Boom!
As fireworks lit up the night sky, dazzling colors danced across Dorothy’s face.
She looked adorable tonight.
Her pastel purple hair was styled into twin tails draped over her shoulders, with two fluffy white pom-pom hair ties hanging from each braid.
Hands clasped in front of her chest, she gazed out at the fireworks, then caught sight of Zervanie soaring into the sky.
“Miss Zervanie…”
Dorothy had seen Zervanie once before at an inn, but the presence she exuded now, standing tall on stage, felt even more powerful.
That sweet voice, the energetic dancing, the roar of cheers from the crowd below—
Everything was just so perfect.
Just as Felyn had predicted, Dorothy was now completely enchanted by Zervanie.
As the opening song ended, Zervanie’s voice continued to guide the emotions of her fans.
Dorothy glanced at the guards and royal attendants within the box, then leaned close to Daiyi and whispered in her ear, “Miss Daiyi, this box is a little… inconvenient. Could I go to your box with you instead?”
Among all these people, Dorothy had to maintain her royal etiquette—it was exhausting. She longed for a quiet, private space where she could fully enjoy Zervanie’s performance.
In the eyes of the royal family, one must always remain poised, graceful, and dignified.
“…But…”
Daiyi hesitated. She knew Felyn was a bit uncomfortable around the princess. Would it really be a good idea to let the two of them meet?
“Please, Miss Daiyi.”
Dorothy gently clutched her hand, pouting ever so slightly. “Just for a little while, we’ll sneak out and sneak right back.”
Daiyi pulled out her communication seal and sent a message to Bernice, confirming Felyn’s current location.
After hearing that Felyn wasn’t in the box, Daiyi forwarded Dorothy’s request.
Meanwhile, in the adjacent box—
Bernice lowered the seal and stole a glance at Felyn and Adelina, who seemed to be in a bit of a spat. She couldn’t help but giggle to herself.
…
A few minutes earlier—
Felyn had come to a sudden realization.
Smiling at another girl in front of a client—that was an inexcusable mistake.
When on duty, the client should always be the center of his world.
His clients were all difficult young ladies with delicate hearts. The more sensitive they were, the more careful he needed to be.
Even though this wasn’t technically within contract hours, he had already decided to take care of Adelina tonight. That meant following his professional service standards to the letter.
Felyn reflected seriously on his slip-up, determined not to let it happen again.
“Adelina, would you like some water? Or maybe something to eat?”
“Thank you, Mr. Felyn. I’m fine for now.”
Her tone was overly polite—far too formal.
When she saw Felyn smiling at Zervanie, something inside her twisted. It made her feel worse than when she saw him with Viloti.
Zervanie’s a bad woman. Felyn, have you fallen for her charms too?!
Hearing Adelina use such formal language, Felyn realized she was even more upset than he’d thought.
“How about a shoulder massage, then? Watching a concert like this can be tiring.”
“No need, Mr. Felyn. Miss Zervanie’s performance is more than enough to soothe the soul.”
Adelina sat perfectly upright, her back straight and her posture refined.
Whenever Felyn looked at her, she turned slightly away, letting her rose-tea-colored hair fall to cover half her face. All he could see were her trembling lashes and her faintly flushed cheeks.
And somehow… Felyn thought she looked a little cute like this.
He was so used to seeing her confident and capable that catching a glimpse of this more vulnerable side of her was unexpectedly endearing.
Still, since the client was clearly unhappy, he needed to cheer her up—quickly.
But how…?
Noticing Felyn fall silent, Adelina grew more restless and stole a peek at him.
Is he mad at me? Does he think I’m being unreasonable?
A wave of unease washed over her. Her breathing grew shallow, her usual confidence replaced by the jittery nervousness of adolescence.
But still… I really do feel upset.
Why does it have to be Zervanie? She’s obviously just a lying temptress—everything about her is an act!
Adelina’s arms, which had been tightly crossed over her chest, slowly relaxed. Her body softened just a little.
Why isn’t he saying anything?
Does he think I’m childish? Or maybe… maybe he really does like Zervanie?
She bit her lower lip. A hint of panic and frustration flashed across her face.
Just as she was about to speak up and try to patch things over—
Felyn finally said something.
“Zervanie really is beautiful, isn’t she?”
“…What?”
Adelina’s heart skipped a beat. She stared at him in disbelief.
“Especially when she’s on stage—she really shines.”
The light in Adelina’s gray-blue eyes dimmed. She pressed her hands to her cheeks, blinking slowly.
“…Seeing her like that, Adelina, made me think of you.”
Felyn’s tone shifted as he reached out and gently took her hands, still resting against her chest.
He didn’t look at her expression—just felt the soft tremble of her fingers in his palm.
“Just like Miss Zervanie, you shine brightly in your own field. You’re just as dazzling, just as captivating. That’s what made me smile. Because in her, I saw a glimpse of you. When I looked at her, I thought of you—my Adelina.”
Adelina’s expression softened, like winter snow beginning to melt.
Her stiff demeanor eased, and the tight lines between her brows gently smoothed out.
“You always say the sweetest things.”
Her voice no longer carried that cold formality—it was warm again.
It seemed Felyn had successfully coaxed her back to her usual self.
But he wasn’t quite finished.
He turned his eyes toward the stage, watching Zervanie perform, and murmured thoughtfully:
“Miss Zervanie is a star in the sky, a gem that belongs to the whole world. But me…”
Adelina tilted her head curiously, “Me?”
Felyn scratched his head, looking away shyly.
“Do I really have to say it? You better not laugh.”
“I won’t laugh,” Adelina replied solemnly. “I swear on the name of House Claude.”
“…Zervanie belongs to the world. But I—I want to belong only to you, Adelina.”
Adelina blinked.
It took her a few seconds to fully process what he meant.
“I want to belong only to you.”
Those words echoed through every corner of her mind.
It was like someone had poured rose-colored paint all over her. From her cheeks to the tips of her ears, she flushed a deep, beautiful pink.
Her breathing grew visibly uneven, her chest rising and falling with each breath.
Her hands hovered awkwardly in the air before flustering down to her lap.
(End of Chapter)