The sun has set, feeling a little down, Rhen left his flat and went to the pub next to the casino to pass the time.
Just like the hotel, the bar also looks Victorian and vintage with a modern touch. For some strange reason, individuals are coming here dressed as if they were in the Victorian era.
Perhaps they're enjoying themselves a little too much that they decided to cosplay.
The majority of the men who come here have long and unique mustaches, while the girls wear gorgeous outfits and flirt with their fans on their cheeks.
When they find a partner, they will begin dancing to classical music played by an orchestra in the center of the room.
They will then check into the hotel, and Rhen will earn some allowance money.
Rhen looks out of place since he came here without a mustache, nor does he wear a top hat. In spite of not wearing the unofficial outfit, he heads to the bar.
He notices Alaina seated on the bar stool; she appears to have completed her work and is searching for a place to sit and unwind.
She, too, appears out of place due to her elven casual attire.
Aliana's outfit is black with gold vines on it, and she wears a belt around her waist and matching heels.
Unfortunately, due to her good looks, she is immediately approached by an older Human man.
Despite her playful interaction with him, it is clear he's not her type.
By no means is the elder man being rude. Alaina, on the other hand, is not at ease with him and turns her body away.
She covers her face with her long hair and puts her bag between herself in the hopes that the man gets the message.
-
[Intervene]
[Stay out of it]
-
Rhen intervenes and orders some drinks. "One margarita and a strawberry cocktail." He told the Wood elf bartender.
"Right away sir." With a skillful shake of his Boston shaker, the bartender quickly pours Rhen's order into a glass.
Rhen then takes his order and walks up to the man. "Is there something you need from my lady?" He smirked at the man passive-aggressively.
Rhen serves the strawberry cocktail to Alaina as if she were his date.
"È un piacere conoscerla signore? (It's a pleasure to meet you sir?)". Extending his hand at the man.
Most Kadweinian socialites are familiar with this language, which indicates a person's position and sophistry.
In the same way that the Elven lords treated the Sylnarian tongue. Rhen is affirming his superior stature to him by doing so.
"Ohhh hahaha…," He lets out an awkward laugh. "Pleasure to meet you, sir, I didn't know she was your girl, if so please excuse me." The man walked away, his tail tucked between his legs.
Rhen also spots a ring on the man's finger, indicating that he's out here to mingle with some girls despite the fact that he's married.
"Thank you, Young Master, but I think he would just leave if I didn't talk to him." Aliana gently moves her hair to the side, displaying her lovely face to Rhen.
"They can be quite pushy when they drink too much alcohol. So, tell me what is a High elf noble like you doing here?" He asked her.
With a troubled expression, Aliana instantly places her finger on her lips. "Shhh! I'm not a noble."
She then casts her gaze from Wood elf to Wood elf, hoping none was able to hear Rhen utter it.
"(Looks like we have a troublemaker here)" Rhen thought to himself.
"How about we talk somewhere more private like on that corner." He continued, pointing to a more private part of the bar.
Aliana nods in agreement.
Rhen and Aliana walk to the area of the bar where the seats are designed for couples, and the blinds are positioned in such a way that it looks more like a private room or a cubicle than anything else.
Alaina takes the first seat on the crimson couch and places the cocktail Rhen bought for her on the glass table.
Behind a wide glass pane, she admires the evening panorama of an urban highrise.
The city lights shimmer like stars on the ground, illuminating the ground beneath.
Rhen follows suit and takes a seat next to her.
"Wow, this looks amazing, we never get to see something like this back in the kingdom." Aliana then takes a sip of the cocktail, leaving a scarlet stain on the glass from her lipstick.
"So, what's it like back in your kingdom." He asked.
"It's magical teehee" She giggles at her cheeky response.
"That is a bit vague isn't it."
"Well, nothing has changed much when you compare it to the last century. Believe it or not, we still use carriages as a form of transport. I think it's because we have such a long lifespan, we tend to live the slow life."
"I can't imagine going from city to city on a horse. What if it breaks down, do you tow it out, or change its batteries? Does it have a license plate on its bum?"
Aliana chuckles at Rhen's jokes. "No, nothing like that. It's more rooted in its past and magical compared to this country. We ride wyverns or dragons if we need to go from city to city, we also have an airship if one doesn't have a wyvern."
