“Felyn, y-you’re still here?”
“Yeah,” Felyn replied. “I just felt a little uneasy leaving you alone. I figured if you started to regret anything or needed someone to talk to, I should be the first person there for you.”
Fulfilling his client’s needs and healing their emotions—that was his job.
Even if tonight’s service was a complimentary addition to their contract, he was still determined to fulfill it thoroughly until the promised time.
Felyn had originally planned to leave once the contract ended at ten o’clock. But he hadn’t expected Adeline to come out so soon.
Under the moonlight, her eyes shimmered with tears, reflecting the silhouette of the young man in front of her.
Her gray-blue eyes were full of surprise and disbelief.
She never imagined Felyn would really wait outside her door this whole time.
“You were really just standing there in the night for over an hour?” Her voice trembled with both joy and concern. “You idiot… you’ll catch a cold!”
Adeline stepped forward, reaching out to touch Felyn’s cheek, feeling the chill of his skin. Her eyes flickered with guilt and pain.
The thought that Felyn had waited so long in the cold wind just for her made her heart ache.
If only she hadn’t been so stubborn, he wouldn’t have had to suffer like this.
“Come inside. You’ll catch a cold out here.” She gently tugged on Felyn’s hand, “I have so much I want to tell you…”
The night wind followed them back into the warmth of the house. The golden light of the living room wrapped around them like honey, casting a soft glow over everything.
Adeline looked at the painting on the wall—it looked more beautiful now that Felyn was here.
Even those cold pieces of art seemed to gain warmth and life.
“I’ll make you some hot tea.” Adeline pressed down lightly on Felyn’s shoulder and urged him to sit on the sofa. “Rest for a bit.”
When she returned with the steaming red tea, Felyn took the cup and felt its warmth seep into his body.
Amid the scent of tea, Adeline finally dropped her guard. She began recounting everything she’d experienced since arriving in the Royal Capital.
Felyn listened quietly, occasionally responding to let her know he was still there.
Thanks to her thorough preparation, Noke hadn’t made things too difficult for her.
However, Noke used the excuse that the association was undergoing “institutional reforms,” and required all organizations applying for sponsorship to resubmit their applications under a new evaluation system.
Fortunately, the student council members had backed her up. In just a few days, they had nearly completed a brand-new application plan.
Tonight, Adeline’s task was to compile all of their drafts into a final report and submit it to the association before sunset tomorrow.
Everything seemed to be under control.
“But who knows… Maybe when I get there tomorrow, she’ll throw some new demand at me again,” Adeline muttered, rubbing her hands.
She had just poured out all her frustration to Felyn.
This situation had clearly affected her deeply.
Felyn listened, and a strong urge rose inside him—he wanted to grab Adeline right now, charge into Noke’s estate, and blast the whole place with a Seventh-Rank Seal using his “cheat” ability.
You old hag! Picking on Adeline like that? Do you know how long I worked to build up her confidence, only for you to nearly crush it in a few days?!
Anyone who messes with my client’s emotions—I, Felyn, will never let them off!
To him, this job wasn’t just about making money—it was a duty. A mission.
He had solved so many messy problems for so many people already!
But now Noke was stirring things up. At best, she was targeting Adeline. At worst, she was sabotaging society’s progress, the rights of mankind, the structure of civilization itself!
“If I go there, I’ll beat her into a pig!”
Hearing that, Adeline burst into laughter, covering her mouth as her body gently trembled.
“You’ll definitely end up in jail.”
“I don’t care! No one bullies you on my watch!” Felyn raised his fist to show his determination.
“Then I’ll go with you and help you punch her too.” Adeline placed her hand casually over his, though her heart was pounding in her chest.
“Let’s share a jail cell then.”
Felyn nearly blurted out, “Even if we’re arrested together, you’ll be sent to the women’s wing. We can’t even share a cell.”
But saying something like that would’ve totally killed the mood.
As long as the client’s emotions were stable, his mission was complete.
After all the intense emotions, Adeline finally calmed down.
She glanced at the clock. It was almost ten.
Suddenly, an overwhelming sense of reluctance welled up in her heart.
