The warm, amber glow of the lounge lights filtered through the haze of the party as Eiser leaned over, his gaze locking onto Serena with an unyielding intensity. "You've had enough to drink. Let's go."
Serena blinked, caught off guard by the abrupt command. "-!" she gasped softly, her eyes widening as he immediately added, "You should go back to the cabin and get some rest now."
Internally, her mind raced with a mixture of confusion and annoyance. What's going on!? Why is he suddenly acting like some kind of saint?! she thought, her cheeks flushing as she stared up at him. The party just started, so why are you ruining the mood? Besides, why are you suddenly getting involved in this?
With a firm tap against the table, Eiser reached down, pushing her glass aside. "Come on, get up. I'll take you back to the cabin!" he insisted, his tone leaving little room for argument.
Before Serena could respond, another voice cut across the space. "Ah, if you want to rest, let me take you back to the cabin."
Eiser's posture stiffened instantly as ednok stepped forward, offering to escort her instead. A cold, dark look shadowed Eiser's eyes as he shot back sharply, "No need. I'll take her back myself."
"No. It is my duty to do so," the ednok countered, holding his ground. "Please enjoy the party at your leisure, Lord Eiser. I'll escort Lady Serena back to her cabin."
Eiser stood in silence, his jaw tight as he glared at the younger man. Look at this kid... he thought, his frustration boiling over. "I said I'm the one taking her back!"
Catching onto the escalating tension, Serena finally intervened, lifting her gaze as she firmly shut down the petty dispute. "Thank you both for your kind intentions, but there's no need for the two of you to fight over who gets to escort me back to my cabin," she stated, making her stance crystal clear. "Because I still want to relax here."
"Because I still want to relax here for a little while longer."
Serena's voice cut through the charged air, sharp and unyielding as she fixed her gaze straight ahead.
"Besides, this isn't something you need to worry about." She tilted her chin up, letting the cold distance seep into every syllable. "Even if you are 'my ex-husband,' we're nothing more than strangers now, with no relationship whatsoever. We're no longer a couple who have to care about each other. Isn't that right, Lord 'Grayan'?"
She dropped the name like a heavy, calculated stone, using the title with a deliberate, icy sting meant to provoke.
Wasn't this the situation you wanted in the first place? she thought bitterly, watching the way his expression tightened. There, eat up! Is it good? Bitter, isn't it? You must be upset that I've made my boundaries with you crystal clear!
Deep down, a conflicting ache throbbed beneath her anger. I know. You made this extreme decision solely for my sake. And perhaps your judgment really is correct. That's why I'll put my ego aside and comply with your wishes. But in return, I'll truly treat you like a stranger and call you by the name you hate more than anything.
Her eyes darkened with a quiet, menacing warning. And just so you know, things like this are only the beginning. Who knows if you'll still be able to endure it as things go on?
Eiser stood frozen, towering over her lounge chair. For a long moment, absolute silence stretched between them. Then, with a quiet, stiff motion, he turned his back on her, moving away with a swift sweep of his coat.
"Alright, I understand," Eiser muttered, his voice low as he looked back down at her with a lingering, protective edge. "But you should stop drinking that alcohol right now. The alcohol content in the drink you're holding is very high. Even a kid who drinks just one fruit beer gets drunk right away, so there's no way they could handle this."
"Hey!" Serena snapped, her irritation flaring all over again as he abruptly reached for her glass. "Wait, give it back first! Don't take the drink away! I told you, don't drink any more!"
The atmosphere in the secluded lounge shifted dramatically as Ednok stepped away from Serena's chair, having confiscated her glass of high-proof alcohol. His hand, clad in a dark suit sleeve, appeared in the panel, having just set the almost-empty glass down carelessly on the table, the red liquid sloshing slightly.
A small, chibi-style Serena glared up at him, the epitome of frustration. "How could you just snatch away the drink I was enjoying!?" she fumed internally. "Your eyes are awful! When have I ever...!"
"I told you, don't drink any more!" Ednok's voice cut through the air, his back still to her as he stood in the shadows. "You have a really bad habit when you're drunk!"
