Chapter 5

Seeing that Lyzbel was nervous, A lightly reached out and patted her cheek.  

“Even if you just drink and leave, it’s fine. Take it easy. What did Eugene tell you?”  

“She said that if someone catches my interest, I can sleep with them immediately.”  

“Is that what Eugene told you? Well, yes. This is a place where people gather for safe one-night stands.”  

So that’s why the men undergo regular STD checks. Of course, Lyzbel had come here to spite her parents, not to contract a disease. She had no intention of leaving without accomplishing her goal of sabotaging the marriage deal. After all, her identity was hidden, so no one could recognize her. After receiving a brief explanation from A, she was guided into the banquet hall.  

Lyzbel, who had only ever seen brightly lit banquet halls, was stunned by the dimly lit one before her. Although no one wore masks, their faces were still unrecognizable, as if obscured by recognition-blocking magic. Recognition-blocking magic was a high-level spell and quite rare, yet it was used here without hesitation.  

Even though she couldn’t see their features, the attendees’ silhouettes suggested that most of them were physically attractive. The banquet hall, filled with sultry classical music, already had people kissing here and there.  

They weren’t doing anything more intimate than kissing, yet it looked indecent. Why did it seem so sensual? No one else was watching them, but Lyzbel’s gaze was drawn to them.  

“Lady.”  

“Yes?”  

“You seem a bit tense. How about a glass of champagne?”  

A woman, whose face was also unclear, handed her a glass of champagne. Since her heart was racing wildly, Lyzbel cautiously accepted the glass. Drinking it might help calm her nerves. She wasn’t scared or afraid—her heart was simply pounding from the sights.  

In truth, Lyzbel had a hobby she couldn’t openly share with others—reading erotic novels. Reading was one of the few hobbies she could enjoy after being prohibited from going out once she became an adult. She had devised a method of buying erotic novels under the guise of purchasing ordinary books through her maid.  

The empire she lived in was sexually open-minded regardless of gender. However, reading erotic novels was considered a frivolous pastime for young ladies before marriage. Moreover, a selfish nouveau riche who only desired virgins would never tolerate such a hobby.  

But now, witnessing scenes she had only read about in novels right before her eyes, she couldn’t look away. She knew it was impolite to stare, but once she started watching, she couldn’t stop. Just seeing others kiss was enough to excite her—what would it feel like to experience it herself?  

As she drank champagne and wandered around, more provocative scenes came into view. She had come here intending to connect with someone, but just watching was enough to heat her body. Was it because of the alcohol? She even felt uncomfortably warm. Feeling too hot, Lyzbel headed for the balcony with a bottle of water and a glass.  

The cool air on the balcony was refreshing.  

“Ah, it’s so cool.”  

From the balcony, the sea was in full view. The mansion, located at the edge of a cliff, offered an unobstructed view of the ocean. A mansion at the cliff’s edge—what kind of mysterious place was this? Her gaze was naturally drawn to the moonlit water. As she stared for a while, she heard the sound of the balcony door opening.  

A man, whose face was also unrecognizable, staggered onto the balcony. The tall man collapsed into a chair as if he couldn’t stand any longer, breathing heavily as if feverish. His shoulders heaved as he trembled.  

The man’s breathing was so labored that it was clear something was wrong. After some hesitation, Lyzbel stepped out from behind a pillar. Sensing her presence, the man’s gaze turned toward her.  

“Are you alright?”  

At her question, the man exhaled a shallow breath and weakly shook his head. His condition was visibly poor, so she poured water into a glass and offered it to him.  

“Would you like some water?”  

“…Yes.”  

The man cautiously accepted the glass and drank it down in one gulp, as if parched. Seeing that one glass wasn’t enough, she handed him the water bottle. The man poured himself more water and drank it consecutively.  

Only then did his rough breathing seem to stabilize. Despite the awkward proximity to the man, Lyzbel was relieved that he seemed better. But then, the man hugged his upper body and shivered slightly.  

“Ugh.”  

“Are you in pain somewhere?”  

Was he seriously ill? Perhaps he had eaten something bad. Should I go inside and call for help? 

She hesitated, weighing her options.  

“I… was given a drug that heightens physical arousal.”  

“…What?”  

“I’ve heard of such mischievous pranks, but I didn’t expect to fall victim to one myself.”  

So that’s why his neck and face were flushed red. To think there were people who played such cruel pranks—what kind of lunatics were they? Wasn’t this supposed to be a clean place for one-night stands?  

Slightly shocked, Lyzbel poured him another glass of water and handed it to him.  

“I heard somewhere that quickly expelling it from your system is the best way to deal with it.”  

She had actually read about it in an erotic novel, so she wasn’t sure how accurate the information was. In that novel, the male lead had helped the female lead detox by making her drink lots of water.  

“…Alright.”  

“You can drink the rest of the water, too.”  

It was fortunate that she had brought a large bottle of water. She had intended to use it to sober up, but now it was being used for this man instead. While his features were blurry, the sweat dripping from him was painfully clear.  

After some hesitation, Lyzbel took out a handkerchief and pressed it against the man’s cheek.  

“You might catch a cold if you sweat too much.”  

“…Thank you.”  

After handing the handkerchief to the man, Lyzbel tried to step away. But she tripped on a ledge and ended up falling onto the man’s lap. Thankfully, he was seated on a large bench; otherwise, they both might have been hurt.  

“Ugh, ouch…”  

“Ugh.”  

They both groaned from the impact. As she reached out to steady herself, her hand landed on the man’s firm chest. His body felt well-trained, as if he worked out regularly. Normally, Lyzbel would never touch a stranger’s body like this. But perhaps it was the unusually clear night or the vivid sensation under her fingertips—it felt almost addictive.  

Though their faces were obscured, she could clearly feel his racing heartbeat. Just as she tried to shake her head and get up, she heard a low groan.  

“Wait… just a moment.”  

“Yes?”  

“…You’re pressing against… my manhood.”  

She had thought she was touching his thigh, but apparently, she wasn’t. Lyzbel’s face turned bright red in an instant. She hurriedly tried to get up, but her legs felt weak from the shock. Flustered, she stammered and finally removed her hand. Under the moonlight, she could see the outline of his arousal through his pants.  

It probably wasn’t her fault—surely it was the effects of the drug. Normally, Lyzbel would have fled the scene. But she had come here with a purpose, so she decided to speak up. Borrowing courage from the alcohol, she stepped off his lap and opened her mouth to speak.