Felyn returned to the concert hall just as Zervanie was chatting with the audience on stage.
“Thank you all for coming. I hope tonight’s performance becomes a wonderful memory for you.”
Naturally, the fans below responded with high-energy cheers. The waves of sound grew louder and louder.
“It’s such a joy to have your support. I hope we can keep walking together forever.”
Zervanie didn’t say “you all”—she used the singular “your.”
It was a common trick used by songstresses, a way to make every audience member feel like she was speaking directly to them.
But tonight, Zervanie wasn’t just using it as a tactic.
She meant it.
She was likely speaking from the heart, and to someone actually present—someone like Felyn.
“I like you!”
The crowd below exploded in screams at her confession.
Felyn stood in front of the private box, gazing at Zervanie on stage. He couldn’t shake the feeling that her eyes were searching for someone.
Forget it. No more thinking. He’d already used up his brain too much tonight.
He returned to the box.
Daiyi was already seated on the sofa, one hand propped against the armrest, face resting against it as she watched the performance through the window.
“Finished babysitting the princess?” she asked.
Felyn sat beside her and twisted open a bottle of water from the table.
“Wrapped up early. Her Highness seemed pretty happy tonight, so I found a chance to slip away.” He took a sip of water and casually asked, “Are you and Her Highness close?”
He was worried. If his two clients started chatting, there was a good chance they'd eventually bring him up.
“I’m not close with anyone,” Daiyi replied.
She tugged at her skirt, exposing a pale stretch of thigh. “Except for you.”
“Where’d you learn lines like that?” Felyn’s eyes didn’t wander. Instead, he stared directly into her emerald-green ones.
“Romance novels. Don’t they always say stuff like that?” Daiyi grinned. “Her Highness and I are just acquaintances. We’ve been in touch recently because there were some things we needed to discuss.”
Besides trying to win over the Demon Lord’s daughter, Princess Dorothy also had plenty of reasons to cozy up to Daiyi.
After all, if she could build a strong relationship with the future Divine Child of the Church of Truth, her control over the empire would only strengthen.
And once she had the empire firmly in her grasp, her dear brother Felyn wouldn’t ever be able to escape her again.
“So where were you? You don’t have to sneak around just because you’re dating other girls. I’m more open-minded than the Church anyway. I’ll just close my eyes and cover my ears—then you two can get started.”
“Get started with what? I really hope it’s not what I’m thinking,” Felyn muttered. Daiyi’s imagination seemed to be getting darker by the day.
She chuckled softly, then straightened up, crossing her hands neatly over her knees.
“My father is in the concert hall now. He’s heading this way.”
Felyn instinctively sat up straighter and adjusted his collar.
Before entering the box, he had already checked himself in the restroom—no lipstick marks or anything else suspicious. The last thing he wanted was for Daiyi’s father to catch wind of anything.
“Why do I feel nervous already?” Felyn muttered.
He had no idea what kind of man Daiyi’s father was.
If her bodyguard Bernice was already that powerful—and a member of the Church—then her father had to be a high-ranking official in the Church as well.
Daiyi had mentioned before that her father was strict.
Felyn imagined a cold, grim-faced middle-aged man.
“Don’t be nervous. Just act like your usual self,” Daiyi said, inching closer to him. “You know, juggling multiple girls, leaving me alone at night while you spend the night at someone else’s place... Just be honest about all of that.”
“I would be killed on the spot!”
“He wouldn’t kill you,” Daiyi replied casually. “Otherwise, his daughter would be a widow.”
“Even if I’m not dead, being crippled’s still bad enough!”
“I thought of that too.” She picked up a bag hidden beside the armrest and pulled out a folder.
“To ensure your safety, I prepared something in advance. With this, he definitely won’t lay a hand on you.”
Felyn took the folder, curious, and pulled out a document inside.
【Siveshus Empire Birth Registry - Medical Certificate】
“…When did you become the mother of twins?!”
Felyn rubbed his eyes, stunned. Under “parents,” the names listed were his and Daiyi’s.
“Fake, of course,” Daiyi reassured him. “Don’t worry, the other girls won’t be able to find out.”
She leaned against his shoulder, smiling as she watched his expression change.
“Now that you see how thoroughly I’ve prepared, are you happy? Sad? Or… maybe thinking about making it real?”
“Thank you, Miss Daiyi. Did you also go ahead and reserve a coffin and burial plot for me?”
So this was what it felt like—meeting your future father-in-law with nothing in hand, legs crossed, girl in arms, chewing on rice while saying:
“Old man, cough up some gold. Your daughter’s pregnant. She needs to eat well.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. My father won’t do anything inside the empire,” Daiyi said, brushing her long black hair behind her shoulder and watching Felyn’s reaction with amusement.
“…And outside the empire?”
“No promises.”
Felyn regretted ever coming to the Capital Region.
This place was cursed for him.
“Alright, I’m done joking around.”
Daiyi’s playful smile faded, replaced by a serious expression.
“There are a few things you should keep in mind. Don’t ask what my father does. Don’t make eye contact. Speak as little as possible. Aside from our fake relationship, try to stick to the truth.”
Felyn swallowed hard.
Was her father… really the Demon King or something?
“Even if he finds out the truth, he won’t blame you. So don’t stress,” Daiyi said softly, patting his shoulder to reassure him.
“Is there anything your father particularly likes or hates?” Felyn still wanted to make a good impression if he could.
Daiyi shook her head. “He doesn’t like much. As for things he hates… probably me right now.”
Felyn turned and saw the self-deprecating smile on her face.
The always-rational lady looked… a little lonely.
At this point, Felyn felt like his job had expanded into family therapy.
Helping patch up a father-daughter relationship—what a noble public service.
His original role was to play the “bad boy” type, to draw attention away from Daiyi and toward himself.
Just a yellow-haired punk role? Fine—he’d give it his all.
After all, Miss Daiyi was his client.
Felyn leaned back against the chair, mentally reviewing what made a convincing delinquent boyfriend.
He’d never played a yellow-haired punk before. What if he didn’t pull it off convincingly? What if her father didn’t get mad?
Knock, knock, knock.
There was a knock on the door.
Felyn licked his lips, took a deep breath, and stood up.
Time to meet Daiyi’s father.
(End of Chapter)