Serena, now back to her normal, stunning self with cascading dark hair and a glittering necklace, let out a soft, audible sigh-"Haa"-as she stared at his retreating figure. "But, Ednok..." she began, her voice laced with a mix of defiance and pleading.
"Your decision may be right, but that doesn't mean my choice is wrong, does it?" she challenged, her large purple eyes fixed on him. "Because to me, things like this are also a part of my happiness in life."
Serena looked down, her expression darkening. "It seems that if we let our problems drag on like this, we'll never find a harbor where we can resolve them..." she murmured, the silence stretching between them.
Across the room, another man, previously sitting quietly at an ornate chessboard table, finally spoke up, breaking the awkward tension. "By the way, what is that thing?" he asked, gesturing toward a mysterious, intricately decorated board game resting on an adjacent small table.
Ednok, having moved away, glanced toward the board, his face coming into view in the dim light. "Yes? Oh. It's a type of board game from our kingdom." He paused, his expression unreadable. "Originally, this game was used as a means of strategy training at the naval academy, but nowadays, it's commonly played at social gatherings. In fact, many people play it by using 'requests' as stakes."
Serena, overhearing the conversation, turned sharply, her eyes wide with surprise-"...!"-as the implications of the stakes sank in.
"Requests as stakes?" she repeated, clearly intrigued and slightly wary.
The man at the chessboard table nodded, leaning forward slightly. "That's right. Although it's not an official rule, it has become a tradition," he explained, his hand resting near the beautiful, star-chart-like game board. "The winner has the right to make one request, and the loser must fulfill it."
As she absorbed this, Serena glanced back at Ednok, her mind racing with possibilities.
The intricately crafted star-chart board rested on the round wooden table, its complex constellation lines and gold-plated markers gleaming under the dim ambient lights. "The rules are indeed a little complicated, but once you get the hang of it, it's exciting and fun," a gentleman in a neat suit explained, gesturing invitingly toward the board. "Would you like to try playing? Then come on, I'll teach you little by little. Let's play together-"
Aha! This is the way out! Serena thought, a sudden spark of inspiration catching fire in her mind.
Without hesitation, she stood up from her lounge seat and spun around, her dark hair sweeping over her shoulders as her gaze locked onto the tall figure walking away.
"Lord Eiser Grayan," she called out, her voice slicing through the quiet space.
Eiser halted in his tracks, his broad back turned to her in his dark, tailored suit.
If we're both too stubborn to back down, Serena pressed on internally, stepping forward with absolute resolve, would you like to play a game against me? Let's keep things simple.
Behind them, the gentleman trying to introduce the game offered a cautionary hand. "Ah, about the game... The rules of this game are quite complicated and confusing, so people who play it for the first time usually find it very difficult. Since this is your first time playing it, how about I-"
"That's fine. Just explain the rules to us," Serena interrupted smoothly, her eyes fixed entirely on her ex-husband. She lifted her chin, a cool, challenging smile touching her lips. "You'll accept this challenge, won't you, Lord Grayan?"
For a moment, silence hung heavily in the air as Eiser slowly turned his head over his shoulder, his sharp gaze meeting hers.
"... If I lose this game, I'll accept whatever you decide," Eiser lowed his voice, his expression tightening with a mixture of caution and intensity. "But in return-if you lose, you'll have to grant whatever I ask."
A flicker of doubt crossed Serena's mind. Are you really that ready and confident that you can win? she wondered.
Yet, the hesitation vanished as quickly as it came. Eiser turned his profile slightly toward her, watching her reaction with unwavering eyes.
"Of course I'm confident," Serena retorted softly, her purple eyes shining with unyielding determination. "Because I won't lose. If I win, then this time, we'll do things the way I want."
"If I win, then this time, we'll do things the way I want," Serena declared, her gaze locked onto Eiser.
A faint smile touched Eiser's lips as he looked back at her. An interesting challenge. He thought quietly to himself, his blue eyes gleaming with quiet intensity. I have no intention of losing either.
