Chapter 1.2

Belnez gave him an awkward smile as he looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

“So really, it’s fine. Please don’t worry and enjoy the show.”

“Ah, I’m relieved.”

Erpesto sighed as if truly relieved and smiled. His expression was so beautiful that Belnez once again had to hold her heart, which was fluttering without her realizing it.

He really was an unbelievably handsome man, no matter how many times she looked. Even from afar at official events or balls, she’d always thought he was breathtakingly attractive, but seeing him up close, the impact was on a completely different level.

His golden hair, shining even in the faint light, looked as if it had been melted and poured out of pure gold, and his sapphire-blue eyes under long lashes sparkled literally like gems. His sharp nose and facial lines were so perfectly sculpted that he seemed more like a living statue than a human. Especially his plump lips were so seductive that just glancing at them made her dizzy.

How could a man be so handsome? Belnez was once again awed and moved. With looks like that, living as a playboy could almost be forgiven. Of course, her rational side wouldn’t forgive it, but her emotions forgave it first, so there was nothing she could do.

Belnez suddenly regretted that Ramon wasn’t here. If Ramon were sitting next to him, she could have watched him turn from a man into a dried squid in an instant.

“Enjoy the opera, Miss.”

Erpesto leaned in and whispered. His voice, melting into the darkness, was so sweet and mellow that, even after the lights went out in the audience and the stage opened, Belnez kept savoring the echo for a long time. The opera was as splendid as its reputation, but the lingering image of his striking beauty made it hard to focus.

* * *

The curtain fell on the stage, and the lights came up in the audience. People around her began to stand up one by one, but Belnez, lost in the afterglow of the play, sat absentmindedly, blinking her dazed eyes as if she had forgotten how to stand.

‘It was moving…….’

The shock of Erpesto’s beauty had made it hard to concentrate at first, but by the middle, she had become so immersed in the play that she forgot about him entirely.

As the reputation promised, it was an opera full of spectacle, but that wasn’t the only reason. The stage direction was experimental yet all wonderful, and the actors’ singing and acting were flawless. Above all, the scenario was excellent. As she became fully immersed and followed the flow, when the emotions of the play reached their climax, she was so overwhelmed she almost shed tears without realizing it.

‘To think I might never see something this wonderful again…….’

That thought brought a surge of regret, and Belnez bit her lip, sniffling. She had thought she was fine, that she was unaffected, but perhaps her heart was weakened by the breakup. It felt as if her emotions had been thoroughly soaked by rain seeping into the cracks in her heart.

“Excuse me…….”

Suddenly, something white was held out in front of Belnez’s eyes. Startled, she turned her head and saw the handsome man offering her a handkerchief. It was Erpesto, whom she had momentarily forgotten. He looked at her with genuine concern on his face, then opened his beautifully plump lips.

“You seemed to be crying.”

“…….”

Why, why hadn’t he left yet? 

Belnez, her green eyes brimming with tears, stared at him blankly and took the handkerchief, feeling dazed.

Of course, Belnez also had a handkerchief, but she didn’t want to embarrass his outstretched hand by refusing. At a time when her heart was weak, a kindness offered at just the right moment was welcome to anyone. Especially if it was from such a handsome man.

Belnez pressed the handkerchief to her eyes, wiping away her tears, and spoke in a small voice.

“Thank you. The handkerchief, I’ll return it…….”

Belnez paused, swallowing her words as she was about to say she would return it. How would she give it back? She planned to leave for her hometown as soon as she left the opera house—would she ever have a chance to meet the prince again? Even if he stayed in the capital, Kraem, he was someone she was unlikely to meet.

Maybe she shouldn’t have accepted it. Just as Belnez was about to regret it, Erpesto gently overlapped his hand with hers, which held the handkerchief, and shook his head.

“You don’t have to return it, Miss.”

Belnez froze, staring blankly at him, feeling the touch and warmth on the back of her hand. It was surprising—such a natural touch, like flowing water. Even the words he added next were so smooth they seemed scripted for a play.

“Instead, would you grant me the honor of sharing a meal with you?”

“Pardon……?”

“Of course, I’ll treat you to dinner. Somehow, I’d regret it if we parted ways like this. I’d like to talk with you a bit more. Would that be all right……?”

“…….”

Despite reciting his lines so smoothly, Erpesto caught his breath and bowed his head. A faint blush lingered on his face, visible through his hair. He looked as if he was too shy to even meet her eyes. The blue eyes under his lowered lashes shimmered beautifully. The man, who now looked almost pitiful, was truly breathtaking.

