Chloe and the Luxury Cruise Ship (3)

The view from the balcony was brimming with romantic allure.

Beyond the Daern River, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the lights of the pleasure quarter flickered to life. On the opposite side, in the affluent district, orange lamps floated like moons, illuminating the darkened night.

It was a scene where even strangers—a young man and woman with no prior connection—might spark a romance simply by sharing this space, this moment.

'Though Chloe seems a bit different.'

They had stepped out onto the balcony from the grand ballroom for a breath of fresh air. Chloe's crimson eyes gleamed.

Not so much enchanted by romance as harboring a scheming, suspicious glint. I checked the wine glass on the small round table with the system.

'Again?'

As expected, Chloe had slipped an aphrodisiac into my wine glass.

Intensely potent, indeed. From the system's description, it seemed Chloe was dead set on seducing me properly.

"What's wrong, Count Yulian? Doesn't the view suit your taste?"

Noticing my silence, Chloe gauged my reaction. Without touching the glass, I surveyed the surroundings.

"No, it's splendid. The most luxurious vista I've seen since arriving in the imperial capital. So utterly different from my homeland—Essenmont is nothing but snow-capped peaks and barren landscapes, no matter where you go."

I gazed at the Daern River's nightscape with feigned awe, silently appreciating it.

Chloe faltered for a moment, caught off guard. She clearly hadn't anticipated such a sentimental response.

"I-is that so? I'm glad it pleases you, Count."

Having plotted something shady behind my back, my pure reaction must have pricked her conscience.

'She's more naive than she looks in some ways.'

In truth, her repeated reliance on aphrodisiacs proved her inexperience with men.

That first seduction attempt in her mansion's backyard—she'd played the seductive temptress with apparent worldly experience. But Chloe was still a virgin.

Any average man would have fallen with just a brush of her hand. She'd brimmed with feminine confidence until now.

Yet she had no clue how to seduce the man she'd set her sights on—especially one like me, who perfectly matched her ideal criteria.

'That's why she keeps resorting to aphrodisiacs.'

In short, a haughty noble lady with zero real romantic experience, despite her airs.

Here they were, alone in this romantic setting, her outfit a revealing noble dress that showcased her ample bosom.

Even a modest act would drive most young men wild—no aphrodisiac needed.

Surprisingly, both men and women were weak to atmosphere.

'Maybe it's time to break her of this habit.'

I was immune thanks to my passive, but I couldn't indulge her nasty little trick forever.

I casually lifted the wine glass. Chloe's eyes sparkled.

"A wine that perfectly matches this beautiful view. We prepared a special vintage just for our table—you and me. Go on, have a taste."

Of course, I didn't drink right away.

"Hmm. That luxurious, is it? But I'd rather savor this scenery with a clear head. I want it etched in my memory forever."

I set the glass back down.

"Oh? But fine views deserve fine wine—that's imperial noble etiquette."

Growing urgent as I stalled, she pressed. But I kept deflecting, teasing her impatience further.

"Is that so? Imperial noble customs are full of quirks—and pointless ones. Speaking of which, I've heard young nobles these days often use aphrodisiacs even for one-night flings. That's party culture, apparently. Know about it?"

"A-aphrodisiacs? Well, I've heard. It probably heightens the pleasure during intimacy."

"Doesn't appeal to me. I can satisfy a woman just fine without them. What about you, Chloe?"

The topic carried subtle sexual undertones, but steering it naturally left Chloe flustered.

"Of course I can! I can seduce any man without aphrodisiacs! And you've shared my bed—you know how alluring my body is!"

"Hmm. True enough. Your mansion even has that convenient backyard for trysts. Perfect for honing your charms. If that's true, plenty of men must have fallen for you there."

I subtly prodded her promiscuity. She raised her voice, indignant.

"No! Sure, I'm overflowing with allure, but I don't seduce just anyone! A noble lady as exalted and valuable as me has no need to lower her worth with random men."

"Oh? So I'm an exception? You were willing to play around with me for a night."

"W-well... because it was you, Count Yulian. Other nobles look like pigs to me."

"Then it's quite the honor. The exalted daughter of Marquis Aiterne acknowledges me."

She'd admitted I was different from other men. Realizing it, Chloe flushed.

"Y-yeah... You're the grand duke's heir, after all. That's why a fling with you was fine."

She tried justifying it by invoking my status, but she'd already fallen into my conversational rhythm.

Noticing, she bit her lip slightly.

"A-anyway, why not try ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the wine now? It'll lose its aroma if you wait too long."

"Could be. Oh, about those aphrodisiacs we mentioned earlier..."

But I smoothly changed the subject.

***

Mentioning aphrodisiacs again, Chloe eyed me curiously.

"Aphrodisiacs?"

"Truth be told, I've been curious about their effects. Out of curiosity, I once bought some secretly. But they did nothing for me. Just as I suspected."

"Suspected?"

"The Reinhardt bloodline seems uniquely resistant to poisons. Take my ancestor, the Lion Sword Empress Atlin..."