Nearby, the instructor who had been guiding them looked over with utter astonishment. "You two are really good," he said, wide-eyed. "I didn't expect this to be your first time playing. It's rare to find anyone who can understand and master the game this quickly."
Stepping back from the intricate star-chart table where Eiser sat in his dark armchair and Serena composed herself opposite him, the instructor offered a courteous gesture. "If you're already playing this well, it seems the two of you understand the rules, so I think we can end the practice here. In that case, please enjoy the match."
With a polite bow, he added, "If you suddenly get confused about any of the rules, just call me. I'll be around here."
Before the match officially commenced, Ednok-who had remained close by-stepped forward to reiterate the ultimate stakes. "The winner has the right to make one request, and the loser must fulfill it. And only once per match," Ednok stated clearly, his calm demeanor framing the gravity of the wager.
Serena and Eiser exchanged a final, charged look. "Agreed," Eiser answered firmly.
Hours Later...
Beneath the grand, glittering chandeliers of the hall, passing guests murmured in absolute disbelief.
"Oh my. Those two are still playing?" one onlooker whispered, glancing over in shock. "I already finished watching the performance, yet they still haven't finished?
"Usually, only professional players can compete for hours on end," another murmured, shaking their head. "Didn't the two of them say this was their first time playing
"That's exactly it. Even now, I still don't understand how to play it.
As the match dragged on beneath the glittering chandeliers of the hall, the lingering crowd of guests murmured in absolute disbelief. Anessa, taking a slow sip from her champagne flute, watched the intense scene unfold from nearby. She casually remarked to the others that usually, only professional players could compete for hours on end, especially when they claimed it was their first time trying the game. Another onlooker wondered aloud who would win, noting that the two players looked like a couple of lovers betting against each other. Anessa smiled knowingly, swirling her drink as she commented that in situations like this, it was usually the one who cared more and loved more deeply who ended up losing. When someone objected that those two had been divorced for a long time, Anessa simply replied that knowing that was precisely what made the game even more thrilling, leaving her deeply curious about what kind of request they were actually betting on.
Seated at the intricate star-chart table, Serena set her piece down with a soft tuk, a deep sense of frustration washing over her. While she had finally gotten a pretty good grasp of the rules of the board game, the real problem was that she simply could not find any opening to fight back. Every single time she moved a piece, Eiser immediately countered her move. To make matters worse, his thinking time was getting shorter and shorter, proving that he was already able to read all of her moves ahead of time.
Despite the immense pressure, Eiser's expression remained completely calm as he made his next calculated play. Without missing a beat, he looked straight at her and dropped a bombshell: tomorrow, after her official ceremony was over, she needed to meet him at Toulouse Plaza. Serena blinked in disbelief, caught completely off-guard as she stared at him across the board. Huh? We're playing a high-stakes match right now, and you're thinking about something else entirely? she thought, her mind spinning from his utter nonchalance.
Serena stared across the intricate board, a wave of sheer disbelief washing over her as Eiser casually dropped his demand, telling her that tomorrow, after her official ceremony was over, she needed to meet him at Toulouse Plaza. Huh? We're playing, and you're thinking about something else? Can't you focus on our game? she thought, frustration spiking as she let out a sharp ck. Ugh, this is so frustrating! If things keep going like this... am I really going to lose? I really want to win and claim that one request. Refusing to yield, she tightened her resolve, telling herself that as long as the game wasn't over, she hadn't lost yet. Shifting her gaze back to the complex constellation board, she zeroed in on her pieces, determined to find a way forward. If I can just lure eiser to making one wrong move, I can win. Suddenly, a soft achoo broke her concentration as she sniffled and lifted her hand to her nose. With a quiet sroot, she dabbed at her face with a cloth while her hand reached out to adjust the hourglass on the table, setting it firmly down with a crisp tuk. Across from her, Eiser sat back in his chair with a steady tatap, his arms crossed and his expression completely unshakeable as he watched her every move.
Serena paused, clutching her cloth as she looked across the table with a puzzled expression, asking, "...?" and "What's wrong?" Eiser remained silent for a moment, prompting her to wonder why he was not making a move since it was his turn.
