Chapter 102: A Night Under the Bright Moon
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 102: A Night Under the Bright Moon
“Why... why are you looking at me like that, Yoo Eon?”
“Because you’re cute.”
“Ugh... just hurry up and eat...”
The meal was delightful. He had expected they might spend a long time talking, but the dishes brought out one after another were so delicious that they were soon preoccupied with eating.
Sera’s eyes went wide as she stuffed her mouth, chewing busily. Watching her hum to herself while diligently working her fork and knife made him realize there was no one more rewarding to share a meal with.
“Yoo Eon. You know this is completely ridiculous, right?”
“What is?”
“You’re not a noble, yet you’re on speaking terms with the owner of the most expensive clothing store in Calax.”
“Ah.”
“And you say you have no money, yet here we are having dinner at a luxury restaurant like this...”
“That’s... haha. You’re right. I’m not sure how it turned out this way either.”
To be honest, it was thanks to Theodora. Of course, financially speaking, he had managed to earn enough to pay for this himself, but connections were what truly mattered.
“But Sera, about your clothes...”
“W-what about them? Do they look that strange?”
“No, no, not at all. They suit you perfectly and you look beautiful... I just wondered if you were comfortable.”
“Ugh...”
Every time the clothes were mentioned, she instinctively shrank back. When Sera had first seen the finished outfit on the mannequin, she hadn't even been able to look at it properly because it felt so scandalous.
‘It’s fine. If that Aven guy is even remotely human, he’ll give you his coat to wear. If he doesn’t... well, you might as well throw a brute like that away.’
Sera herself was the one who had declared a 'Level 10 Desperation' for the outfit. Under Ariel’s persistent—borderline forced—sales pitch, she had ended up wearing something more revealing than anything she’d ever experienced.
Even though she had never once worn a skirt that rose above her knees, whether for work or sleep, things had played out exactly as Ariel predicted: Yoo Eon had taken off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.
When Ariel had coordinated the outfits for the pair, her foresight had included the fact that the man’s coat would eventually become part of the woman’s ensemble.
“Yoo Eon. Thank you.”
“Sera, I’m the one who should be thanking you.”
“Huh? Why?”
“This dinner is my way of thanking you for staying by my side and nursing me for four whole days.”
“...Right, that did happen.”
The two of them might have lacked the refined etiquette expected at a ristorante, but in the end, people’s emotions are often swayed by what they see.
They were a fresh, young couple. Dressed to the nines and exceptionally good-looking, they were a pair that suited the smiling dinner atmosphere perfectly.
A young man and woman dining among elderly, wealthy elites—to those who had spent their lives in the grind of business, there was no better target for a bit of playful mischief.
“Waiter, is there no alcohol at that table?”
“Let me see... Ah, that table. Is there a problem, sir?”
“Send over a glass of something good, something light. Don’t tell them who sent it.”
Dozens of gold coins fell from the elderly tycoon’s hand with a mischievous glint. The others at his table chuckled, and soon, a bottle of wine was brought to the young couple’s modest dinner.
“Oh, we didn't order this.”
“It was sent from another table. They requested to remain anonymous.”
Yoo Eon scanned the surroundings with his Evil Eye just in case, but no one gave off a hostile red aura. He didn't know exactly who it was, but most of the patrons were gray-haired magnates.
“Then we shall accept it with gratitude.”
A glass of red wine hadn't been part of the plan. Sera looked just as flustered, but Yoo Eon figured life doesn't always go according to plan. As he accepted the offer, the waiter poured an appropriate amount of wine into their glasses.
The sight of Sera awkwardly holding her glass with both hands to receive the wine was the epitome of youthful charm.
“Ho ho...”
It was enough to warm the hearts of the other diners on the top floor.
“Yoo Eon, the scent is amazing!”
“It really is. Sera, do you drink?”
“I-I’ve never really tried it. Everyone I know who drinks is a fool...”
“Ah.”
