“Sigh.”
Zervanie had lost count of how many times she’d sighed.
She was now sitting in her private car on the way back to the inn.
In the end, she still hadn’t been able to return with Felyn.
There were so many things she wanted to say to him, so many chances she wanted to seize just to be with him a little longer—but none of it made it past her lips.
She didn’t dare say too much. She was afraid Felyn would see through her thoughts. If that happened, he might respond with that same cold indifference again.
She had already experienced that once—and once was more than enough. Zervanie absolutely didn’t want to go through it a second time.
She stared at her own reflection in the window, trying to reassure herself that she still looked cute… still looked beautiful…
Before seeing Felyn, she had even taken the time to do her makeup and put on the butterfly waist chain, all in the hope that he might like her a little more.
Zervanie replayed every moment she’d just spent with him in her head—every word, every interaction. She couldn’t think of anything she’d done wrong.
So why wouldn’t Felyn choose to be with her?
She wished she could see his reflection in the glass. She wished he were sitting beside her right now.
But there was only her.
Zervanie didn’t know what to do next. She stared blankly out the window at the scenery rushing by.
She felt a little envious of Viloti.
Just a few days ago, she had even boasted to her, “I’m friends with Felyn too.”
She thought she and Viloti were on equal footing in Felyn’s heart. But now she realized they weren’t even close.
Viloti could naturally stand beside him. She could openly show her dependence on him.
Zervanie envied that she could kiss Felyn without getting scolded. Envied that Felyn never pulled away from her.
So even friends… have different ranks. She was the lowest of the low.
“…Sigh.”
When would this kind of day come to an end?
Zervanie lightly slapped her cheeks and forced a smile in the reflection.
It’s okay, Zervanie. This is nothing.
Felyn tolerated so many of my ridiculous demands in the past. What’s a few more days now? You’re not giving up already, are you?
She silently cheered herself on.
At least… at least Felyn had just given her a gift.
Zervanie carefully tucked the bill he’d given her into the inner pocket of her clothes.
It was the first thing he’d given her something since the contract ended. She had to keep it safe.
Even if it was just paper money, because it was from Felyn, it had a special meaning now.
…
Felyn wasn’t worried at all about awkwardly bumping into Zervanie again after going their separate ways.
Because, once again—he got lost.
“Should’ve just asked Zervanie for directions before we parted…”
By the time he finally made it back to the inn, it was nearly evening.
He’d basically spent the whole day walking.
Seriously?!
With Zervanie’s concert approaching, the Royal Capital was plastered with her posters. Every street corner had her face on it.
Even the front of his inn was covered.
Support banners, merchandise, flags—it looked like the whole city was celebrating a major festival.
If Felyn didn’t know her personally, he might’ve suspected she was using some kind of mind-control magic to make people this obsessed.
He had always wondered what it would be like to be a popular idol. It must feel amazing.
But after seeing Zervanie’s painful, obsessive side in private, he realized—being an idol wasn’t easy at all.
Felyn returned to his room, took off his clothes, and stepped into the bathroom.
“Phew…”
Only when the hot water poured over him did he feel a trace of relief.
He thought coming to the Royal Capital would be a relaxing trip. Why did it still feel so exhausting?
After getting out of the bath, Felyn heard a knock at the door.
He was in pajamas when he opened it.
“Miss Daiyi?”
Standing outside was Daiyi, dressed in a cream-colored linen backless dress. Her usual loose black hair was tied into a bun with a light blue ribbon, adding a gentle, wifely grace to her divine aura.
She took a small step back when the door opened.
“Miss Daiyi, what are you doing here?”
“Just making sure the girls inside are dressed properly. I’m not about to walk in and see something I shouldn’t, am I?”
Though she said that, her deep green eyes were already peeking curiously into the room.
“There are no girl! And definitely no girls plural!” Felyn protested, swinging the door wide open to prove his innocence.
“Even if we’re only lovers by name, bringing other girls into this hotel would be a bit much, wouldn’t it? I’d never do that kind of thing.”
He crossed his arms, explaining seriously.
“Hmph, so you do know how to talk like a gentleman.”
Daiyi bumped his shoulder lightly, a smile tugging at her lips.
“So to keep your girlfriend from feeling jealous and heartbroken, you decided to sneak off and spend the night out with another girl instead?”
She stepped into the room and looked back with a teasing grin.
“Should I be thanking you, dear?”
Felyn scratched his face, feeling like he’d been played again.
Just as he was about to close the door, a foot jammed itself into the gap.
A girl with short black-and-red hair—Bernice—followed in behind Daiyi, one hand on her waist.
She was wearing shorts and a cropped top, long white socks with blue and yellow stripes, and ankle boots.
“Brenice? What are you doing here?”
“Not happy to see me, Senior Felyn?”
She clasped her hands behind her back, legs rubbing nervously together.
She tilted her head up with a pitiful expression.
“Don’t do that. It’s gross.”
“Hey! Is that any way to talk to a girl?” Bernice snapped, instantly dropping the act and returning to her usual puppet-like expression.
Now Felyn’s room had two gorgeous girls in it. Bernice took a seat by the window, and Daiyi settled on the sofa.
“So, my two ladies—what brings you here tonight?”
Felyn turned to the kitchen to make tea. Daiyi preferred black tea. Bernice liked milk.
He almost told Bernice, Even if you drink milk every day, they’re not getting any bigger.
But he didn’t have the guts to say it.
He’d probably get killed.
“Felyn, my father’s coming to meet us tomorrow. I just wanted to practice pretending to be your girlfriend a bit more tonight.”
Daiyi accepted the tea from Felyn, holding the cup with both hands and taking a small sip.
“I don’t have anything going on tonight. But Bernice, why are you in my room?”
Felyn placed the warm milk on the table in front of her.
“To protect Lady Daiyi, of course. What if you used this whole ‘fake relationship’ excuse to take advantage of her tonight?”
“Can you not make me sound like such a creep?!”
Bernice tilted her head back and sipped her milk, her throat moving gracefully as she swallowed.
A few drops slipped from the corner of her lips, leaving a white trail.
She set the cup down, stuck out her tongue, and slowly licked the milk from the corner of her mouth.
Her lips still glistened with white as she looked up.
Her eyes met Felyn’s in the air, and for a brief second, time froze.
The two of them stared at each other in awkward silence.
“…Did you just fantasize about me in front of Daiyi?”
Bernice said it with a deadpan expression.
“I did NOT!” Felyn waved his fist at her, flustered.
Since when did Bernice turn into Daiyi 2.0? Actually… she’s even more evil now!
Bernice leaned back in the chair, crossing her legs.
“I’d leave if I could. If you two suddenly get all lovey-dovey, wouldn’t I be a total third wheel?”
“I asked her to come,” Daiyi said from the couch.
“We’re going to have to pass my father’s inspection tomorrow, right? So I asked someone to pretend to be him.”
She glanced at Felyn, who looked confused.
“Bernice knows my father pretty well. She knows the kinds of questions he might ask, so—”
“So I’m not holding back,” Bernice interrupted.
She stood up and moved to the couch opposite Daiyi, motioning for Felyn to sit next to her.
“Officially, I’m just someone her lord father sent to check up on you. If he finds out I’m in on the act, I’ll be in serious trouble too.”
(End of Chapter)