With a decisive set, Eiser picked up his piece and placed it down with a crisp tuk. Serena looked on quietly, her eyes widening slightly as a thought crossed her mind: Hmm? Eh, eh? Seeing her opportunity, she carefully picked up her piece, set it down with a soft tuk, and placed it right where she needed it on the board. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized the implications of her move, thinking, If I place my piece here... Doesn't this mean I win? Eiser looked at the board, conceding defeat as he told her,
"Congratulations. You're the winner." Staring at him in disbelief, Serena whispered, "I won... I actually won!" Overjoyed, she clenched her fists with a giddy Kyaa! Yes! and thought to herself, Yipeee! Yaay!!! Good thing I came up with the idea of challenging him to a game earlier!!
The room fell into a heavy stillness as Eiser leaned back against his dark, polished chair, crossing his arms with an impenetrable expression before breaking the silence to ask, "So, what is your request?" Serena caught him off guard, looking at him with a knowing smile as she murmured, "Isn't that something you don't need to ask about any more... Shh, I can't say it here. I'll tell you later. Remember, I'm the winner. Don't you dare forget." As the match officially came to a close, the others looked on wondering, "So, how did it turn out? In the end, who was the wi-" but Eiser smoothly shut down the inquiry, replying simply, "It's a secret."
Rising abruptly from her seat with a soft bangun, Serena announced, "Ah, I'm feeling tired. I'll head back first to get some rest. I can return to my cabin by myself, so you don't need to escort me. Thank you for teaching us. Thanks to you, I was able to enjoy such an exciting game." Before turning away, she cast a mischievous glance back at him and added, "Could you help me clean up this place while you're at it, Lord Grayan?" Eiser remained motionless, watching her go as the chair sat empty.
Later, a sudden ting tong echoed through the corridor, followed by a sharp brak! as the door swung open to reveal Eiser standing on the threshold. Serena gasped, spinning around in her soft white robe as he stepped forward to return a stray piece of jewelry, holding it up delicately between his fingers as he said, "Here it is. Your earring fell, miss."
The corridor outside the cabin was quiet and dimly lit, save for the faint glow of the wall lamps casting long shadows across the floorboards. Serena paced near the door, muttering under her breath in frustration, "Where could it have fallen earlier?" Just then, a soft tap-tap of footsteps broke the silence, and Eiser appeared, stepping smoothly into the light. Seeing her anxious expression, he offered a low, teasing chuckle, reassuring her, "Don't worry, I made sure there was no one in the hallway before coming here". Serena glared at him, her cheeks flushed with lingering irritation as she snapped back, "Then hurry and come inside".
Eiser stepped across the threshold, the door clicking shut behind him with a sharp klak as he moved closer. Feeling the intensity of his gaze, Serena retreated a step, her back pressing against the surface as she looked up at him wide-eyed, stammering, "W-what is it? You're looking at me like... hmph". Before she could finish, Eiser closed the remaining distance, stepping forward with quiet deliberation. He dropped down to her level, lifting her up effortlessly as his hands found her waist and guided her back against the furniture.
Closing the space between them entirely, Eiser captured her lips in a deep, sweeping kiss, his hand cupping the side of her face while she instinctively grabbed his lapels. Serena let out a soft murmur of surprise, her fingers tightening against his dark suit jacket before she gently pressed her hands against his chest, pushing back to catch her breath. Gazing up at him with a mix of defiance and breathless fascination, she whispered, "Haa... Even though you're truly my ideal type," leaving the rest of her thoughts hanging in the warm, heavy air between them.
Serena kept her hands pressed flat against Eiser's chest, her gaze steady as she looked up into his striking blue eyes. Breathing softly, she maintained her distance in tone, even as her posture betrayed the intimacy of the moment. "Lord Grayan," she began, her voice carrying a sharp edge of warning. "I'm used to keeping my distance from strangers, do you realize that your little game is going to cause me trouble?" Eiser simply looked down at her, a slow, knowing smirk touching the corners of his lips as he absorbed her words with infuriating calm.