It was a safe bet that Roland Otmarie was at the very top of the 'fools' list in Sera’s head. Regardless, the two of them lightly clinked their glasses and tasted the red wine.
“It’s delicious...”
“It is. This is a fine vintage.”
While Yoo Eon, who was strangely well-versed in table manners, skillfully swirled his wine and took a light sip to savor the aroma—
“Uh... Sera?”
“Phew... that’s good...”
Having grown up under a father who practically lived with his head in a wine barrel, Sera didn't understand the concept of a 'sip.' She tilted the glass back and gulped it down.
“Hehe.”
“Haha...”
Every time she giggled, the scent of wine wafted from her breath. With her cheeks flushed red, she began to shovel food into her mouth. Any attempt at following table manners had long since vanished.
* * *
“Please come again.”
“Good work.”
Due to the unexpected drinking, Sera had turned into a beautiful drunkard smelling of sweet fruit. Yoo Eon bundled her up in his wide, pitch-black coat like a roll and carried her bridal-style. He pulled a slip of paper from his vest and headed toward the carriage pickup point, but—
“...I’ve been had.”
The carriage they had arrived in was nowhere to be found, and the address on the paper, which hadn't listed a name, turned out to be a luxury hotel.
“Mmm...”
Even as she slept soundly in his arms, Sera mumbled in her sleep. She seemed to be having a pleasant dream, given the faint smile on her face. It would take too long to call another carriage, and he was afraid that walking or running would wake her.
“Sigh, I have no choice.”
It was a meticulously planned trap. A reservation had already been made under the name Sera Otmarie at the incredibly expensive hotel, 'Chateau.' He realized now why the carriage had taken them where it did.
Looking back, while it was far from Oro, it wasn't that far from Blanc Noir. As the pieces of the puzzle finally clicked into place, a cold breeze slapped Yoo Eon’s forehead in place of a hand.
‘Terrifying...’
Carrying the alcohol-soaked Sera in his arms, Yoo Eon entered the reserved room. For such a spacious room, the bed was strategically, almost suspiciously, small.
The marble floor, a rarity in Calax, exuded an aura of luxury, but it also felt chilly, as if telling him, ‘Don’t get any ideas and just sleep in the bed.’
“Sera...?”
“Nnng...”
“Good grief.”
The sleeping princess showed no signs of waking up. He laid her down gently on the plush, white bed and carefully unwrapped the coat he had used to bundle her.
“Gulp.”
Only then did Sera’s outfit truly register in his mind. Not like in the carriage when she was too shy to meet his eyes, nor during dinner when she was mostly hidden by the table and the coat.
Now, it was different. It was clearer, more certain, and an undeniable temptation. He slowly removed her white high heels and placed them by the bed, then took off his own vest, hung it up, and sat on the edge of the mattress.
—Creak.
The bed was soft and made of high-quality materials. As the weight of a grown man shifted the mattress, the bed dipped, causing Sera to roll slightly toward him and wake up.
“Se-Sera...?”
“Nn... Yoo Eon...?”
Sera was just as startled when she opened her eyes. A luxurious room, soft orange lighting, and her own daring outfit that was a bit too bold to show without a coat—and she was sharing a bed with the very man she had longed for.
Sera was still hazy from the alcohol. She pushed herself up into a sitting position, taking in the situation. She gazed at Yoo Eon with half-lidded eyes, while Yoo Eon, flustered by her sudden movement, stared back. They locked eyes for a long moment.
Finally, borrowing courage from the wine, Sera spoke first.
“Yoo Eon. I’m... I’m ready tonight.”
“...Sera.”
She had already gone as far as she could; there was no need to retreat anymore. The clothes she wore to show herself off had done their job.
“Tonight... how do I look?”
“Se-Sera...”
“I went this far... didn't I?”
Her words were clear. Despite her sweet, fruity scent, her voice was filled with a bold determination.
“...Don't hate me if I'm not very good at this, Sera.”
“Dummy, you’re still worrying about things like that.”
The night of the bright moon still had a long way to go.