I shared the tale of Atlin von Reinhardt with Chloe.

A century ago, when the Kaotic Gates opened and hordes of monsters emerged.

Many imperials, enthralled by their power, fell into heretical cults worshiping the beasts. They targeted the monsters' nemesis, Sword Empress Atlin, with countless poison attempts.

"Normal combat couldn't threaten her. Yet she never once succumbed to poison. I thought it heroic exaggeration from old tales... but it was true."

The Reinhardt Mana Heart was exceptional—capable of instantly neutralizing toxins. I mentioned this to Chloe.

"So aphrodisiacs have no effect on you either?"

"Exactly. They don't excite me; they calm me instead. But extreme poisons could harm those around me—even if Reinhardts are fine. Not everyone in the family carries the full bloodline."

I subtly circulated mana before her.

"That's why our house developed secret techniques over generations to detect ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠poisons. Even if immune, we need to know when someone's trying."

Atlin's story was real, but the detection method was a lie. I acted convincingly.

I withdrew the mana and reached for my wine glass.

"It's precise enough to react even to alcohol in a glass. Want a demonstration?"

"No!"

Chloe panicked. Her aphrodisiac was in that glass. In shock, she snatched it first and gulped down the contents.

"Chloe? What was that?"

I knew exactly why—destroying evidence.

If I truly had a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠technique to detect deadly poisons, she'd be caught red-handed for drugging the grand duke's heir—a grave crime.

With the evidence gone, Chloe made excuses.

"Oops, I grabbed the wrong glass. You weren't drinking, so I thought I'd save the aroma before it faded. Sorry for the rudeness."

Relieved, her expression turned brazen.

"Hmm. Not like you to slip up. No matter. I'll use yours then. Same wine, right?"

I picked up her glass—the one her lips had touched—without a care.

Whatever her intentions, the view was stunning. No point pursuing her rudeness.

'And this wine looks premium.'

Taking a sip, Chloe's eyes changed.

***

'Damn it. No wonder the aphrodisiac and sleeping pills had inconsistent effects.'

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Chloe inwardly fumed at the northern grand duke's heir before her.

The renowned alchemist Chloe—her secret potions utterly ineffective against this count. Now she knew why: the Reinhardt bloodline.

'At least he didn't catch the aphrodisiac.'

It wasn't poison, but the hefty dose was damning enough—especially in the heir's wine.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

But soon, uncharacteristic bewilderment flooded her.

'Shit. If even aphrodisiacs don't work, how the hell am I supposed to seduce this count?!'

She'd never failed to entice a man before.

Men always ogled her openly. Her stunning, voluptuous figure, backed by the House of Aiterne.

Even the pretentious ones harbored filthy thoughts about her since childhood.

To Chloe, men were repulsive. She'd never felt attraction to one as a romantic partner.

They were mere toys or tools to discard. But Count Yulian was different.

Higher status than her, no awkwardness with women. Reluctantly, she admitted his companions rivaled her beauty.

He was the one man who could appraise her most coldly—the only one capable.

'That's why I planned that unforgettable night with the aphrodisiac...'

Carnal pleasure was undeniable. History's most effective feminine weapon.

With amplified sensitivity, he'd taste her body and never forget.

'...Or so I thought. Now it's all ruined.'

No ideas for seducing him. She was cornered. Then the count spoke.

"Hmm. Not like you to slip up. No matter. I'll use yours then. Same wine, right?"

He sipped from her glass—the one with her vivid crimson lipstick mark—casually.

'That's an indirect kiss!'

They'd already been intimate, so no need for embarrassment. Yet his casual act nagged at her.

Unconsciously, she stared at his sculpted face. His lips looked especially tempting.

"Haa... haa... haa..."

"What's wrong, Chloe?"

"N-nothing... The wine's stronger than I thought. And preparing today's event wore me out."

He guided her to the balcony sofa.

"Then rest here a moment. It was all for me—makes me worry."

"No, I'm fine. For the bond between Aiterne and Reinhardt... for our glorious future..."

Even as she replied, her head spun. He seemed gentler than usual.

Come to think of it, he'd praised her event preparations earlier.

"Haa... haa..."

That thought heated her body further. The wine she'd chugged instead—the aphrodisiac within—was reacting to her.

'Of all things... I overdosed the aphrodisiac.'

Lethal to normals. As a mana-trained alchemist with poison resistance training, she endured—but barely.

"You sure you're okay, Chloe? If you're unwell, I'll call someone."

"No! Really, I'm fine..."

But the effect was too strong. Her head reeled; she leaned against him on the sofa.

"I really should call—"

"No need!"

She clung tight, her already slipping dress top falling away.

Her braless breasts spilled free, jiggling.

"Chloe, your dress..."

She swatted his hand away as he tried to adjust it.

'Doesn't matter... Like this... I'll seduce him with my body!'

Half-naked, she embraced him.

"Chloe?"

His surprised voice called her name. To silence him, she sealed his lips with hers.

Forcing his mouth open, she thrust her tongue inside.