If only Felyn didn’t have to leave tonight…
“Adeline, it’s already pretty late, and there’s no public transport in the capital right now. It’s my first time here. I don’t really know the area, and the inn I’m staying at is really far... so…”
Felyn noticed Adeline looking at the clock and knew exactly what she was thinking.
And what he said wasn’t a lie—he really didn’t know how to get back right now.
The Royal Capital was huge and pitch black at night. If he went back on foot, it’d probably be dawn before he got there.
Besides, he didn’t have anything to do at the inn anyway. Daiyi had just messaged him saying her father was too busy to meet with him for the next few days.
So really, staying here was the smarter choice.
And who knew—maybe Adeline would throw him a little bonus.
In that case, he’d be earning a premium wage from Daiyi and getting a tip from Adeline.
Double the income!
Heh heh, salary for one maid is covered!
The moment Felyn said that, Adeline’s eyes—dim just a second ago—suddenly lit up.
It was the first time he had ever taken the initiative to ask to stay over.
“If you don’t mind… you can sleep in my room… I mean, on the little sofa in my room.”
She didn’t offer the guest room.
Because if he slept in the guest room, that would be no different than sending him home.
She just wanted to spend more time with him.
Was this considered workplace harassment?
“You can keep me company too… chat with me or something,” Adeline added, then offered, “Of course, I’ll count it as overtime. Five times the normal rate. Hourly pay. Everything by the book—okay?”
Felyn’s head started nodding involuntarily.
The mention of five times the pay turned him into a willing slave to money. His body agreed before his brain could even react.
Pathetic! My body has already become a slave to capital… I hear “money” and I climax.
Felyn stared critically at the long string of zeroes on his seal card, and laughed… critically.
Adeline called the maid to tidy up her room.
Meanwhile, Felyn washed some fruit in the kitchen and brought it to her room on a tray.
When the chat ended, Adeline went back to work.
“Felyn, I’ll probably be up pretty late tonight… maybe I won’t sleep at all. If you get tired, you… you can sleep on my bed.”
Felyn waved it off, meaning we’ll see who gets sleepy first.
Seeing her smile at him before turning seriously back to her paperwork, he knew better than to disturb her.
He grabbed a book from the shelf and sat down on the sofa.
The room was quiet, filled only with the sounds of pages turning and pens scratching.
The scent of Adeline’s rose perfume lingered softly in the air.
Felyn looked up and watched her back in silence.
Adeline was incredible, resilient, capable.
She wasn’t some pampered young lady. She had a will of her own, a strength that was admirable.
She chased her lofty, even absurd dreams with everything she had.
That was something Felyn genuinely respected.
For the sake of her family’s future and honor, she had to watch every word and every action.
Felyn knew for a fact he couldn’t do the same.
I’m already doing great by not borrowing money from my relatives. Help them get rich? Give me a break.
…
On the other side of the Royal Capital, in a distant manor—
The very Noke that Felyn had just threatened to turn into a pig-face sat on a couch in her study.
Standing before her was a man in a long robe.
“You people from the Divine Church promised me those Seals for support—so where are they?” she asked with a scowl. “I’ve been luring the Claude family’s attention for you all this time, and this is how you repay me?”
“Lady Noke, the border inspections at Seiwa have been unusually strict lately,” the robed man replied calmly. “You’ll need to wait a little longer. But thanks to our support, your family went from being a no-name house to one bold enough to challenge the Claudes for control of the military industry. This isn’t a short-term relationship, so please… don’t be impatient.”
Noke snorted, clearly dissatisfied, but didn’t argue further.
She muttered, “Speaking of the Claudes… that little lady of theirs is going to submit her application tomorrow. I can’t stall her much longer.”
She never wanted to go head-to-head with Adeline. After all, as a senior, doesn't that look like bullying a junior?
But since the Divine Church’s plan was to weaken the Claude family, the best way was to start with their heir. Miss Adeline herself.
“She won’t be submitting that report tomorrow,” the robed man said flatly.
“What nonsense are you spouting? Do you even know what Adeline is capable of? She could whip up a nearly perfect new application in just a few days—”
Before she could finish, Noke realized the implication in his words.
“You’re planning to make a move on her?!”
“There are some things it’s best you don’t know, Lady Noke. Otherwise, things might get… complicated.”
The man gave a shallow bow, offered no further explanation, and walked out the door.
(End of Chapter)