The banquet hall's atmosphere reached its climax.
Sofia sat alone in a corner armchair, downing champagne glass after glass.
Her cheeks had taken on an unnatural flush, and her usually immaculate hair bun was somewhat disheveled.
Sofia saw Adeline emerge as if someone had splashed red paint on her, her limbs somewhat uncoordinated.
"Youth, ah."
Damned youth.
Sofia remembered when she was young, she too had been caught up in such scenes.
Bittersweet memories suddenly flooded her mind.
In her youth, she had also gone crazy for love.
But now she had long lost that hysterical courage and energy to sacrifice for love, becoming a stern adult.
Sofia didn't know what the three of them had talked about on the balcony.
But seeing Adeline come out looking elated, she had a good idea.
Damn it, more sickening sweet romance.
Sofia wasn't a grade director for nothing—she could tell who was dating whom at a glance.
She thought her conclusion was quite explosive, but definitely correct.
In such matters, she wouldn't be wrong even with her eyes closed.
Who would have thought, who would have thought.
Adeline actually liked Viloti.
She was a lesbian!
Seeing Viloti being pestered by Felyn, Adeline couldn't suppress her fluttering heart and went to protect her beloved.
No wonder Adeline showed that strange expression when she saw Felyn with Viloti.
Everything made sense now.
Sofia was actually open-minded about such relationships, but unfortunately, she had originally wanted Adeline to help Felyn get over Viloti's shadow, which now seemed completely impossible.
"Today's young people really know how to have fun."
Just as she finished speaking, the banquet hall's atmosphere suddenly underwent a subtle change.
The crowd unconsciously parted to form a path.
Sofia curiously lifted her head, her drunk eyes immediately brightening.
A girl in a black high-collared dress was walking slowly forward.
The crowd surged, yet naturally formed a vacuum around her.
Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, dancing gently with her steps.
Those dark green eyes flickered with a composure that didn't match her age, as if she were tonight's true protagonist.
Her every gesture carried an elegant yet distant aura, completely at odds with this noisy banquet.
Several young noble gentlemen stirred, wanting to approach and strike up conversation, but retreated the moment they met those dark green eyes.
Sofia squinted. The aura this young lady naturally possessed indicated she must be from a super-wealthy family.
If only Felyn were lucky enough to have a chance to meet her.
But thinking about it, it seemed impossible.
"Really, getting old makes you like to randomly play matchmaker."
Sofia held her empty wine glass, her eyes carrying a hint of intoxication.
She didn't notice that dazzling figure was walking straight toward Felyn.
"Miss Daiyi?"
Felyn had just seen off Adeline when he turned to find this client young lady.
He wondered if he was seeing things—shouldn't she still be on the train at this time?
Daiyi Orellian.
Those dark green eyes seemed to see through his body, as if they could directly peer into his soul.
Her expression was as indifferent as always, as if everything in the world had nothing to do with her.
"I came back early."
Her voice was pleasant but carried a hint of coldness.
"Lord Silafiel invited me to attend the banquet, so I came tonight too."
"You should have told me in advance," Felyn quickly showed a professional smile in his panic, "I could have picked you up at the station."
"Is that so?" Daiyi raised an eyebrow, a playful smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. "But if I'd told you in advance, I wouldn't have seen that wonderful scene just now."
Her gaze swept toward the balcony direction.
"Were you happy just now?"
"Just now? I was just looking at the scenery alone. There wasn't anything particularly happy or unhappy about it."
Daiyi crossed her arms, staring at Felyn.
"After just a few days apart, your harem suddenly has two more members. It seems having me as a girlfriend isn't enough for you."
Daiyi leaned closer and said in a low voice, "Are you hoping that in the future, you'll have three beautiful girls constantly clinging to you, trying to please you for your attention?"
Felyn swallowed hard.
This damned body actually had a hint of fantasy and anticipation about that scene.
But thinking about it being these three, Felyn's mind instantly cleared.
Spare me.
"Hmph, you just fantasized about that scene, didn't you?"
Daiyi lightly poked Felyn's shoulder with her finger, looking triumphant.
"If that's what Miss Daiyi wants, I'd have no choice but to agree. After all, Miss Daiyi can have me do anything..."
This retreat-to-advance strategy knocked Daiyi, who had seen victory, back to square one.
She pursed her lips, and hearing Felyn deliberately use a sweet tone to whisper such words in her ear, a blush crept up her cheeks.
"Miss Daiyi, didn't things go smoothly when you went home?"
The young lady's shoulders trembled slightly. That slender figure under the lights was incredibly moving, making one instinctively want to protect her.
"Caring about me so much—are you finally going to start pursuing me seriously?"
"Not recently," Felyn said softly, "I've had that thought since the first moment I saw Miss Daiyi."
Regarding Daiyi, Felyn indeed knew very little.
On one hand, Daiyi had come here from another country to familiarize herself with Seiwa's environment in preparation for enrolling in the Royal Capital next year, so Felyn didn't know her background.
On the other hand, Daiyi revealed very little about her family situation.
Felyn only knew her family had money and power.
Daiyi and Felyn's contract was also simple.
Act as intimate lovers in front of her parents, and Felyn had to admit his male model identity in front of her parents.
A rebellious precious daughter accidentally bringing home some playboy, then both parents spitting blood in anger—Felyn figured Daiyi probably wanted this script.
Felyn had even watched many romance dramas for this.
He was waiting for a wealthy lady to say, "There's a hundred million here, leave my daughter."
But unfortunately, in all the time since signing the contract, her family had never contacted her once.
That imagined wealthy lady never appeared.
They seemed to have forgotten they had such a daughter.
So although Felyn and Daiyi's contract said "play a couple," what Felyn actually did was more like a servant.
Three fixed days per week according to contract—cleaning, cooking for Daiyi.
It seemed easy, but this young lady who had no friends in Seiwa really enjoyed shipping Felyn with his clients, often forcing him to talk about client matters.
Though Felyn tried his best to avoid revealing client privacy, Daiyi could always deduce things from his subtle expressions and unconscious reactions.
Like how that pink-haired miss would definitely chase Felyn after their contract ended.
Like how that gentle student council president would sooner or later be completely won over by Felyn.
Felyn thought she was talking nonsense.
How could such things happen? How could those young ladies possibly fancy a fallen noble?
Did she really think they were all idiots?
Last week Daiyi had received word from home to return for a visit.
Though Felyn didn't know what happened during that time, he could probably guess.
A child suddenly called home after not being cared for by parents—either inheritance disputes or they wanted to use her.
Now it seemed to be the latter.
Daiyi set down her teacup and stepped closer, the fragrance of black tea lingering at Felyn's nose.
"This time when I came back, I changed my mind."
She gently tucked her hair behind her ear, then used a handkerchief to dab her lips still glistening with water droplets.
"During our contract period, we need to act like a real couple."
Daiyi's fingers gripped the handkerchief tightly.
"We've always been a real couple," Felyn said, somewhat confused.
"You mean the three days a week of sweeping, mopping, and cooking? That's what a maid should do."
Daiyi looked up at the young man before her.
"Even when my parents aren't here, we need to act like a real couple. Eating together, doing things together, sleeping togeth—"
Daiyi suddenly realized what inappropriate thing she'd said, a pink blush climbing her cheeks.
(End of Chapter)