Rhen may ask Aliana more personal questions now that she has clearly opened up to him.
-
[Ask if she has a boyfriend.]
[Ask about her status as a noble.]
[Tell her you like her]
-
Rhen asked what happened earlier after stating that she is a noblewoman. "About earlier, you were pretty much on guard. What should I address you as, baron, princess, lord?"
Aliana pauses for a moment to gather her thoughts, then replies Rhen's query after a brief fiddling with her thumb. "I'm running away… I'm deeply sorry Young Master."
"I came here knowing I'm being pursued. Although I'm just a baronet, Father wishes me to wed his wealthy friend, and now I am here." She added with a kind grin before looking down, lost in thought.
She is aware that saying this may jeopardize her current job.
-
[Reprimand her]
[Use blackmail]
[Forgive her]
-
Rhen accepts her apology, though he did consider blackmail, he is not one to use threats to get his way with the ladies.
This is also something that he also frowns upon.
"Maybe I should go back to my father and acce-" Rhen shuts Aliana off by placing his fingers on her lips before she can continue.
"It's fine Aliana, you are safe here." He pulls away, setting her cheeks and Elven ears on fire, then wraps his arms around her with his legs crossed in a relaxed manner.
Aliana has never had a man act this way towards her in her entire life, and the only thing she can do is act timidly.
Every High Elven suitor she remembers all kneeled in front of her with a bouquet of flowers saying "You're the apple of my eye" or "I love you" even though they just met a few minutes ago.
Rhen approaches her as if she were already his to begin with. There was no talk of love or like, no confession. It was all sleight of hand and smooth gestures.
"Young master... About this. You're my boss and I'm just a receptionist. I don't think it's right." Aliana's gaze shifted away from Rhen, but she couldn't help but feel drawn to his captivating presence.
Rhen sips his margarita with a seductive air. His shirt was partially unbuttoned, revealing a glimpse of his toned chest to Aliana. She couldn't help but steal glances at his chiseled pecs, which were highlighted by the dim lighting of the bar.
He sets down his glass with a chink, the ice cubes tinkling against the sides. With a gentle touch, he began to play with Aliana's hair, marveling at its softness as he ran his fingers through it.
"Right now, I'm just a man talking to a lovely lady," Rhen's voice was low and sultry as he spoke, his lips curving into a half-smile that sent a shiver down Aliana's spine. She felt her face flush with heat, her cheeks turning the same shade as a ripe tomato.
Aliana couldn't help but feel her heart race as she looked down, avoiding the piercing gaze of the handsome man beside her. She stole a quick glance at him, taking in his chiseled features and striking presence.
Despite her attempts to remain composed, her heart continued to flutter uncontrollably.
She has never felt this way before, her entire being was consumed by an intense desire to leap into his arms. The only thing stopping her from doing it was her pride as a woman.
"I bet you tell it to every girl you meet Young Master." Aliana's tone is probing, as if Rhen is a huge playboy, which she dislikes.
"I just say what I think, and you are beautiful Aliana. Is it that wrong for me to say it with a straight face?" Rhen disregards her inquiry and tells it honestly. As someone who plays around with women a lot, he decides it's best to leave things he has done in the past a mystery to the last possible moment.
Aliana gazed deeply into Rhen's eyes, searching for any hint of his true nature. But what she found was a seductive beast, staring back at her with a hunger that made her feel like prey.
Aliana gulped and thought that this may be the day she gets to lose her V-card. She couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as she contemplated what lay ahead. However, As a follower of Syndara, the goddess of love, beauty, and purity. She doesn't want to lose it before marriage.
The mere fact she also sees Rhen as a human makes it an act of forbidden love. Aliana knew she should resist, and knew the consequences of giving in, but her body seemed to have a mind of its own. Her heart raced as she fought against the desire that was pulling her closer and closer to the edge.
Aliana's thoughts were clouded as she felt the heat on her skin. She found herself reaching out to touch Rhen's thighs, her fingers tracing the contours of his muscles.
The atmosphere was thick with heated tension, all it takes is one move, one misplaced touch, and the two of them would be lost in a frenzy of passion.
The two of them drew closer and closer. It was only a matter of time before they gave in to the overwhelming urge and surrendered to the heat of the moment.