This is the place where she made the reservation? But yesterday she said it was a 'high-end restaurant'... Klein looked around and noticed that they were not in West Borough or Empress Borough, but rather in the outskirts of East Borough—the most crowded and poor area in Backlund.
Klein and Audrey then entered a small establishment. It was dirty, dusty, and the air smelled like manure. It was a shop that sold farming and mining gear.
Audrey walked up to the counter and said, "Good evening, I'd like a glass of your finest South Bank Red."
The shop owner barely looked up. "The red is only for those who've seen the sun rise over the Sonia Sea."
What is going on?
Audrey kept on smiling. "And only when the crimson moon is at its fullest."
The shop owner's expression changed. He stood up straight and gave a slight, respectful bow.
"Of course, My Lady. Right this way."
What? What was that exchange?
The shop owner walked over to a large, dusty shelf filled with pickaxes and shovels and pulled on a hidden lever. With a low rumble, the entire wall of tools slid to the side, revealing a dark passage.
The man gestured for them to walk in.
The moment they stepped through, the world changed. The rich aroma of roasted meat and fine wine replaced the smell of manure. The dim, dusty lights of the shop turned into soft, warm, and elegant gas lamps.
They were standing in a luxurious, secret restaurant with polished dark-wood tables, velvet chairs, and a quiet pianist playing in the corner.
It was a hidden world for the city's elite, tucked away behind the most unlikely of doors. A secret space that was invitation-only and required a password to access. A restaurant so elite that only fifty people knew about its existence.
Klein and Audrey were quickly seated, and the waiter took their order.
"This place..."
"Interesting, right?" Audrey began, "It's a sort of 'paradise' for a very specific group of nobles—the most elite of the elite. Ninety-nine percent of the time, they have whatever dish you ask for, no matter how exotic. The only way they can procure all these ingredients so quickly must be thanks to Beyonders, but that's beside the point. Tonight I wanted to treat you to something you can't find anywhere else."
"And what would that be?" Klein asked, intrigued.
"High-quality alcohol, of course!" she said. "This place serves the best wine in the North Continent. It'll help you take your mind off my father's Beyonder investigators."
Klein was stunned into silence for a moment. Heh, so you also knew we were being followed by Beyonders...
"You noticed my little fan club, then?" he asked, his voice had a hint of amusement. "I was beginning to think they were just admiring my new suit."
Audrey let out a soft giggle, "Your suit is very handsome, but their observation skills were rather clumsy. I noticed them before we even entered the first shop."
She bowed slightly, her expression turning sincere. "I'm sorry, Klein. It's my fault you're being followed. I knew my father would send people, so that's why I brought you here. A place they can't enter, with wine that can make even an angel forget his troubles for a little while."
Just then, a waiter arrived with a bottle of deep red wine and began to pour it into two glasses.
Klein picked up his glass, the rich aroma of the aged wine filling his senses. He looked at Audrey over the rim and smiled softly.
...
Sigh... Who knew she would end up like this?
In front of Klein was a completely drunk Audrey.
Her head was propped up on one hand, but it kept threatening to slip. Her cheeks were colored bright pink, and her eyes were unfocused. A silly smile was plastered on her face.
A Sequence 4 Demigod taken down by some fermented grapes... Klein thought with amusement.
"Audrey?" he said softly. "Are you still with me?"
She slowly lifted her head, blinking at him as if trying to remember who he was.
"Kleeein..." she slurred, her voice a happy mumble. "You're... you're very handsome. Did you know that? My Spectator powers tell me... you're very handsome."
"Thank you," he replied.
He knew he had to get her home. Leaving her like this was not an option.
After paying the painfully expensive bill, Klein gently helped her stand up. She leaned heavily against him, her head resting on his shoulder.
"Ha ha, the room is spinning~" she chuckled.
"I know. Just hold on to me," he said as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
The waiter who attended them spared them a look but said nothing. This must be a common occurrence for him.
Klein guided her through an exit that led to an alley outside.
He once again looked through the crimson star representing Miss Justice and verified that no Beyonders sent by Earl Hall were outside.
"Alright," he whispered into her ear. "Time to go home."
"Home..." she mumbled happily, snuggling closer against his chest. "Okay..."
