The atmosphere in the banquet hall reached its peak.
Sophia sat alone in the corner on a plush armchair, downing glass after glass of champagne.
Her cheeks had already taken on an unnaturally flushed hue, and the usually immaculate bun on her head had grown slightly messy.
She watched as Adelina emerged, looking as if someone had splashed red paint over her. Her arms and legs moved with a strange lack of coordination.
“Youth,” Sophia muttered.
Damn youth.
She remembered how, in her younger days, she too had been caught up in scenes like this.
Those bittersweet memories suddenly came flooding back.
Once upon a time, she too had gone mad for love.
But now, she no longer had the courage or energy to throw herself into love so recklessly. She had become a serious adult who barely smiled.
Sophia didn’t know what the three of them had been talking about on the balcony.
But seeing Adelina walk out beaming with joy, she already had a pretty good idea.
Damn it. That awful stench of love again.
As the head teacher for this grade, Sophia didn’t get that position for nothing. She could tell at a glance who was dating who.
Her conclusions might be a little wild, but she was absolutely certain she was right.
This kind of thing—she wouldn’t be wrong even with her eyes closed.
Who would've thought.
Adelina actually liked Viloti.
She’s into girls.
Seeing Viloti tangled up with Felyn had stirred something in Adelina’s heart, prompting her to rush in and protect the one she loved.
No wonder Adelina always had that strange look whenever she saw Felyn and Viloti together.
It all made sense now.
Sophia didn’t mind that kind of relationship, but it was a shame. She had originally hoped Adelina could help Felyn get over Viloti. Now, that was clearly out of the question.
"Kids these days really know how to play."
Just as she finished speaking, a subtle shift occurred in the banquet hall’s atmosphere.
Without anyone realizing, the crowd parted to form a clear path.
Curious, Sophia looked up. Her drunken eyes lit up instantly.
A girl in a black high-collared gown was walking toward them.
The crowd surged, yet a natural bubble of space formed around her.
Her long black hair flowed like a waterfall, swaying gently with each step.
Those deep emerald eyes held a calm that didn’t match her age, as if she were the true star of tonight’s castle banquet.
Every move she made carried an elegant, aloof air that clashed entirely with the bustling atmosphere of the banquet.
A few young noble heirs stirred, tempted to approach—only to shrink back the moment they met her emerald gaze.
Sophia squinted.
That aura surrounding the young lady—it was unmistakably that of someone from a powerful noble house.
If Felyn got lucky and somehow managed to meet her, that’d be a dream.
But the thought alone felt impossible.
“Ugh, I really am getting old. Always trying to play matchmaker.”
With her empty glass in hand, Sophia’s gaze shimmered with a mix of tipsiness and curiosity.
She didn’t notice that the dazzling figure was walking straight toward Felyn.
“Miss Daiyi?”
Felyn had just seen Adelina off when he turned around, and there she was, his client from the noble family.
He wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him. Wasn’t she supposed to still be on the train?
Daiyi Aurelian.
Those emerald eyes seemed to look straight through him, as if they could peer into his very soul.
Her expression was as composed as ever, as though nothing in this world had anything to do with her.
“I came back early.”
Her voice was pleasant, but carried a hint of chill.
“Sir Silafiel invited me to the banquet. So, here I am.”
“You should’ve told me ahead of time,” Felyn quickly put on a professional smile in his panic. “I could’ve gone to the station to pick you up.”
“Really?” Daiyi raised an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth curving into a teasing smile. “But if I’d told you ahead of time, I wouldn’t have gotten to witness that delightful little scene just now.”
Her gaze drifted meaningfully toward the direction of the balcony.
“Did you enjoy yourself just now?”
“Just now? Just now I was just out there enjoying the view by myself. Nothing to enjoy or not enjoy, really.”
Daiyi crossed her arms and stared at him.
“After just a few days, your little harem has been grown by two more girls. Seems like having me as your girlfriend isn’t enough.”
She leaned in slightly and said in a low voice, “Planning to have three beautiful girls fawning over you all day, fighting for your attention?”
Felyn gulped.
This damn body of his—why did it have to entertain a fleeting fantasy of that scene?
But then he thought about who those three girls were, and his brain snapped back to clarity.
Please, spare me.
“Hmph. You did imagine it just now, didn’t you?”
Daiyi poked his shoulder lightly, looking smug.
“If that’s what Miss Daiyi wants, then I have no choice but to agree. After all, I’d do anything Miss Daiyi asks…”
The classic counterattack—retreat to advance. Felyn’s syrupy tone whispered in her ear, immediately breaking Daiyi’s momentum.
She bit her lip slightly. That deliberately sweet voice of his left her cheeks tinged with pink.
“Miss Daiyi, things didn’t go well after you went home, did they?”
Her shoulders twitched slightly. Under the warm lighting, her slender figure looked all the more delicate—like someone who needed protecting.
“Worried about me? Are you finally trying to woo me?”
“Not finally,” Felyn said softly. “From the very first moment I met you, I already wanted to.”
Truthfully, Felyn didn’t know much about Daiyi.
Partly because she came from another country and was sent ahead of time to get familiar with Seiwa before enrolling in the royal capital’s academy next year—so he didn’t know much about her background.
Partly because she rarely spoke of her family.
All Felyn knew was that her family had money. And power.
Their contract was simple.
He was to pretend to be her loving boyfriend in front of her parents. And he had to admit to being a male escort in front of them, too.
The rebellious daughter suddenly brings home a flashy guy. Parents furious to the point of collapse. Felyn figured that was the story she was going for.
He’d even watched a bunch of romance dramas to prepare.
He was just waiting for that one line: “Here’s a billion. Leave my daughter.”
But alas, since the contract started, not once had her family reached out.
That imagined wealthy mother had never appeared.
It was like they’d completely forgotten they even had a daughter.
So while the contract said “pretend couple,” what Felyn was actually doing felt more like… housekeeping.
Three days a week, according to the contract—cleaning, cooking, tidying up.
It seemed easy enough, but this lonely noble girl who had no friends in Seiwa absolutely loved gossiping about Felyn and his clients. Constantly pressing him for updates.
Despite Felyn doing his best to avoid revealing any client info, Daiyi could always pick up hints from his expressions or little reactions.
Like how that pink-haired lady would definitely end up chasing after Felyn once the contract ended.
Or how the gentle student council president would eventually fall for him completely.
Felyn thought she was just making things up.
No way. There’s no way those high-born girls would ever fall for a broke noble like him.
They’re not that dumb.
Last week, Daiyi got a message from home. She needed to go back.
Felyn didn’t know what had happened during her visit, but he could guess.
A child ignored by her parents suddenly being summoned home—either it was a will dispute, or they wanted to use her.
Now it seemed it was the latter.
Daiyi set down her teacup and stepped closer. The scent of tea lingered in the air between them.
“I’ve changed my mind.”
She gently flipped her hair back, then dabbed at her lips with a handkerchief still damp from tea.
“During the contract period, we’ll pretend to be a real couple.”
Her fingers clutched the handkerchief tightly.
“We’ve always been a real couple,” Felyn said, confused.
“You mean those three days a week where you come clean, cook, and mop? That’s what a maid would do.”
Daiyi raised her head and looked at the boy in front of her.
“Even if my parents aren’t around, we’ll still act like a real couple. Eat together. Do things together. Sleep toge…”
She suddenly realized what she’d just said, and a blush bloomed on her cheeks.
(End of Chapter)