noir coat that everyone recognized, yet he draped it over his woman’s shoulders as if it were nothing. And then there were his hands—thick, large, long, and sinfully attractive—as they gently wrapped around her waist.
—Welcome. I will escort you to the top floor.
—Thank you.
He even possessed devastating wealth, reaching the level where the manager personally came out to escort them to the top floor.
They had been so careful in their choices. They had been more than cautious, making the best possible selection. And yet, the person in front of them…
“Uh… what’s wrong?”
“Sigh. It’s nothing.”
Features that weren't quite right, a pathetic physique, and wealth that didn't satisfy.
“Ah! Do you want to eat something else?”
“No, not really….”
“Hey, waiter! Come here for a second!”
He had learned etiquette, but he had no manners. Even a man as great as the one who just passed by showed respect to the staff, saying, “Thank you.” Why was this man acting so high and mighty, speaking so rudely?
“What do you want to eat? Just say the word!”
He was even incredibly dense. That ultimate male who just passed by was surely different in every way.
“Phew….”
Setting down their knives, the women fell into fantasies, wondering what it would be like if they were the ones held in that man’s arms, letting the words of the men across from them—who were now beneath their notice—flow in one ear and out the other.
Of course, Sera and Yoo Eon had no way of knowing this. Having unintentionally wrecked numerous couples, the two thought to themselves as they stepped into the elevator.
The atmosphere is suffocating.
The atmosphere is so suffocating…
* * *
I’m so… so embarrassed…!
Sera was dressed quite aggressively, but of course, she hadn't chosen these clothes herself. Ariel had insisted with a glint in her eye that she had to go this far.
Because of the unprecedented exposure, Sera felt the weight of the gazes around her. She thought she could handle it in the carriage since people were just passing by, but this was different.
The surface area of her outer clothing had decreased to the point where her underwear could no longer fulfill its role as "clothing worn underneath," and Ariel had forced her to remove it. She was currently wearing a bizarre excuse for underwear called a C-string, which she had never encountered in her life, to at least cover her private parts.
Still, the discomfort was unavoidable. As she struggled with every step, did Yoo Eon realize how she felt?
He had draped his wide, thick coat over her shoulders and fastened the chain in the front, neatly covering the exposure. The body that had been slightly chilled by the cool breeze against her bare skin suddenly flushed with heat.
—Ding
“We have arrived at the top floor. If you take your reserved seats, dinner will begin in ten minutes.”
“Yes, thank you.”
They took the elevator, something they rarely had the chance to ride, to the top floor. Beyond the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, a beautiful night view stretched out like a painting.
“Whoa….”
There was a round table covered in a tablecloth so beautiful it redefined luxury, and a pair of chairs that were grand but not excessive, flaunting their size while remaining tasteful.
Yoo Eon grabbed one of those heavy chairs—which didn't budge even when she pulled with both hands—and yanked it back with one hand.
“Please, sit, Sera.”
“Ah. Thank you.”
He even performed the feat of pushing the chair back toward the table while she was still sitting in it.
“Y-you’re very strong….”
“Huh? What is?”
The wide table was a lifesaver. If it had been even a little closer, she felt like her face would have overheated and exploded. She reflexively lowered her head, only to be startled by the sight of her cleavage. She reached out with her gloved hands and pulled the coat Yoo Eon had given her tight toward the center.
“Well, what do you think, Sera? The view is pretty, isn't it?”
“It’s… it’s incredibly beautiful. I didn't know it would be this bright at night.”
“The Northwest has streetlights packed a bit more densely.”
Aside from that, the roads paved with clean, white stone tiles glowed, and several buildings remained lit even in the deep of night.
She turned her head to look out the window for a moment, but feeling a sense of lingering dissatisfaction, she had to look back toward the front.
He’s so handsome….
Without Yoo Eon in her sight, even the magnificent night view of the Northwest felt a bit dull and uninteresting.
It was a shame to only see his profile as he looked out the window, yet it was also a relief.
“Sera?”
“Ah, it’s nothing!”
“Haha… what’s nothing?”
The moment their eyes met properly like this, she couldn't last even three seconds before hanging her head low.
“Are you feeling unwell? Your face is red.”
“Yoo Eon… you’re such an idiot….”
“Eh…?”
Her only consolation was that it was a good thing he was an idiot.