‘My goodness.’

Belnez stared at him blankly, shocked inside.

‘Wow. This is how he seduces women. With this, most women would fall for him, wouldn’t they?’

He was the empire’s most notorious playboy. Belnez reminded herself of that fact. And in that moment, she managed to calm her heart, which had almost run wild, believing every word he said because of his looks.

It seemed she had become this playboy’s next target. If she accepted, she would surely be swept into bed in no time.

No, I couldn’t. Absolutely not. 

Belnez forced herself to regain her composure, which had nearly slipped. She could not become just another woman among the many this libertine had collected. She absolutely refused to get involved with another playboy.

“I’m sorry, but I……”

Belnez was certainly about to say no. But the moment she tried to utter those words, her lips pressed tightly shut.

‘Why not?’

That thought suddenly crossed her mind.

Belnez was now free. She had just broken up, so there was no lover and no one to feel guilty towards. In this state, who could blame her for enjoying a night with someone who would simply pass by?

Of course, it would be a problem if she gave both her body and heart to someone without knowing he was a playboy and ended up hurt, but Belnez already knew Erpesto was a notorious womanizer. So even if she spent the night with him, she wouldn’t give her heart and wouldn’t get hurt. It would just end with both of them enjoying themselves.

‘They say he’s very good at it.’

Belnez unconsciously swallowed, recalling one of the many rumors about Erpesto. Wasn’t it said that he could awaken pleasure even in a woman as cold as stone and send her to heaven in an instant? That he was not only very well-endowed but also strong, so once a woman experienced him, she would never forget him for the rest of her life?

At that thought, Belnez recalled s*x with her ex, Ramon, and shuddered inside. Others said it was supposed to be so good, but she had never enjoyed it even once. It always ended with only the other person feeling satisfied. The unfairness of that fact hit her anew. She wanted to experience that good feeling herself, just once. She wanted to enjoy it with someone guaranteed to deliver, to go to heaven at least once.

Above all, even if she refused Erpesto’s invitation here, all that awaited Belnez was to leave the opera house and lock herself away in an empty house. Then she would sit at a lonely table, fill her stomach with dry, hardened bread and cold, salty bacon, then lie alone on a hard bed to try to sleep.

Belnez shivered without realizing it. She was afraid. It must have been something she used to take for granted, yet now it seemed terrifying to her. Belnez was already holding onto a weakened heart and sensitive emotions. Even if she felt fine now, she might suddenly be overwhelmed by misery while tossing and turning alone in bed. She might end up crying her heart out in sorrow.

She didn’t want that. She didn’t want to spend her last night in this city in such a terrible way.

But if she accepted Erpesto’s offer here, Belnez’s last night would be completely different.

From now on, Belnez would face this fantastically handsome man, be treated to a fine dinner, eat delicious food to her heart’s content, and then spend a passionate night on a soft bed in a luxurious room. Even if it ended as a fleeting relationship, that was much better for Belnez right now. At least in that moment, there would be no room for misery or sorrow.

Belnez’s heart was empty now. She wanted someone—anyone, even briefly—to fill that emptiness. As much as her emotions had become moist and sensitive, she wanted her body to be soaked as well.

She had lived her whole life diligently, almost to a fault, devoted herself to others, but never received anything in return. So, wouldn’t it be all right to break away just once for a wild night?

“……Do you not want to?”

When Belnez cut her words off and didn’t continue, Erpesto, anxious from waiting, asked with a gloomy expression, watching her carefully. Belnez quickly shook her head and gave him a gentle smile.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t like seafood. Could you buy me a meal with meat instead?”

“Ah.”

With a small sigh, Erpesto placed a hand on his chest and let out a long breath. The way he had waited nervously for her answer, fearing rejection, and then acted relieved when she accepted, was a performance worthy of an actor.

While Belnez thought to herself that this man ought to be on the stage, Erpesto stood up from his seat. He bent politely, aligning his eyes with hers in perfect form, and extended his hand.

“I happen to know just the right restaurant. Shall we go, Miss?”

Belnez responded with a faint smile and placed her hand on top of his. Holding her hand, Erpesto smiled shyly, as if genuinely pleased. Despite being a grown man, he looked just like an adolescent boy who had just asked someone on a date for the first time and received a yes.

Belnez was once again impressed by his act. If she hadn’t known he was a playboy, she would surely have been completely fooled.

As she was led by Erpesto’s hand toward the exit of the opera house, Belnez’s heart pounded. Partly because of her feelings for the man whose hand she was holding, but even more because she was excited by the impulsive, unprecedented break from her usual self.