Chapter 4
"Fine. Instead, don't come complaining to me later if you're hesitant to take the antidote."
"There's an antidote for this?"
"How are you and that bear the same?"
"Ugh! I shouldn't have said that!"
"I agree. Why did you say that?"
"I just wanted to let you know, why...!"
Benya stopped arguing with me and set the vial back on the table. Then, with a sarcastic chuckle, he wrapped his arm around my waist and planted a quick kiss on my cheek. It happened so swiftly.
"It's a specialty of this moneylender family. Hyung was nearly kissing the toilet bowl thanks to it."
"Are you telling me that to discourage me from trying this?"
"Ask Hyung about the taste of that antidote when he arrives. He'll probably grit his teeth and claim I've done something immoral to him."
Ugh. Truly, the path of a villain is tough. I lowered my head and laughed, only to realize that I was now sitting on his lap. Oh my, is this... surprisingly natural?
"Is there anything else?" (Benya)
"What do you mean?" (Sasha)
"Is there anything else you want to tell me?" (Benya)
"There isn't. Well, actually, there is one thing. But I'll tell you about it later." (Sasha)
"Okay, now it's my turn to speak." (Benya)
My ears perked up, and I focused on what Benya was about to say. He continued to talk slowly while absentmindedly playing with my fingers using his long ones.
"How would you feel about attending the banquet?"
"Banquet? What kind of banquet?"
"The Imperial Court banquet. To be precise, I'm talking about the recurring banquet."
My heart began to race. That's right, All Saints' Day was approaching...
"So, the banquet will be held at the imperial palace?"
"The banquet is set to take place within the imperial palace."
"You want me to accompany you?"
"Because I don't want to be without a partner. Do you?"
There surely would be others who wouldn't leave him alone. A wide smile spread across my face as I nodded my head eagerly.
"Well, I mean, of course. That sounds wonderful. I'd love to. I'll be your best partner."
"We've always thought we were the best partners."
A mischievous glint danced in his eyes as he smiled. I wrapped my arms around his neck and planted a half-impulsive kiss on his cheek.
He's so handsome! I'm going to an Imperial Court banquet! A grand event that I could never have imagined attending in the original story!
Benya caught my arm, looking up at me. I was taken aback for a moment.
"If I hadn't asked, I would have been in quite a bind."
"Yeah, I'd probably be sulking for at least 50 years."
"I've practically spent my entire life trying to placate you, haven't I?"
"You deserve it, though."
"That's true, I probably do."
A smile spread across both of our faces. And then, in the next moment, I was surprised even with myself.
I guess I was overcome with excitement. Or perhaps some sort of strange impulse possessed me. What's certain is that I kissed him again, this time directly on his lips, not on his cheek.
In other words, I kissed him on his mouth.
A moment of stunned silence ensued. While I was frozen, trying to comprehend what I had just done, Benya seemed to have stiffened in place.
His usually playful sky-blue eyes turned instantly serious, fixated on my wide eyes as if he wanted to devour them.
Barely audible, my lips parted, and I spoke in a voice that trembled ever so slightly.
"I-I'm sorry."
"..."
"I'm really sorry. I mean, well, I... I should probably go to bed now!"
What on earth was I doing? I thought I heard Benya call my name, but I sprinted away without looking back, making my way to my room.
Once I shut the door and tumbled onto my bed, pulling the blanket up over my head, I finally took a moment to catch my breath.
"Argh!"
I felt like I was losing my mind. What had possessed me to do something like that?
What have I done...?
If I was going to do it, I should have done it properly. A kiss should be...
No, what am I even thinking...?
The sensation of warmth lingered on my lips as if they were still on fire.
Kicking off the fluffy blanket, I simultaneously hugged Mr. Wendy tightly, my heart pounding as though it was about to burst out of my chest.
Okay, let's calm down. Breathe. First of all, in the original... No, I shouldn't dwell on the original story. It wasn't just about kissing in the original story.
If things were to unfold as originally intended, it might have led to... Argh, no, get those thoughts out of your head!
Once I stopped flailing about, I lay down more serenely and began to think about how to handle this situation. As I pondered my course of action, a plan started to take shape in my mind.
Over the past seven years on Vibrato, Benya hadn't shown any interest in anyone else. Neither had I. Ironically, we had never asked each other about it.
One thing was clear: Benya wanted something from me. And I wanted what he wanted.
That was the simple truth of it.
I didn't know what the future held, or whether the female lead would eventually make her appearance, but I would deal with it when the time came.
