"Yuui-san, what was that just now?!"
"Heh, that guy was using his presence to intimidate you! From the moment you stepped into this salon, you were already overwhelmed by the subtle yet pervasive atmosphere of luxury.
"Add to that Emily's jealous and envious gaze, and subconsciously you began to think—if even someone like her, a baron's daughter, isn't qualified to enter this place, then someone like you, a commoner with no noble title or surname, must be even less worthy. That's how they get inside your head.
"And that attendant was part of it too. When he led you here to the second floor, did you notice? We passed through the entire first floor, but aside from the attendants… there wasn't a single other person around."
"Eh…? You're right! I didn't see anyone else!"
"So that creates another layer of spatial pressure. You've barely seen the world beyond your small corner, and walking through an empty, silent building like this… if not for the attendants, it'd feel like a haunted house. Even nobles would get nervous in a place like this.
"Then comes this noble brat. He's sitting in the largest space of the entire salon, with the stained-glass crest behind him and his family's insignia on his ring—he's putting on every ounce of noble pressure he's got. Add to that his admittedly good looks, and any ordinary woman facing him under this kind of tension would probably start feeling like she's meeting her savior. That's when the real manipulation begins."
"I see now! (`皿´)/ They actually went this far just to deal with you, Yuui-san! That's despicable! Don't worry, I'd never hand you over to them!"
"Uh… I wouldn't hand myself over either, you know."
"Ah, right… that makes sense. Though Yuui-san, how do you even know all this?"
"Obviously, because I've experienced it firsthand! Back when I still had my power and wandered this world, nobles loved using these tricks on me. I fell for it at first too—but after dealing with enough of them, I realized this was all they ever had. So I stopped caring.
"After that, when I became the ruler of this world and established my own domain at its edge, those same nobles came bowing and offering tribute. That's when I learned to wield this kind of authority myself."
"I get it now! Also, Yuui-san, why did those nobles come to you later? Did you do something to them?"
"Uh… that part's a little fuzzy."
Their lighthearted internal, secret exchange ended just as the trembling attendant finally gathered the courage to break the suffocating silence.
"Lord Roland, Miss Alicia has arrived!"
The attendant's voice pierced through the tension like a needle through glass. Seeing this, Yuui calmly withdrew his oppressive aura, allowing the man across from him to finally breathe again.
Yuui then sat down without a second thought on the high-backed sofa made of dark ebony and mahogany. The smooth curves of the frame made it quite comfortable to lean against, and the texture beneath him felt almost like crocodile leather.
"What luxury."
After savoring the familiar feeling of wealth, Yuui looked at the man across from him—whose refined demeanor had already faded. He waved a hand lazily. "Waiter, bring the menu."
The attendant glanced at the man, who remained silent, then turned to Yuui nervously. "Miss, we don't actually have a menu here. However, whatever you wish to eat or drink, we can prepare it for you."
"Is that so? Then who's paying for this meal?"
The attendant looked again toward the man before explaining, "The Golden Broom Salon has been reserved today by Lord Roland. All of your expenses will be covered by him."
"I see." Yuui gave the man another glance, then turned to the attendant and began reciting a long list of dishes.
The attendant scribbled furiously in his notebook, his face growing paler by the second—not only because the list was absurdly long for just two people, but because every single dish Yuui named was outrageously expensive.
One particular burger—crafted from rare deep-sea lobster and the meat of a land beast considered a man-eating predator—cost eighty gold coins each. And there were several other dishes at the same tier.
By the time Yuui finally stopped ordering, the attendant quickly did the math… this meal would run close to a thousand gold coins. For a single meal, for a single guest. Excessive didn't even begin to describe it.
Glancing at Lord Roland again, the attendant saw no reaction whatsoever. Taking that as tacit approval, he bowed once more and hurried off to the kitchen to prepare the dishes.
Once the attendant was gone, Roland closed his ancient tome, laced his fingers together on the table, and said slowly, "Since you've already ordered the dishes for our little celebration, I take it that means Miss Alicia intends to accept our proposal to cooperate with the Prince's Faction?"
"Cooperate?" Yuui tilted his head in confusion. "What cooperation? Didn't you just invite me here for dinner? You're pretty generous, you know. I don't even know who you are, and you're treating me to a feast—thanks!"
At those words, a ripple crossed Roland's calm blue eyes. Remembering the power he had felt from the woman before him—and the shadow of Lord Aleister behind her—he forced himself to remain composed.
"It seems I was rude, not having introduced myself yet."
Placing one hand over his chest, the ring on his left index finger gleaming with the crest of his family, he spoke solemnly: "My name is Roland Babar, eldest son of the Babar family—one of the three ducal houses of the kingdom, and a third-year student of this academy.
"The reason I sought you out today is twofold. First, I wish to extend an olive branch. Your recent performance at the academy has been nothing short of remarkable, Miss Alicia. Your potential is limitless. The Prince's Faction seeks talented young blood like yourself to help our cause—to aid His Highness, Prince Zack, in claiming the throne.
"As for the terms, you may name whatever you desire. If it's within our power, we'll make it happen."
Crack!
Yuui bit down on a chocolate stick he'd been nibbling on, snapping it clean in half. "Since you said 'first,' that means there's a 'second,' right? Go on then, finish your story. Then we can talk."
...
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