“How incredible.”
Tonight’s sunset lingered longer than usual, as if it, too, wanted to wait for Zervanie’s concert to begin before disappearing.
Royal Performing Arts Square.
After months of renovations, it could now barely accommodate 150,000 people.
Standing beside the massive crowd, Felyn couldn’t help but let out a sigh of amazement.
At this moment, he still had no idea that his one tiny fetish had already been revealed by Viloti. Right now, all he could think was—Zervanie's really become this popular?
When the number 150,000 turned into a real sight before his eyes, Felyn realized that Zervanie’s influence was far greater than he’d ever imagined.
Her autograph must be worth a fortune now. Maybe giving all fifty autographs to the princess was a bit of a loss...
Tonight, Felyn wore a deep navy-blue suit that emphasized his broad shoulders and lean frame. His hair was neatly styled, with a few loose strands casually falling over his forehead. A silver brooch on his chest glimmered under the evening light.
He hadn’t lined up with the crowd in the plaza. Instead, he rode in a carriage with Daiyi, avoiding the sea of people as they made their way toward the VIP entrance behind the theater.
While most of the students present were children of high-ranking clergy or elite families—people who would be considered VIPs anywhere else—in the Siveshus Empire, only royalty and a select few nobles had access to tonight’s true VIP passage.
As the carriage turned a corner, the enormous crowd finally disappeared from view.
Felyn leaned against the door, eyes sweeping past the heavily armed guards lining the streets. From behind him, the faint fragrance drifting off Daiyi made the space feel like a bamboo grove after a spring rain—light, fresh, and sweet.
Tonight, Daiyi was stunning. So beautiful, in fact, that Felyn found it hard to look directly at her.
Bathed in the golden sunset, she looked like a goddess stepping out of a shattered fresco. She reclined lazily by the window, the dark velvet gown tracing the lines of her graceful figure. Her usually loose black hair had been swept up into a high bun, with a few strands trailing elegantly along her neck.
Her emerald-green earrings swayed gently with the motion of the carriage, accentuating a face already flawless.
“You didn’t put me on the list tonight, darling?”
Daiyi noticed Felyn’s gaze. She tucked her hair behind her ear and teased him playfully.
“If I’m here with you tonight, won’t the gods get jealous?”
Felyn didn’t answer immediately. The wind stirred his hair as he leaned on one hand, gazing out the window.
“…Jealous?”
Daiyi’s curious voice echoed softly within the carriage.
“Jealous I’ve changed my faith.”
Felyn turned toward her slowly, his gaze gentle.
“From faithfully worshipping the gods… to now worshipping only you. You’re the one I believe in now.”
Daiyi’s words caught in her throat.
She stared at Felyn with wide emerald eyes, speechless.
Then she quickly turned her head away, awkwardly avoiding his gaze as her eyes dropped to the carpet beneath her feet.
“…Saying stuff like that again… seriously…” she murmured, but the flush creeping up her ears betrayed the ripple in her heart.
Seeing Daiyi flustered for once instantly lifted Felyn’s mood.
Just a moment ago, he’d been worrying about running into Princess Dorothy at the concert, and about how to face Daiyi’s father afterward.
For Felyn, this concert was far from carefree or enjoyable.
The carriage rolled down a long avenue and finally reached the security checkpoint for the VIP entrance.
A handful of nobles were already lined up for inspection by the guards.
Felyn stepped out first and turned back, extending his hand to Daiyi, palm up.
Daiyi hesitated for a split second, but before she could place her hand in his, Felyn gently wrapped his warm palm around her fingers.
Then, with careful grace, he helped her down from the carriage.
And even after she landed, he didn’t let go. Instead, he naturally intertwined their fingers, walking hand in hand as if they truly were lovers.
“F-Felyn…”
Daiyi stared at their clasped hands, her voice a quiet murmur.
Despite all her usual teasing, physical contact between them had been rare.
She could feel the warmth of his hand and the slight dampness of his palm—perhaps he was nervous too.
“There’s a line here too?” Felyn looked ahead at the long queue. The people in front were all young and clearly excited.
“They’re the delegations from Saint Andros and Lanchester Academies. You didn’t know?”
“Delegation? Wait, wait, wait—!”
Felyn’s eyes widened. He frantically scanned the crowd.
And sure enough—at the very front stood a girl with radiant rose-tea colored hair—Adelina.
“Why are they here?!”
He was completely thrown.
“Her Highness invited them,” Daiyi replied calmly. “She said luring the next generation of nobles with VIP seats to a concert was a great deal.”
“…Her Highness?”
Felyn immediately pictured the clingy, slightly delicate, pink-and-purple Princess Dorothy.
“She’s trying to recruit nobles? Isn’t that a royal affair? Are you even allowed to be telling me this?”
Felyn led Daiyi to the back of the line, still scanning for Viloti’s presence.
“What’s the big deal? Aren’t we… lovers?”
Maybe it was because he was holding her hand, but this time, Daiyi stumbled over the word lovers—a word she normally said without the slightest hesitation.
“She’s building her own faction,” Daiyi added. Then her tone shifted. “Right, about that plan I mentioned to seduce the demon witch… Have you changed your mind?”
“No. I still don’t want to be a Hero.”
With the three main Churches in a power imbalance, the Siveshus Empire had become a target for outside forces.
The plan was to seduce the Demon Lord’s daughter and awaken the Demon Lord, making him side with the Empire—thus deterring the others.
It made logical sense, but it was utterly insane.
And the reward? Not enough.
No amount of money could justify saving a morally bankrupt nation.
“…Alright, that’s fine too,” Daiyi murmured.
But her eyes followed Felyn’s gaze forward, and she spotted Adelina among the crowd.
She paused.
Then, gently, she slipped her hand out of Felyn’s.
“Did I… squeeze your hand too tightly?” He asked.
“No,” Her jade earrings gave off a soft chime as she turned, “That girl with the rose-tea colored hair—she’s your client, isn’t she? Adelina?”
She pointed at Adelina. The two of them had briefly met at Felyn’s house.
And from the conversations they’d had, it wasn’t hard to guess that the Claude family heiress was one of his clients.
“If she sees us holding hands, she’ll be heartbroken,” Daiyi whispered, leaning close to his ear.
This time, she was closer than ever before—close enough that Felyn could feel her warmth.
“We shouldn’t let her see us like this. If we’re going to hold hands… let’s do it where no one can see. I mean… isn’t that the considerate thing to do?”
Hearing Daiyi say something so unexpectedly thoughtful filled Felyn with an odd sense of guilt.
“Hey—don’t make it sound like I’m some two-timing scumbag!”
It was just two clients crossing paths—why did he feel so guilty?
“Felyn… you’re so clueless.”
As she watched him struggle with his feelings, the corners of Daiyi’s lips curled ever so slightly—revealing a tiny, victorious smile.
(End of Chapter)