The world around them dissolved into a variety of colors, and the alley became empty.
...
Two figures manifested in a luxurious room—Audrey's room.
"Ah! My bed, yes~" The drunk Audrey stumbled away from Klein and jumped straight onto her bed.
"Audrey, you should change into something more comfortable before you fall asleep," Klein advised.
"Change... clothes?" She slowly looked down at her dark blue dress. "You're so right, Klein~"
She began to take off her clothes right in front of him.
Klein's mind went completely blank for a second before pure panic set in.
"Wait, Audrey, what are you doing?!" he yelped, immediately turning around to face the wall.
He heard a confused mumble from behind him. "Hm? But you said... to change... These buttons are... tricky..." Her delicate hands fumbled around the buttons on her dress.
Don't turn around. Do not turn around. Do not turn around! Klein repeated in his head.
He could hear the soft rustle of fabric, followed by a frustrated sigh.
"I can't... reach the back..." she whined sleepily.
Klein squeezed his eyes shut. "Audrey, is your nightgown nearby?"
"Mmm-hmm... on the... other side of the bed..."
"Can you get it?"
"Don't wanna! It's too far!"
"..."
"Klein! Help me~! It's the... zipper on the back!"
Klein let out a shaky breath. There was no escape. "Alright," he said. "I'm turning around. But I'm only looking at the zipper. Only the zipper."
"Okay!"
He turned slowly. Audrey was sitting on her bed with her back to him, her golden hair spilling over her shoulders. He fixed his gaze on the small zipper, ignoring everything else.
His hands trembled as he reached out and took hold of it. He pulled it down in one quick, smooth motion.
"There," he said, "now you can—"
Her dress suddenly slipped from her shoulders, revealing her bare back.
"!!!" Klein was taken aback by the view.
Audrey, for some reason, became slightly sober in this exact moment, and her face flushed bright red.
"Kyaa!!!"
She shrieked and scrambled to pull the dress back up. In her panicked and clumsy state, she lost her balance on the soft mattress. Her arm shot out instinctively to grab onto something, anything, to stop her fall. Her fingers found Klein's sleeve and clamped down with surprising strength.
"Whoa—!"
Klein was pulled off balance, tumbling forward with her onto the massive bed.
He landed on top of her, their faces extremely close.
Klein's own face was burning. He pushed himself up slightly, trying to give her space without looking.
Audrey pulled on his shirt, bringing him closer once again. "Did you... Did you see anything?" she asked shyly. Her eyes were averted, and her face was flushed bright pink.
"I..."
"So you did..."
"...Sorry."
Audrey wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him closer, their lips almost touching. "Do you... Want to see more?"
This is the alcohol talking, Klein! Don't give in! His mind screamed. Don't lose yourself like last time, Klein!
Her breath was warm on his lips, smelling faintly of sweet wine. For a split second, every rational thought threatened to burn away.
Pure thoughts!
"Audrey," he whispered. "Listen to me. You're drunk."
"I don't... care..." she mumbled. She leaned in and kissed his lips.
Klein was taken aback for a moment, but then pulled away and firmly said, "But I care." He looked directly into her hazy eyes, "I want you, Audrey. More than you can imagine. I want to hold you, I want to kiss you, but not like this."
"You're no fun," she whispered, her voice sounding slightly disappointed. "Then at least... sleep next to me... please?" She looked at Klein with puppy eyes. Who could refuse such an expression?
You're really bad for my heart...
"Okay," he replied.
"Yay!"
With a happy little cheer, Audrey grabbed his hand and pulled him down.
Klein fell right next to her. He lay on his back, staring at the ceiling, his heart pounding fast. She immediately rolled over and cuddled close, resting her head on his chest as if he were a pillow.
"Warm..." she mumbled. A moment later, she was fast asleep.
Klein didn't move at all. He was in Audrey's bed, and she was asleep on top of him. He didn't know what to do. He looked at her peaceful face, and a small, helpless smile appeared on his lips.
...
Outside, a black raven landed on a tree branch near the balcony.
It tilted its head, its dark eyes looking too smart for a normal bird. It stared into the bedroom. The red moonlight shone on something over its right eye.
It was a small, crystal monocle.
The raven just watched the two people in the bed, a silent observer in the quiet night.