"Go to the Royal Capital?"
"Mm, we’ve basically finalized the sponsorship deal with the Royal Capital Chamber of Commerce. I need to go to their headquarters to sign the contract. Just two or three days, then I’ll be back."
The Royal Capital District of Seiwa was a vast plain enclosed by walls made of Magic Crystal Stone.
It was said that at dawn and dusk, magic power from the massive, renewable Magic Crystal Veins beneath the surface would rise into the sky, casting a blue-violet glow across the entire capital district.
Thanks to the sleeping Demon King Siveshus beneath the ground, the magic crystal veins below the capital greatly enhanced people's Divine Affinity here.
The higher one's affinity, the stronger their resonance with the divine—naturally, their power output would be greater as well.
This was the most prestigious academic hub on the entire continent. If there were a global academy ranking in this world, the top hundred would all be located here.
Because of the unique blessings of the capital, nearly the entire Royal Capital District consisted of schools and academies, filled with elite students from every corner of the world.
Except for the royal family and a small number of approved Siveshus Empire citizens, everyone else in the capital was a young person under the age of 27 from various regions around the world.
The entry requirements for the capital were incredibly strict. Each country had a fixed annual quota of admissions to the district, and competition was extremely fierce.
Even Siveshus Empire citizens needed to pass the Capital’s entrance exam to qualify.
Just getting to enter the capital—even if it was just for a short visit and then leaving—was enough to make most people overjoyed.
But Felyn wasn’t happy.
The Royal Capital wasn’t just about schools—it was about two people.
One of them was Princess Dorothy of the Siveshus Empire.
The other, a famous poet, founder of the artifact brand Serafina—Serafina herself.
Both were Felyn’s clients.
Though Serafina seemed to have left the country recently to attend some events and hadn’t contacted him in a while.
The princess, however, was still in the capital.
Though the Chamber of Commerce was far from where the princess resided...
After all that had happened recently, Felyn had a feeling: even if he went to the Royal Capital Chamber of Commerce, the princess might suddenly appear at his side for some strange reason.
"I’ll think about it, Adeline."
This wasn’t the right time or place to ruin the mood. He’d just find an excuse later and turn her down.
Adeline pouted. She had imagined Felyn looking excited and eager to go with her—so why wasn’t he?
Felyn clearly loved me and wanted to be with me, yet he was saying no?
Her eyes sparkled a little. Lately, Adeline had read a ton of romance novels for Felyn’s sake, and there was a term in those novels for this kind of behavior.
Tsundere.
Felyn is a tsundere!
Maybe he was saying “It’s okay, you don’t need to bring me,” but deep down he was screaming, “Hurry and take me with you, Adeline! I really want to go with you!”
Yes, yes! That fits!
Thinking about it, all the times Felyn had refused her in the past suddenly made sense.
I’m so dumb.
I never realized Felyn had such a tsundere personality. He must’ve been disappointed so many times.
Thank goodness I read all those romance novels! Felyn, I understand you now. From now on, I’ll take everything you say and interpret it the opposite way.
Saying no means yes.
Saying you don’t like something means you do.
Tsundere Felyn... is kind of adorable!
Adeline sneaked a glance at Felyn. He looked like he was lost in thought.
He must be thinking about how to create some alone time with her on the trip to the capital.
Like maybe telling her the inn only has one room left, and then offering to sleep on the couch, saying he absolutely wouldn’t try anything.
And then in the middle of the night, he’d sneak over to her side...
Of course, Adeline already knew what would happen next:
[Adeline, I was just checking if you were asleep, not trying to do anything.]
[But Felyn, your hand is already…]
[I’m not doing this because I like you! It’s just... just because of the contract. But... if you need me... I’ll stay with you tonight…]
The steam engine in Adeline’s head was now running at full speed, and the scene she imagined made her whole body flush with a faint rosy glow.
“Adeline?” Felyn was confused.
Adeline, beside him, was gripping her fork tightly, her head buried so deep into her chest that her rose-tea hair curled around her like a cocoon.
I didn’t even say anything yet. Why are you heating up all on your own?
Just then, a gentle knock broke the silence.
“Come in.”
The maid Mirian pushed in a dining cart, and the delicious aroma of food spread through the room.
Her eyes instantly picked up on something unusual in the private room.
Adeline, seated beside Felyn, was biting her lip, her gray-blue eyes misty with tears, and her neck and cheeks flushed with a seductive blush.
Have they already started foreplay?!
Oh my gods!
Dinner had barely started, the dishes had just arrived, and these two were already about to climax together?!
It’s only been ten minutes and the young lady of the Claude family, Adeline, is already about to melt into a puddle. Felyn, you’re incredible!
At this rate, even seducing a princess—or no, even seducing a Divine Child—would be no problem!
“Please enjoy your meal.”
Mirian left the room, her eyes still filled with crazed excitement, leaving only Felyn and Adeline alone again.
The room was filled with the scent of delicious food—and a hint of awkwardness.
Adeline forced herself to snap out of her fantasies and gulped down a big sip of her drink to steady her emotions.
Once she calmed down, she remembered that she still hadn’t given Felyn the gift she had prepared.
“Oh, right, Felyn. I wanted to give you something today—as a reward for all your hard work lately.”
She took a delicate gift box out of her bag and placed it in front of Felyn.
“Thank you, Adeline! I’m really so happy—I didn’t think I’d get a gift tonight.”
He carefully untied the ribbon and opened the box to find an exquisitely made charm.
Felyn frowned slightly. He felt like he had seen this design somewhere before.
“I actually wanted to give it to you the other day at home, but I forgot.”
That day, Adeline had drunk herself silly and naturally forgot all about the charm.
“It’s okay. You drank too much that day, Adeline. Just don’t drink that much again, okay?”
Adeline blinked, staring at Felyn with a bit of defiance in her eyes.
“Mm, Adeline, you’re not very good at drinking”
Not good?
Is there anything I, Adeline, am not good at?
It’s just drinking! Last time I let my guard down—but this time, there’s no way I’ll lose to alcohol again!
Adeline would not allow herself to be bad at anything—especially not in front of Felyn.
Even if it’s something as silly as drinking—absolutely not!
“Felyn, when I passed downstairs just now, I saw a place selling fresh-squeezed juice that looked really tasty. Could you get me a cup?”
“Hm? Sure.”
Felyn had no idea about Adeline’s little scheme, or the fire of determination in her eyes.
As soon as Felyn shut the door behind him, had he looked back, he would’ve seen Adeline’s hand reach for the red wine on the table.
He quickly found the juice place Adeline mentioned. A few minutes later, as Felyn returned upstairs, he saw Mirian standing outside the private room.
“Mirian? Are you spying again?”
Mirian jumped at the sound, turning around to see Felyn as if he were a god—her eyes full of worship.
“Lord Felyn! I knew I wasn’t wrong about you. I’ll guard the door for you—I won’t let anyone in.”
Seeing the expression on her face, Felyn had a bad feeling in his gut.
He quickly pushed open the door, and a strong smell of alcohol rushed out at him.
Adeline was half-leaning on the table, one hand supporting her chin, the other holding an empty wine glass.
More than half the red wine bottle on the table was already gone.
Her spaghetti strap had slipped off her shoulder, revealing fair skin and delicate collarbones. Her rose-tea hair was slightly messy, the carpet draped over her shoulders, hiding the blush on her cheeks.
“Felyn, you’re back. Drink. Come here... Hug me.”
(End of Chapter)