Chapter 60: Operation First Date (II)
Two days had passed since the date was mentioned, and Kael didn’t have a good feeling.
Every time Luna said she had a plan...
His life got worse.
"I’m not going to run away."
"Good."
"Because I’ve already considered that possibility."
Kael felt a chill.
---
On the day of the date...
Luna opened the huge notebook again.
"First phase.
Separation."
She pointed at Kael.
"You come with me."
Then she pointed at Seraphina.
"And you..."
She looked around.
"...with Aurelion."
Aurelion raised a hand.
"Me?"
"I need feminine help."
"I think you chose very poorly."
"There’s no budget for another option."
Aurelion sighed.
"I accept."
Seraphina simply nodded.
"Okay."
Darius watched everyone leave.
"..."
"And me?"
Luna answered without stopping.
"Watch those two so they don’t do anything weird."
She pointed at the Fat King and Sir Dogerino.
Darius looked at both summons.
Then back at Luna.
"Do you think I can stop them?"
"No."
"I just wanted someone to suffer with me."
"..."
"Honestly, I appreciate your honesty."
---
Half an hour later...
Kael stood in front of a huge mirror.
He didn’t recognize the person reflected.
Luna walked around him with a critical expression.
"No.
That collar is wrong."
She adjusted it.
"The hair."
She messed it up a little.
Then styled it again.
"Much better."
Kael looked at his perfectly styled orange hair.
"I didn’t know it could look like this."
"Because you never do anything with it."
"I usually just survive the day."
"That’s exactly the problem."
She opened another bag.
Pulled out a dark blue jacket.
"Put it on."
"Isn’t it too elegant?"
"No."
"And this?"
She showed him new shoes.
"Since when do you have so many things?"
Luna smiled proudly.
"I bought them using part of the money from your last mission."
Kael’s eyes went wide.
"WHAT!?"
"Long-term investment."
"That was for rent!"
"Now it’ll also help you win over your fiancée."
"SHE’S NOT MY FIANCÉE!"
Luna kept adjusting his collar.
"We’ll see about that."
Kael sighed.
"I’ll have to do another mission before the end of the month."
It was impossible to argue with her when she entered that mode.
---
In another building...
Aurelion walked beside Seraphina.
"I never thought Luna would ask me for fashion advice."
"Me neither."
They entered a small boutique near the academy.
The shopkeeper immediately recognized Seraphina.
"Miss Vale!"
"Good morning."
"Looking for something special?"
Aurelion answered before her.
"We need an outfit for a date."
Silence.
The entire store slowly turned toward Seraphina.
She simply nodded.
"Yes."
The employees began moving like a perfectly coordinated army.
Dresses.
Shoes.
Jackets.
Accessories.
Five minutes later...
They had completely surrounded Seraphina.
Aurelion took a seat.
"Poor girl."
One of the employees came out excited.
"We found the perfect one!"
---
Meanwhile...
On the rooftop...
Darius sat in front of the two summons.
"Listen up.
Don’t do anything weird."
Sir Dogerino tilted his head.
"Woof!"
The Fat King didn’t even open his eyes.
"Meow..."
Five seconds later...
Sir Dogerino saw a butterfly.
"Woof!"
He ran off after it.
Darius reacted.
"Hey!"
He ran after him.
The Fat King slowly opened one eye.
Watched them both disappear down the stairs.
Then closed his eyes again.
"Meow..."
He settled on the cushion.
And kept sleeping.
---
Back in the present...
Kael finally left the dormitory.
Perfectly styled orange hair.
Immaculate white shirt.
Dark blue jacket.
Black pants.
New shoes.
He even walked differently.
Not because he wanted to.
But because the shoes were still uncomfortable.
Luna watched him proudly.
"Much better."
Kael looked at his hands.
"I feel expensive."
"That was the goal."
"What if I dirty the clothes?"
"Don’t dirty them. We have to return them — we can’t afford that."
"I’ll try."
Luna smiled, satisfied.
For the first time...
Kael really looked like a young noble.
Even if he still didn’t realize it.
---
At the same time...
Seraphina walked, guided by Aurelion.
The fact that Seraphina didn’t want to take her limousine worried her father’s people, but seeing how dressed up she was —
and accompanied by young Aurelion, who came from a family with a similar status to her father’s — they knew she was fine.
Although seeing how he was dressed, they knew he wasn’t the lucky one, but they were happy for her.
Even Aurelion took a few seconds to react.
Her long blue hair was partially pinned up behind her head.
Some strands fell softly around her face.
She wore a light blue dress.
Simple.
Elegant.
With small white details that reminded of snowflakes.
On her shoulders rested a thin white jacket.
She wasn’t carrying her sword.
Or her uniform.
She just looked like an eighteen-year-old girl.
Nothing more.
Aurelion smiled.
"I think Luna was right."
Seraphina tilted her head slightly.
"About what?"
"About you dressing like this more often."
She looked at her reflection in a window.
"It’s comfortable."
"And besides..."
He held back an amused smile.
"I think a certain guy is going to be speechless."
Seraphina seemed to process that information.
"Really?"
"I’m pretty sure."
---
The place chosen by Luna was a small park located between the academy and the city.
There were stone paths.
Tall trees.
An artificial lake.
And several cafés around.
It was peaceful.
Perfect for a first date.
Kael arrived first.
He stood completely still.
Looked at his watch.
Looked around.
Looked at his watch again.
"..."
"What do you do first?"
He had no idea.
Did he wait standing?
Sitting?
Wave?
Was there a protocol?
While he kept thinking...
He heard footsteps.
He slowly looked up.
And then he saw her.
Seraphina walked toward him with absolute calm.
The wind gently moved her blue hair.
The dress highlighted the color of her eyes even more.
For a moment...
Kael forgot to breathe.
She stopped in front of him.
Watched him for a few seconds.
Then spoke with the same naturalness as always.
"Hi."
Kael took a moment to react.
"Hi."
Silence.
He kept looking at her.
Finally, he managed to say the first thing that came to mind.
"..."
"You look very pretty."
Seraphina blinked.
She seemed surprised for just a second.
Then she answered just as calmly.
"Thanks."
She looked him up and down.
"You look very good too."
Kael felt his heart skip a small beat.
He wasn’t used to receiving compliments.
Much less from her.
Silence returned.
The two stood facing each other.
Not knowing what to do.
Not knowing who should make the first move.
Kael thought about saying something.
He found no ideas.
Seraphina also seemed to be thinking.
But she didn’t speak either.
A couple of children ran past them.
An old man looked at them.
He smiled, amused.
"What a lovely couple."
They both turned at the same time toward the old man.
"Huh?"
The man just kept walking.
Kael looked back at Seraphina.
She was looking at him.
Again, they stood completely still.
Two extremely intelligent people.
Capable of surviving dungeons.
Of defeating monsters.
Of facing inquisitors.
But completely defeated...
By a first date.
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