Chapter 2
The restaurant hummed with New Year’s Eve excitement—the kind that draws crowds, eager for celebration. A line of hungry patrons snaked outside, craving a taste of festivity.
But for us, there was no waiting. We were whisked straight to the balcony seats, the same breathtaking view stretching before us. Ah, Serpente—may it thrive forever!
My stomach gnawed at me; I hadn’t eaten since waking up. Oh, the hunger pangs!
Our Young Master sat there, barely touching his food, while I attacked the caviar-topped canapés, turtle soup, and crab dishes with gusto. Culinary joy threatened to spill into tears.
His gaze, usually sharp and focused, now seemed distant and gloomy.
“Wow, I was really, really hungry,” I exclaimed.
“…”
“But why aren’t you eating? No appetite?” I prodded.
“… no.”
“This is amazing. Watch—I’ll crack this crab open.”
Even in my current state, I remained the Queen of Poisonous Snakes! Hehe, destroy!
And so, I wielded my fork, extracting crab meat with ruthless precision. The other diners glanced our way—perhaps wondering what crab tasted like.
“Come on, Young Master,” I urged, handing him the plate.
A mischievous smile played on my lips. Benya, who’d been staring at me with an inexplicable expression, obediently picked up his fork. Maybe my enthusiasm was a tad extreme?
As we left the restaurant, soft snowflakes danced around us.
Across from the toy store, a nanny and giggling children reveled in the snow. A déjà vu moment—wasn’t this reminiscent of our first snowfall?
I turned to Benya, mischief still in my eyes.
“You know, there haven’t been many moments when it’s just the two of us.”
“…”
“Any particular place you fancy?” I asked.
“… Anywhere you want to go is fine,” he replied.
“Really? You won’t regret it?”
I laced my fingers together, feigning wickedness. Benya flinched, as though scorched, and lowered his head.
His eyes avoided mine—an unusual sight. He didn’t resemble his usual self at all.
“Why so solemn, Benya? Bored of my company?” I teased.
He shook his head. The guy who’d once volleyed back my spiteful jests now raised his head, vulnerable and uncertain.
My heart fluttered anew. His eyes held a storm of emotions—self-blame, uncertainty. I clasped our hands, and there it was—the black alpaca fur gloves I’ve snagged from Vibrato.
“Shall we hit the department store and find you some fresh clothes? Something to wear for the New Year’s Eve festival,” I suggested.
“… Yes,” Benya replied, his answers as straightforward as a well-aimed arrow.
“But what if you end up regretting it?” I teased.
“I have no regrets.”
I gingerly touched the bandage around my right ear, contemplating whether it was time to remove it. Thankfully, the wound had healed completely. Maybe I could still flaunt those pretty earrings—just one side, though. After all, Benya rocked the single earring look, didn’t he?
Oops.
I twirled, flinging open the fitting room door.
“Voilà! What do you think of this?”
The clerk by the entrance widened his eyes and gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up. Meanwhile, Benya—perched awkwardly on a delicate yellow sofa, drawing the attention of nearby women—stared at me. For a solid thirty minutes.
“It’s perfect,” he declared.
“Me? Or the outfit?”
“Both.”
“You know you’ve been saying the same thing all along, right?”
“Have I?”
“Yeah, you have.”
“When?”
This punk!
Watch how innocently those sky-blue eyes flicker.
“… I’ll just change back,” I mumbled, ready to retreat.
“No, keep it as it is. I like it best.”
He stopped me from turning around, rising swiftly and gripping my arm as if afraid I’d vanish. What was this? Even in his melancholic state, that smirk clung to his lips.
“Do you genuinely like it the most?” I prodded.
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“What specifically do you like about it?”
I asked, blunt and teasing. His eyes flinched, then trembled like an earthquake had struck.
Ohohoho, was he embarrassed? It was a truly satisfying sight.
The employee, observing with evident satisfaction, interrupted us—perhaps out of sheer sympathy.
“It suits you very well, Lady. Not easy to find someone who pulls off this style, but you’ve nailed it.”
Is that true? Well, I actually liked this outfit the most. A halterneck dress in the same color as my eyes, flowing down like a crimson waterfall. It was a style that didn’t exist in my usual wardrobe, yet somehow felt familiar. Had I glimpsed it in a dream?
“Then shall we do this?”
Nods.
And so, I ended up choosing a new dress—a unanimous decision—and paired it with sleek black satin shoes. While our young master settled the bill, I rummaged through my purse and retrieved an earring.