Whether I would watch from the sidelines or actively play along, I would just know what to do when that time came.
* * *
The food spread across the table held a simple charm. Flatbread and thinly sliced ham, accompanied by olives and chickpeas, graced by the presence of a wine bottle.
A decade ago, the menu remains largely unchanged.
"Didn't you ring me up to discuss work?" (Yann)
"Take a seat. This is all about indulging in nourishment and the art of living." (Valentina)
"Sometimes, it's you who needs to refrain from discussing work-related matters during meals... Ahem, it's been quite a while since I last visited here." (Yann)
The shabby eatery only hosted the two siblings as customers, a familiar sight in the streets of Eldora.
Yann, thinking it best to leave the restaurant be, picked up the wine bottle and poured a measure into a glass.
"I can't fathom the current predicament. I was under the impression we were part of a triad alliance. This sense of isolation..."
"Remember the time of the plague? It transpired nine years ago."
Why this seemingly tasteless tale has been introduced all of a sudden puzzled Yann for a moment, yet he nodded in agreement.
"How could I forget that? The image of villagers stacked up like a mound at the end of that alley is etched in my mind."
"Exactly. The entire Imperial city descended into chaos."
"In the face of the plague, social status became inconsequential, proving everyone's equality. But then..."
"Did the Empress's demise back then have any connection to the Serpente?"
Yann halted his bread-breaking, setting it down. Valentina still serenely dipped her fork into the beans.
"Well, what brought this up out of the blue?"
"She requested me to delve into the circumstances from over nine years ago."
"Our Lady leader, you mean? Did you inquire about her motives?"
"It might be an idle feeling, but she desires you to investigate."
"And you sense there's a link? Why not directly ask her? You've established enough relationship to question each other's hidden secrets, haven't you?"
A hush blanketed the room. Yann's gaze remained locked on his Noona, gently sipping her wine, as he managed a wry smile.
"I didn’t know you had a side like this.”
"Shut up."
"Why are you doing this, it’s not like Noona to put off the truth. I'm just afraid you'll be more bothered than I am now."
As Yann spoke, a fleeting worry crossed his mind that Valentina might use the wine bottle to deliver a knock on his head, though thankfully it didn't transpire.
"More so, I've observed an influx of seemingly insignificant companions orbiting that Lady as of late. I'm uncertain whether to dismiss it or not..."
"Let it be."
"It likely pertains to the accursed poisoner case."
"Seems plausible."
"On another note, I hadn't conceived that it was that Prince. Can't we just outrightly kill him? And then, an all-out war..."
"You've always been wary of that step. Haven't you? Isn't that your chief concern?"
That was the truth, yet Yann held reservations about it.
"I'm not that self-absorbed. My genuine concern extends to both of them – my friend and Noona's friend as well. Sometimes, I entertain the thought of them just letting go of everything and enjoying each other's company, hand in hand..."
"Who knows? What I do know is that causing a disturbance at this juncture wouldn't be advantageous for us. While it could be a headache if the Crown Prince starts maligning him with insolent words, I can't quite fathom why your friend inadvertently loosened his grip to the imperial family's grip."
"Are there any better options for a fledgling teenager to endure? He's essentially left with no choice but to become a subservient imperial pawn with clipped wings. Noona will understand once she hears about it. Isn't that why Noona's friend is taking matters into her own hands?"
Valentina's gaze rested on the flat check lying on the table for a moment, then she murmured:
"I assumed it was for an investment. In any case, he ended up spending it at the casino, didn't he?" (Valentina)
"Why concern yourself with where he squandered it? If the Prince was as astute as he appears, he would have returned it by now. However, it seems he's using this as an excuse to remain in her vicinity." (Yann)
"It looks like he's fallen for her." (Valentina)
"That's too cliché." (Yann)
"Or perhaps he views her as a valuable card to play. Or maybe both." (Valentina)
"... Noona. You need to provide me with specifics so I know what to do and what not to do. Frankly speaking, if the Prince were to suddenly abduct our Lady one day and vanish, how do we even decide whether to pursue her or not?" (Yann)
"Remember that book Miguel used to carry around when we were young and caught him? He spoke about it being the Count family's secret or something of the sort." (Valentina)
"Why are you bringing up the dead... Are you referring to that thing we couldn't even call a pornographic magazine? I remember. It's about an obsessed, depraved aristocrat tormenting a stern maid to her demise." (Yann)
"It appears that those guys have fantasies where your friend is that type of individual."
"What? Who?"
"The person who borrowed this check and his friend, the Ducal Prince, the illegitimate son."
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