Chapter 121
Chapter 121: A Not-So-Simple Date
The Northern Plaza streets were bustling with more people than usual, likely due to the approaching new year.
The Valdeon Empire traditionally held grand New Year festivals when the year turned, and the northerners were already hanging lanterns throughout the streets in preparation.
Elena felt relieved that she would arrive on time at the fountain plaza, their agreed meeting spot.
As she took a few more steps while fixing her slightly disheveled bangs, she soon spotted the man waiting for her.
Her heart fluttered at the sight of Lupeon’s back as he stood perfectly composed in front of the fountaian.
‘He really is quite stunning, my fiancé.’
Caught up in a wave of excitement, Elena approached her fiancé and gently tapped his shoulder.
Lupeon turned around and greeted her with an elegant smile. “You’ve arrived?”
“Yes… did you wait long?”
She asked carefully, worried that he might have been waiting for a while.
Lupeon shook his head and extended his hand to escort her. “I just arrived myself.”
Elena took her fiancé’s hand and nodded slightly with a slightly awkward smile.
Since it was evening, the couple headed to the restaurant where Lupeon had made reservations.
It was a place rumored to be a candidate for the next Issuling Guide [Translator’s Note: A prestigious restaurant rating guide similar to the Michelin Guide].
However, upon entering the restaurant, they immediately encountered an unexpected problem.
“Could you please repeat the name for the reservation?”
The staff member checking the reservation list asked hesitantly.
‘What’s wrong?’
Elena tilted her head at the sight of staff members exchanging troubled glances.
Nicollman surely wouldn’t have made a mistake with the reservation.
“The reservation was made under Nicollman Hessendor,” Lupeon’s voice was icily cold and dry.
The flustered staff member apologized. “We sincerely apologize, but it seems there was a mistake with the reservation date on our end.”
“…”
A slight crease appeared between Lupeon’s brows. With the restaurant fully booked, there was no way they could find a place.
Even after the restaurant owner came out and apologized with a bow, the couple left without saying much.
Elena gently tugged at her fiancé’s clothes as she glanced at him, noticing his somewhat dampened mood.
“Lupeon, we still have plenty of time. Let’s look for another place.”
He nodded, looking visibly apologetic, and they explored nearby restaurants.
However, to their dismay, every place they visited was packed with people, making it difficult to find a suitable dining spot.
They finally managed to have a light meal at a relatively empty restaurant before heading to the grand theater for their next planned activity.
“I heard it’s currently the most popular opera performance in the North.”
Lupeon approached the ticket booth confidently, perhaps wanting to make up for the restaurant incident.
Though he had said he’d made reservations…
“We apologize, but today’s performance has been unexpectedly cancelled.”
According to the ticket clerk, the opera had been cancelled just hours before the show due to sudden stage equipment malfunction.
‘What should we do?’
Elena showed an awkward smile at the situation that seemed like everything that could go wrong was going wrong.
She wasn’t particularly bothered by these mishaps, as she was simply happy to be on what Vivian had called a date-but-not-quite-a-date with Lupeon.
However, it must have been different for him. He had surely made time in his busy schedule for this outing.
Elena glanced at her fiancé, who seemed somewhat disheartened by how nothing was going according to plan.
Seeing Lupeon looking as if dark clouds had gathered above his head, she hurriedly looked around.
Just then, a boy passing out flyers caught her attention, and she smiled slightly as she checked the paper he gave her.
“Lupeon, there’s somewhere I’d like to go!”
“Somewhere you’d like to go? Where might that be?”
As her fiancé tilted his head curiously, Elena lightly waved the flyer she was holding.
“There’s a small festival being held near the lake.”
Her heart already started fluttering at the thought of riding a moonlit boat with Lupeon under the night sky.
After carefully reading the flyer Elena handed him, Lupeon nodded slightly.
“Since it’s nearby, let’s head there now.”
The couple arrived at the lakeside, not far from the plaza.
There were couples waiting their turn to ride the moonlit carved boats.
Elena recalled her memories from Hart Island, where she had spent her summer vacation.
Lost in reminiscence, she suddenly remembered the accidental contact during the boat ride and blushed.
‘Why am I thinking about that now, of all times…’
The thought of boarding another boat with the man she had accidentally touched made her feel somewhat nervous.
Clearing her throat at her unsettled feelings, Elena turned her gaze to look at the lake.
The dark lake surface reflected the ethereal moonlight and brilliant stars twinkling above.
Captivated by the beautiful scenery, she spoke with sparkling eyes.
“The atmosphere is completely different from during the day!”
“Indeed it is.”
As if the heavens took pity on their string of misfortunes, the couple managed to secure the last remaining carved boat.
When their turn finally came, they boarded the beautifully illuminated moonlit boat.
“I think this is my first time taking a boat ride in winter.”
“Mine as well.”
Moonlit carved boats floated gently on the peaceful lake.
In contrast to the cool breeze, the inside of the boat was kept warm by a magical heating system.
Elena swallowed hard as she quietly observed the man sitting across from her in the softly lit boat.
She felt as though he might hear her heartbeat if they stayed like this.
Unaware of her inner thoughts, Lupeon spoke in a somewhat deflated voice.
“…I wanted to take you somewhere better.”
Noticing that he seemed to still be bothered by how their plans had gone awry, Elena deliberately responded in a cheerful voice.
“But I’m really enjoying myself! We even get to ride this moonlit boat together.”
When she exaggeratedly claimed it was actually for the better, Lupeon let out a small chuckle.
“If you’re enjoying yourself, that’s enough for me.”
Elena also smiled softly as she gazed at him wearing his elegant smile.
But soon she let out a short sigh as she remembered something.
“Oh right, I invited the young lady to join us, but she declined.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Lupeon’s languid expression subtly stiffened.
“…Is that so.”
Seeing his blue eyes trembling slightly, she couldn’t help but think he was hiding something.
Elena raised her eyebrows slightly, rested her elbows on her knees, and propped her chin up as she casually asked.
“Lupeon, is there perhaps something you’d like to tell me?”
She suspected her fiancé and the young lady might have plotted something together.
Lupeon cleared his throat, appearing flustered, and began to avoid Elena’s gaze.
‘Hmm, there really does seem to be something I don’t know about.’
After steering the boat toward a more secluded area where other boats didn’t pass by, she moved her lips and asked.
“I think we need to talk more. What do you think?”
“…”
‘Could something bad have happened?’
Though her heart sank at his seemingly hesitant demeanor, Elena maintained her composure and playfully pressed on.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight if I don’t hear it today.”
Lupeon wore a troubled expression for a moment before muttering.
“You really are impossible to resist.”
Taking a deep breath, he continued with a serious expression.
“There’s something I really want to tell you.”
“Something you want to tell me…?”
In response to her somewhat tense question, Lupeon nodded slightly.
He gazed at Elena intently. The look in her eyes as she stared back at him was incredibly endearing.
It seemed almost laughable now that he had once doubted those clear, innocent eyes and denied his own feelings.