A pure gold chandelier earring adorned with dense diamonds—a Christmas Eve gift from him. I examined it in the mirror, surprised that it didn’t clash with my chosen style as much as I’d feared.
“Wow, this is exquisite. Truly, clothes are our wings,” I mused.
“I’m glad you like it,” he replied.
“How could I not? Thank you so much. But you know what? I want to pick out something for you too.”
“I usually stick to tailored pieces… Let’s save my fashion show for another time,” he said.
A pang of disappointment struck me—I had hoped to witness his runway-worthy style. Surely he’d turn heads.
“Then… Let’s check out the cufflinks over there. You know, I couldn’t even give you a Christmas present. Consider this my gift to you.”
“You must have saved quite a bit,” he teased.
“Meeting my boss was the best thing that happened to me,” I replied.
Despite my height and the high-heeled shoes, our eye level remained. Benya’s gaze darkened briefly, a bitter shadow passing over it. He took my hand, and I hopped along, eager.
“That earring…” he began.
“Huh? Oh, you gave it to me. I’ll wear it well. How does it look? Does it suit me?”
He didn’t answer, just lowered his gaze. Again. So I smiled, tugging at his hand.
“Let’s hurry and find your present.”
* * *
The day had been a whirlwind—shopping, delectable food, ice sculptures, and the racetrack—all culminating in this New Year’s Eve. And now, our final destination: the central church.
On Christmas Eve, the temple’s taboo had been shattered, leaving the church eerily quiet today. Understandably, bishops and believers had flocked elsewhere for New Year’s events. The chapel stood empty.
“This is it—the spot where the hat you gave me came in handy,” I remarked.
“I can’t even see any traces of it now,” Benya replied.
“The officers must have handled it well. Maybe our construction supervisor took care of it. He occasionally works part-time here.”
“The construction supervisor? You mean Jorge?”
Interesting—I hadn’t even known his name until now.
I scratched my head, then approached the altar, slipping an envelope into the offering box. Benya followed, his head tilted.
“Is this your act of repentance? An apology for the Christmas Eve incident?”
“The Virgin Mary probably isn’t too concerned about our remorse. But with the new year approaching, let’s consider it a little ‘bribe’ to ensure your well-being.”
“Bribe?”
“Exactly. A gesture to keep you safe in the coming year.”
“I doubt the bribe will work,” he said.
“Don’t worry. If anyone tries to harm you, I’ll unleash an army of demons. Just like you once suggested.”
Ah, the genre shift—gradually veering toward an unexpected twist. I grinned, making the sign of the cross. But Benya’s next words caught me off guard.
“Are you willing to stop here?”
For a moment, I questioned my own ears. Even him?
Of all people, I never expected Benya to say something like that! Shocked, I turned to face him, my eyes freezing.
“Are you kidding me?”
“Does it sound like a joke?”
“You want me to step back now, now that we had the high ground in front of us? What about the aftermath?”
“I can just kill them. As you once told me, I’ll take care of them all.”
Benya’s voice was quiet, his eyes as stormy as a typhoon-covered sky. My heart skipped a beat.
“Why utter such words, knowing that this won’t end with mere internal strife, Knoxus and Fibonacci…”
“I’ll kill them all,” he declared.
“Nonsense,” I retorted. “Do you truly believe the Imperial family will spare you if you take such drastic action?”
“Whether it’s the Imperial Family, Fibonacci, or Parke, they can come at me as often as they like. I’ll kill them all until you’re satisfied—even if everything else crumbles to dust.”
“Benya!”
The air crackled with tension as Benya held me, unyielding. He pinned my arms, burying his head in my shoulder.
“I could just kill them all,” he murmured, almost a lament. My heart raced, and my eyes threatened tears. I ceased struggling, my hand finding its way to his hair, stroking gently.
“Benya…” I whispered.
“I should have acted sooner—before your return,” he confessed. “If I had finished it all by myself, perhaps…”
“Enough,” I interrupted. “You’re not the sort to spoil my enjoyment.”
Revenge was my prerogative. It rested solely on my shoulders. Besides, we both understood this wasn’t merely a family feud.
Yet Benya blamed himself.
He’d rather dismantle everything in my absence, unravel the web of complex interests, even if it led to catastrophe. But would I have come this far if he had?
Where would we be now? Me, Benya, and Lethias? What price had been exacted from those who wove our destinies? Who really has to pay the price?
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