Weekends were always cheerful times.
The steam rising from the black tea on the table drifted lazily across the dining room, softening even the afternoon sunlight.
The shadows on the floor came to an abrupt halt at Daiyi’s long, slender, and fair feet, not daring to touch those flawless soles, as if sculpted by the hands of the gods.
Daiyi propped her face in one hand, watching Felyn’s movements, and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Are you going to a dungeon or something? You’ve got steel plates stuffed under your clothes.”
Felyn adjusted the steel plates in his shirt, trying to keep them hidden while still protecting his vital organs.
“Going to see a client. Uh, I might have made her a little mad, so this is just a precautionary measure.”
Just a teeny, tiny bit angry.
Adeline saw him together with her archenemy, Veloti, imagining he was spending her money while laughing behind her back with Veloti… Could he even walk out of her house alive?
“You didn’t do anything outrageous to your client, right? Like, she pushed a little and you went along with it, and then—boom—just did it anyway.”
Daiyi shielded her very average chest, “Then I must be in danger too! I think I’ll write in my diary that I never had any romantic thoughts about Felyn. If anything happens, he forces me. Guards, arrest him!”
“I didn’t do anything to her! And also, the way you said ‘boom, just did it’—what’s with that? How does something even make a ‘boom’ sound in that context?”
Felyn knocked on his own torso, “Not bad, not bad. Got a nice crisp sound—reassuring.”
“If I don’t come back tonight, Please call the guards.”
Felyn pleaded with Daiyi, who was just enjoying the show on the side.
“No problem. But… you don’t have any relatives, right? Shouldn’t your inheritance go to me, your girlfriend?”
“In your eyes, I’m just going to die tonight, huh?”
Felyn stopped bantering with Daiyi. Time was drawing close to Adeline’s service period.
He really felt like he was the picture of professional dedication.
Even in this situation, he was still going to fulfill the contract.
Isn’t there a god in charge of stuff like this?
Come see the world’s most contract-abiding man—me!
“I’m heading out.”
“Good luck. Oh, and…”
Daiyi leaned on the doorway, watching Felyn, who had just stepped out but was still standing on the steps.
“Down there… Did you take precautions? If you’re no longer a man after tonight, my father probably won’t approve of our marriage.”
“Of course I did! Don’t say it so creepily, okay?!”
—
Donk District.
It was already autumn, but Felyn was drenched in sweat as he walked along the street toward Adeline’s villa.
Aside from the steel plates protecting his vital spots, He had also prepared some Defensive Inscription Seals.
Tonight, everything was unknown for Felyn. And the unknown… was the scariest part.
What would Adeline do to him?
Honestly, whatever she did, he could probably understand it.
After all, she’d seen him together with Veloti.
Felyn stared at Adeline’s villa growing nearer and nearer, feeling like he was approaching the castle of a swamp witch. Once inside, there might be no coming out again.
Even if he escaped, he might end up turned into an Adeline-shaped thoughtform.
He walked across the stone path laid in the courtyard and knocked on the door, listening to the heavy thud that followed.
Whatever happens, happens.
Footsteps soon echoed from within.
Felyn swallowed, watching the door slowly open before him.
“Felyn, you’re here.”
Adeline had her usual gentle smile.
She stood in the doorway wearing a casual white dress she often wore at home, with a beige knit shawl over her shoulders.
On her feet were still those bunny-eared platform slippers,
as she gave him a meaningful smile.
“Adeline, it’s only been a few days, but I already feel lonely without you.”
“You’re teasing again.”
Adeline beamed as she welcomed Felyn inside, taking his coat and hanging it by the door.
“Adeline, I brought you some flowers. And also, this limited-edition cake from The Witch of Karine’s shop.”
Felyn used a limited dessert coupon to get this cake, hoping it could soothe Adeline’s anger.
“This is that limited-edition dessert, right? Felyn, you really managed to get something like this?!”
Adeline took the gift and placed it on the dining table, then turned to the kitchen to fetch two plates and split the cake in half.
“Felyn, you should try some too. It always tastes better when shared.”
“…This doesn’t feel right.”
As he walked toward Adeline, Felyn questioned himself internally.
Shouldn’t Adeline have dragged him into the room, ordered him to kneel and repent all night, and whipped him a few times?
Even if she made him shout, “I’m Adeline-sama’s dog,” Felyn wouldn’t have been surprised.
But now she was acting like nothing happened?
Could it be… she’s not angry anymore?
“Adeline, about what happened that day in the Seal Practice Grounds, I’d like to explain.”
“Mhm, go ahead. I’m listening.”
Once again, Felyn was surprised. Adeline wasn’t avoiding the topic, nor did she explode the moment it was brought up.
She just smiled and waited patiently for his explanation.
“I really didn’t know Veloti had hurt you in the past, And I’ve never spoken about your past in front of her.”
Felyn explained honestly. He truly hadn’t spoken ill of Adeline in front of Veloti.
Besides, Felyn guessed Veloti probably didn’t even remember stealing the class president role from Adeline back in kindergarten.
Most normal people wouldn’t remember something like that!
“I think you’re a really good girl, Adeline. You’ve been very kind to me. Even though our relationship is just contractual, you still buy me so many things and never look down on me.”
“I’m not angry, Felyn. You don’t need to worry so much. I’ve thought it through. You don’t bear me any ill will.”
Adeline replied while eating her dessert.
Looking at her like this, Felyn could tell she wasn’t faking it.
Could it be… she really had let it go?
Was it because of all the time he’d spent working with her that she finally let go of her obsession with winning, and her desire for revenge?
Am I… really that amazing?
No. I am that amazing!
Felyn began to get smug.
His job wasn’t just playing the fantasy boyfriend of some rich lady, broaden the scope a little—he was maintaining social harmony, helping people relieve stress, and healing psychological wounds.
The king should really give me a medal or something.
After that, Adeline truly didn’t give him a hard time.
She didn’t make him repent. She just worked like usual in the bedroom and let Felyn take care of her.
Felyn quietly removed the steel plates hidden in his shirt. He figured they weren’t needed. They were hot and inconvenient anyway.
He stashed them in Adeline’s garden, planning to retrieve them on the way out.
“Adeline, I cut up some fruit for you. I’m coming in, okay?”
Felyn knocked on the bedroom door and found it was already open.
He stepped in, holding a fruit platter.
On the floor sat a leather box, engraved with the words: Serafina’s Secrets.
Adeline stood by the wardrobe, her foot propped on the bed, pulling a pair of black thigh-high stockings up her legs.
“Felyn?! Wh-why are you coming in?”
Felyn struggled to make sense of what he was seeing.
On the floor was a box from that specialty shop all the noble ladies loved.
And Adeline… had already taken off her dress and changed into a short maid outfit.
“Well, since you already saw it… there’s no helping it.”
Adeline held her hand over her exposed snow-white chest and walked over to the frozen Felyn, shut the door, and locked it.
Felyn had only one thought in his mind.
Crap.
Where’s my steel plate?
(End of Chapter)