Chapter 1.3

Belnez was certain that wherever Erpesto took her, the final destination tonight would be a bed. She herself had taken his hand with that expectation, so she had no intention of refusing. Even so, when Erpesto brought her to a hotel building, she couldn’t help but take a step back.

Belnez was inwardly shocked. 

My goodness. No matter how much of a womanizer he was, to lure me with dinner and then bring me straight to a hotel—wasn’t that too much? Everything should have its proper order, but to skip the process and go straight to the point—wasn’t that really too bold?

“The restaurant on the first floor of this hotel is excellent. They use only the finest ingredients, delivered even to the Imperial Family, and the chef is truly outstanding.”

Reading the frozen expression on Belnez’s face as she stared up at the hotel sign, Erpesto quickly explained. Thanks to that, Belnez, feeling awkward, blinked at him.

“Ah…… really?”

“Yes. Shall we go, Miss?”

Erpesto spoke politely and escorted her with flawless manners. Following him in a daze, Belnez bit her lip lightly. She felt sorry for having misunderstood him as nothing but a shameless playboy.

But the faint guilt didn’t last long. Belnez soon realized it wasn’t entirely a misunderstanding. Of all things, it was a restaurant inside a hotel. In other words, it was a place where, after dinner, things could flow smoothly and naturally into spending the night together.

Realizing that, Belnez inwardly clicked her tongue. As expected, the methods of a famous playboy were on another level.

‘Well, it’s convenient for me.’

From Belnez’s perspective, there was nothing bad about it. She had come along intending to enjoy herself, so convenience was best. Going through a long, drawn-out process or awkwardly dancing around things would only be troublesome for both of them.

The restaurant they were guided to was magnificent, fitting for a place inside the finest hotel. She had expected it to be nice since an Imperial Prince was treating her, but it was even better than she had imagined.

A brilliant chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the floor was covered in carpets so soft it felt almost disrespectful to step on them. Every detail, from the decorations in every corner to the tables, chairs, and even the tableware, was so luxurious it was almost scary to touch.

Erpesto pulled out a chair for Belnez without hesitation and seated her. Once he sat across from her with the table between them, the atmosphere became awkward for no reason. And why was the lighting so bright?

In the bright light, Erpesto’s fantastic good looks shone even more. Because of that, Belnez, unable to find anywhere to rest her gaze, darted her eyes around, and Erpesto was the first to speak.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t even asked your name yet, Miss.”

“Ah, I’m Belnez Adraena.”

“Belnez.”

He carefully pronounced the name she had given, his cheeks slightly flushed. Did he always react that way whenever he heard a woman’s name? While Belnez was thinking that, Erpesto’s eyes curved gently and a soft smile appeared on his lips.

“My name is Ermin Hapestto. You can just call me Er.”

“Ah, yes.”

Belnez nodded awkwardly with a smile. She had expected he wouldn’t say his real name, and as she thought, it was a slightly altered alias. Of course, he couldn’t just reveal that he was a prince here. It was more comfortable for Belnez to keep pretending not to know as well.

Perhaps he had notified them in advance, because the food came out quickly. Starting with the appetizer, they ate each course as it was served, and the two of them conversed.

“Miss Belnez, where is your hometown?”

“Flerosa.”

“Flerosa, that’s a beautiful place.”

Belnez’s eyes widened in surprise at Erpesto’s response. She had said the name of her hometown many times before, but this was the first time she’d received a reaction like that. Because it was located on the outskirts of the Empire and was a rural area with nothing famous, most people didn’t know the place when she mentioned it.

“You seem to know about my hometown?”

“Of course.”

When Belnez asked, Erpesto, who had been elegantly cutting his steak, set down his knife and continued.

“I haven’t been there, but I’ve heard it’s a place where Flerosa trees, rare in other regions, form a lush forest that blends with small brick houses, creating a scene straight out of a fairy tale. That’s why the place is named after the tree, Flerosa.”

“Ah, you really do know.”

Belnez uttered in pure admiration, and Erpesto beamed at her words. His reaction was like a child delighted by praise. The sparkling gaze fixed on her seemed to expect something more, so Belnez hesitated a bit before asking,

“Do you know anything else, by chance?”

