Honey Trap (3)
The banquet floor of the resort building was an absolute madhouse. Of course, in the best possible way.
On one side of the space filled with upbeat music that was all the rage in the capital, cheers and jeers erupted around a beer pong table. On the other side, people held their breath as they waited their turn in front of a precariously stacked tower of wooden blocks. Students who had no interest in either were playing card games in another corner or had wandered over to the casino building to enjoy bowling, darts, billiards, and table tennis at their leisure.
Mikhail stood with a cocktail glass in hand, watching the scene with deep satisfaction. Although the party was officially hosted under Victoria’s name, every bit of the actual planning had come straight from Mikhail’s head. As a result, he had clumsily recreated the atmosphere of a college party from a drama he vaguely remembered from his previous life.
Unfortunately there was no EDM, but this was more than successful enough.
“Your Highness.”
A female student approached him with a shy expression. Her cheeks were pleasantly flushed from the alcohol.
“I went to the beach nearby yesterday… It was really beautiful.”
“I put quite a bit of effort into it. Go up to the lounge at night and check out the night view too. I made sure that turned out nicely as well.”
Mikhail shrugged as he answered. Even though his tone was indifferent, the girl burst into bright laughter as if something about it delighted her, then ran back to her friends.
A short while later, a group of strapping male students approached this time.
“Your Highness, we’ve played darts in plenty of other places, but the darts here have an especially great feel. This thing is seriously well-made, isn’t it?”
“That’s because I’m a tyrant. I bullied the dwarves in my territory quite a bit.”
Mikhail gave a crooked grin as he cracked the joke. One of the male students clutched his stomach and laughed as if it was hilarious.
“Come on, just looking at the medical welfare system you introduced proves you’re a benevolent ruler. What are you talking about?”
Another male student beside him jumped into the conversation.
“Your Highness, I saw there’s a polo field over there. How about playing a match with us tomorrow?”
“I like riding horses, but polo really isn’t my thing.”
When Mikhail flatly refused, clear disappointment washed over the student’s face.
“Then how about horse racing?”
“There’s going to be a Human Racing event soon, so just watch that.”
“Ah! That one’s famous! I’ll definitely go see it!”
The male students chattered excitedly among themselves and headed off somewhere else.
Mikhail walked past the area where the drinking games were in full swing and moved toward the section lined with card tables. Sure enough, two male students were red-faced and arguing heatedly.
“No, in our department, when someone plays an attack card you can defend with another attack card of the same number!”
“What are you talking about! That’s cheating! In our department the rule is you unconditionally draw two cards and pass it to the next person!”
It was a childish fight over the local rules of One Card, the game Mikhail was known for creating.
The moment they spotted him, they rushed over as if they had found their savior.
“Your Highness! Which rule is the correct one?”
Honestly, it didn’t matter to him at all. He had just thrown the game together from whatever he could remember anyway. Mikhail grinned and said,
“Like proper gentlemen, settle it with a duel.”
“Pardon…? A duel…?”
Both students’ faces turned deathly pale. Mikhail enjoyed their reaction and continued.
“Of course, sword fighting or shooting would be messy with all the injuries and blood… and the mood would…”
Mikhail paused for a moment. Come to think of it, if these students from such a romantic fantasy world got into a duel during a party, it might actually heat up the atmosphere even more. He cleared his throat and continued.
“No, no. Since you’re students, let’s keep it wholesome. Whoever has the stronger drinking capacity wins.”
At those words, color returned to both students’ faces. They threw their arms around each other’s shoulders as if they had never been fighting and ran straight toward the drinking game area Mikhail had just passed.
“Ah, youth.”
Mikhail muttered quietly to himself as he headed for the bartender’s counter table.
In a secluded spot, one male student sat alone, nursing his drink. His shoulders were slumped and his face was full of worry. Mikhail plopped down in the seat beside him.
“What’s with the funeral face?”
The student jumped in surprise at seeing Mikhail and almost shot up from his seat, but Mikhail waved him back down. After hesitating for a moment, the student let out a deep sigh and began pouring out his troubles.
“The truth is… there’s a young lady I like, but I don’t know how I should confess to her.”
Another damn romance consultation. Mikhail clicked his tongue internally but kept a serious expression on the outside. If she rejects you, just date someone else. What’s the big deal?
“Try singing a serenade.”
“T-that’s way too embarrassing…”
“Then write her a poem or something.”
“I’m really not good with words…”
“As a son of the Empire, have some courage! If she rejects you, just date another woman!”
“I-I can’t do that! It has to be her or no one!”
The student’s eyes grew watery. Mikhail was starting to get annoyed.
“If you can’t do that… then just confess ten times, a hundred times. Keep going until it works.”
