Golden Plains, Ironhills.
The commoners district was still lively even at such a late hour, shops and bars still open. Lamplight flickered in windows, music and laughter spilled into the streets, and the smell of grilled food lingered in the cool night air.
Acheron had kept this location in her head for weeks, hoping to execute another important phase of her plan.
A special cabin which also had a bar inside was isolated at the edge of Ironhills.
This was a place warriors and other types of professions would come to gather information about basically anything going on in the kingdom.
And this was Vincent's usual drinking spot.
She swapped her clothes at the back of the bar for a revealing maid dress she'd obtained from Claire.
Entering the establishment, she noticed several adventurers, warriors, even some mages, laughing and drinking to their heart's content.
At the far side of the bar, she spotted Vincent.
「 You are hundred percent certain this is going to work? 」 Stellar's voice rang in her mind.
'Absolutely not'
She removed her glasses to avoid recognition, then carried a tray of booze, moving around, distributing the drinks.
"Damn! You got fine ass girl!" One of the men called out.
"Come sit on my lap for five gold coins!"
"I'd crack you up for ten!"
Acheron quickly departed the vicinity, heading to the far end.
As she walked past, a huge, muscular man grabbed her and positioned her between his legs.
"Where are you going sweetie?" He sniffed her neck. "You have a nice scent... how bout a-"
Acheron quickly forced herself out of his grip, fleeing from that side of the bar as she breathed heavily.
"The hell... pant! pant!"
「 Well, you are dressed provocatively, it's only going to get worse... you sure you don't want to stop? 」
"Pant! I'm fine, it's nothing..." Acheron gave herself courage and went back in.
She carefully approached Vincent's table, casually dropping a drink in front of him.
He glanced up briefly, his eyes tracked Acheron's body from her face to her hips before he forced them back to his drink.
"First time here?" He asked.
"Yes... how did you know?" Acheron sat in a long chair near him.
"Well, you are not used to brocks and the guys," Vincent casually gestured towards the man with the huge muscles.
Acheron acted nervous. "I guess I'm not... hehe"
They talked for a while, Acheron listening as drunk Vincent poured down all his problems onto her.
"You're staring at them again..." Acheron let out a small laugh.
Vincent, whose eyes were glued to Acheron's chest, still astonished by her beauty.
"Sorry... sorry, I should probably... go use the washroom upstairs." Vincent came down from his chair, dropping the cup of his third drink on the table.
"Of course... take your time." Acheron smiled softly.
He stumbled continuously, making his way for the stairs that led to the rooms upstairs.
Acheron waited a beat then followed him.
...
The upstairs was a lot quieter and peaceful, free from the loud talks of the people downstairs. Vincent emerged from the washroom, rubbing his hands with a towel.
He walked past a room where he was grabbed and pulled into. It was dark, he could not point out the face of who did, even if he wanted to, he was drunk.
"What the..." Before he could say anything, he felt his lips being locked with a girl-like figure.
Acheron didn't answer him, dragging him onto the bed, her lips still pressed against his. What Vincent didn't know was that Acheron had placed some of the potion in her mouth.
She knew he would have sensed it if it was in his drink, so she had to find another way.
Transferring it through a kiss.
The liquid passed through his lips, sliding down his throat before he knew what was happening. His body was stiff for a moment then began to relax when the potion took effect.
Vincent's hand, which tried to resist Acheron, fell weakly to his sides.
Acheron pulled back, the potion dripping from her mouth as she wiped it off. She got off him, turning on the lights.
His pupils were dilated abnormally wide. He tried to speak but only managed a confused mumble.
'Yes! It's working!' Acheron let out a sigh of relief.
「 Poor Vincent... 」
'Hey, I will release him after, besides it's temporary.'
「 If you say so... 」
Temporal Love Potion required specific conditions for it to take effect; The target needed to be vulnerable, the target must find the user attractive and the target must have had dirty thoughts when they saw the user.
Very complicated potion, there were only a handful of ladies that could meet those criteria at first sight.
「 I finally understood why you picked hourglass... 」
Acheron smiled, changing back to her original noble clothes.
She leaned in on him, placing both her hands on his face, ensuring he doesn't look away and whispered a command.
"You will tell Nieves Evergreen to come to the space behind the academy at exactly 5pm tomorrow."
The words sank deep into his consciousness, his eyes glazed completely as the potion completed its work.
She snapped her fingers once, wearing off the compulsion.
Vincent blinked rapidly, his awareness returning to his eyes. He looked around the room, wondering how he got there.
"What...where...?" He tried to sit up, a massive headache followed. "Argh! I must have had too much to drink."
He stood up, holding his head as he left the room.
...
Acheron was long gone, back at the Anaxagoras mansion. She passed through the small gate which she unlocked earlier before she left. The garden flowers blew to the direction of the wind, glowing under the night sky.
Nobody noticed as she passed through the hallway and into her room.
She changed into her nightgown, hiding the maid's dress at the back of her wardrobe where no maid would find it during their routine cleaning.
Tomorrow, Vincent would wake up with a pounding headache and fragmented memories. At exactly 5pm, he will tell Nieves what she needs to know. He wouldn't know why he will tell her but he has to.
Acheron laid on her bed, staring at the blue moon that glowed softly in the night.
Part of her genuinely didn't feel right for what she'd done but then there were only characters in her grand plan, characters in her novel.
That was all she thought them all to be.
She closed her eyes, wrapping her blanket around herself.
...
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