“The Fernan Mountains and the Celeste River form its boundaries, right? Its specialty is a golden dye called Amber, extracted from the Flerosa flower. Agriculture is developed, so they grow various crops, and the population is about fifty thousand. The temperature difference by season isn’t very large, so it’s cooler in summer and warmer in winter than the capital, as I understand it. Is that right?”

Belnez’s mouth dropped open at his smooth recitation of facts and she nodded, a bit dazed.

“Ah, yes. That’s all correct. Amazing. How do you know so much?”

“I read it in a book.”

“Even so, to remember it all—truly impressive.”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

At her repeated admiration and praise, Erpesto smiled. Facing that expression, Belnez felt strange. She was happy to meet someone in the capital who knew about her hometown, but at the same time, not happy. Even in such small matters, unnecessary suspicion reared its head.

Could even this be one of a playboy’s tactics? If he memorized all the names of places big and small in the Empire and pretended to know a woman’s hometown, would it make her easier to seduce? 

Belnez couldn’t be sure, but she thought it might be possible. If she hadn’t known he was a playboy, she herself would have surely been delighted.

‘No, that’s not it.’

Belnez shook her head slightly in denial. There was no need to attribute everything to him being a playboy.

‘Well, so……’

Belnez, lost in thought for a moment, recalled something she’d once heard. The story of Erpesto Hasmin Bechenia, the Second Prince of the Bechenia Empire.

She’d heard that, as a child, he was exceptionally intelligent. He was so bright that he could read and recite difficult books that even most adults struggled with, and he showed outstanding talent in swordsmanship, as well as excelling in various other fields. All the teachers who had taught the young Prince testified to his brilliance, shaking their heads in amazement.

For a while, rumors of a genius born to the Imperial Family filled the world. The excitement grew so heated that there was even talk of making the Second Prince, Erpesto, Crown Prince instead of the First Prince, Orlando, who was originally designated as such.

In fact, that excitement didn’t die down until just a few years ago. The talk only disappeared after Prince Erpesto, upon reaching adulthood, became enamored with women.

Once he tasted pleasure, he fell into it helplessly, abandoning everything and chasing after women. Maidens, married women, nobles, prostitutes—he brought all kinds of women to his bed and lived a life of debauchery.

Who could continue to insist on making Erpesto the Crown Prince after seeing that? If he became Emperor, he would neglect state affairs, spread his seed everywhere, and produce nothing but illegitimate children.

In the end, talk of replacing the Crown Prince with Erpesto disappeared. Instead, the Second Prince, once called a genius, became known for disgraceful nicknames: the rake of society, an incorrigible womanizer, a notorious playboy famous for his indiscretions, the Imperial Family’s headache, and so on, dragging around nothing but shameful scandals.

‘To think that a man who might have become Emperor if he’d just kept on the right path ended up like this because of women……’

With mixed feelings, Belnez looked at him with an awkward smile. In truth, none of that mattered to Belnez. He brought it upon himself, so there was no need to pity him. Still, facing that innocent smile as if everything was fine, she couldn’t help but reflect on life for a moment.

Ah, what is life, really? Why does fate sometimes change so drastically……?

Anyway, that wasn’t what mattered to Belnez right now. What mattered was that the reason Erpesto could recite facts about her hometown on the Empire’s outskirts wasn’t because he was a playboy. It was probably the result of the education he received during his days as a so-called genius. If so, she could just purely admire and enjoy it.

Even if, from the start, it really was because he was a playboy, what did it matter? They were just passing through each other’s lives for a single night. Even such small talk could simply be enjoyed lightly.

“In spring, the Flerosa forest is dazzlingly beautiful with golden flowers scattered everywhere, isn’t it? If possible, I’d love to visit someday with you, Miss Belnez, and see that sight together.”

Even if the other party looked at her with eyes so sweet they seemed ready to drown, and whispered in a voice as sweet as honey.

Erpesto, sitting across from her, was so sweet that even her mouth tasted sweet. To shake off that sweetness, Belnez took a sip of the bitter wine in front of her. At the same time, she tried to shake off the pointless thoughts that kept creeping in.

Belnez reminded herself again and again. She must not forget that Erpesto was a playboy. No matter how sincere he seemed, she must not be swayed. She must not let her heart, which she’d hardened, be shaken by the wind he blew.

Today was a day to enjoy herself lightly, without any thoughts. No matter how much the alcohol in her body thickened, no matter how intoxicated she became, like this wine that would vanish without a trace the next day.