It was completely irresponsible advice, but the student’s face lit up with emotion. He jumped to his feet, downed the cocktail he had been drinking in one go, and exclaimed,
“Thank you, Your Highness! I’ve found my courage!”
He bowed deeply, then staggered off somewhere with unsteady steps.
Watching the student’s retreating back, Mikhail asked the bartender,
“How many drinks has that kid had so far?”
“Five strong ones in a row. Ah, including the one he just finished, that makes six.”
The bartender answered indifferently. Mikhail nodded.
“Would Your Highness like a drink as well?”
Mikhail shook his head at the bartender’s offer.
“I’m good on alcohol. Just give me a carbonated water. Fill it with plenty of ice.”
The bartender silently filled a glass packed with ice and handed it over. The water droplets condensing on the surface felt refreshingly cool. Holding the glass, Mikhail headed toward a sofa table set up in a quiet corner of the banquet hall for resting.
There sat Eleonora, Erika, and Victoria. Victoria was the first to notice him.
“Oh my, Your Highness. You have arrived.”
At her voice, Erika, who had been casually sipping her drink, also turned her head.
“You have arrived, Your Highness.”
Mikhail plopped down on the sofa opposite them. He jerked his chin toward the students noisily playing drinking games.
“Am I getting old now?”
“Hanging out with kids like that really drains all my energy.”
At his joke, Victoria’s eyes widened into perfect circles.
“We are only four or five years apart at most, yet you make such harsh jokes.”
“By the way, Victoria, you don’t enjoy things like that?”
“Well… I suppose…”
Victoria trailed off and glanced sideways at Erika, who was sitting beside her. Erika remained silent, taking small sips of her drink while watching the group playing drinking games. A faint smile lingered at the corners of her mouth. It seemed she found watching the students doing stupid things quite entertaining.
It really was fun. After all, the reason he had built the casino wasn’t purely for profit. Watching people experience every emotion—joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure—and fall apart in the process was also excellent entertainment.
“How about you, Miss Horner?”
Mikhail turned his gaze to Eleonora, who was sitting primly beside Victoria. She flinched at his question and shrank her shoulders.
“U-um… I think… it is enjoyable…”
She had barely touched half of what looked like a rather weak cocktail, yet her face was as red as an apple. It seemed she was a lightweight despite her size.
After that, the conversation continued to hover awkwardly.
“The beach in the Far East Maritime Province is pretty nice, isn’t it?”
“I… am not really fond of such places…”
“Then what do you like?”
“I… I enjoy… reading novels.”
“Oh, I like novels too. Recommend me some.”
At Mikhail’s words, Eleonora moved her lips as if she wanted to say something, then suddenly hung her head.
…She’s probably into erotic novels.
Mikhail thought to himself. Even the normally sociable Victoria seemed to find this awkward atmosphere difficult to endure, as she kept turning her eyes toward the drinking games. Mikhail let out a mental sigh.
Whether it was a honey trap or whatever, they had to at least be able to hold a conversation first. He tried throwing out various jokes and starting topics, but all he got in return were short answers or silence. He had hoped that drinking a little would loosen her up, but instead she just kept nodding off, which only made her seem more exhausted.
And above all else—Mikhail had absolutely no idea how to pull off a honey trap. The original Mikhail had been a notorious mama’s boy and was completely hopeless in that area, and his pre-possession self as a 21st-century Korean man hadn’t been particularly interested in romance either. He had read a few romance comedies and dating sim novels, but what use was that in reality?
Even now, aside from Laura, Josepina, Victoria, and Erika, he didn’t really socialize closely with any women. And even those relationships were purely professional—employer and employee—with absolutely no romantic feelings mixed in.
Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed to this…
It had been funny watching that rigid bureaucratic young lady seriously suggest a honey trap just because she had read a few romance novels, and since he had come to a romance fantasy world, he had impulsively wanted to try it. But now he regretted it. A wave of regret washed over him.
Well, nothing I can do about it now. Still, I’ve made an impression on my future customers, so is this half a success?
He comforted himself with that thought.
“I’m getting tired, so I’ll go rest.”
Mikhail stood up from his seat. He gestured with his chin toward Eleonora, who was nodding off.
“Miss Horner seems quite exhausted, so Victoria, please take good care of her.”
“Of course!”
Victoria answered with a bright smile. She wrapped her arm around the dozing Eleonora’s shoulder and gently pulled her closer. Eleonora flinched for a moment but soon settled comfortably against Victoria’s shoulder with a peaceful expression.
Since the honey trap failed, I’ll have to go with Plan B.
Mikhail thought as he watched the two of them.
She seems to have gotten quite close with Victoria… so I’ll just have to use that.
Without any further lingering attachment, he left the area.