Chapter 159: Soul Orb (4)

Chapter 159: Soul Orb (4)

Eltman prepared a special reception room for Florin’s sake.

Sunlight didn't seep in, and with the space barrier, there was no worry of the curse spreading out.

After placing guards and close aides in the adjacent room, she entered the reception room with Baek Yu-Seol.

It wasn't very large, but it was a cozy and warm space.

As she seated Baek Yu-Seol in front of her, Florin considered her words.

Since ordinary human boys wouldn't open their mouths first in front of the Elven king, she felt she should take the lead.

But was that boy really not feeling pressured at all?

"Do you drink coffee or green tea?"

"...."

It was absurd to see him fiddling with the portable coffee pot as if he didn't care about her, and seriously considered whether to add sugar first or pour the shot first.

She didn't feel bad.

It just felt a little strange.

"I'll have... green tea."

"No. I’ve already made two cups of coffee."

".... Then coffee it is."

"By the way, it's iced coffee."

"Ah...."

Although she hated cold coffee the most, she couldn't refuse what had already been served.

"Here."

"......"

As Florin hesitated to take the cold coffee, Baek Yu-Seol chuckled.

He knew she disliked iced coffee.

However, this was considered one of the best ways to pique her interest even in the original game.

In typical dating simulation games, you increase affinity by giving gifts the other person likes.

However, in the Aether World Online, after doing the opposite of what the other person likes, you can earn several times more affinity by doing something better next time.

Baek Yu-Seol didn't necessarily aim to build up Florin’s affinity for dating, but he thought it was the best way to open her heart for conversation.

As Florin glanced at Baek Yu-Seol, who was sipping his iced coffee, she felt a strangely familiar scent wafting from him.

The energy of the Spirit Celestia?

Of course, that was there too.

But what was more important was...

"... I smell the same curse from you as I do from myself."

"Yes. You're right."

That was right.

The hellish scent of the curse, which Florin had quietly hidden in the deepest recesses until now, was also emanating from Baek Yu-Seol.

But it was strange.

Even though Baek Yu-Seol was walking around perfectly fine, people would fall for her and die from unrequited love.

"Have you... overcome that curse?"

Upon receiving that question, Baek Yu-Seol had a gut feeling that his assumption was correct.

*‘I think you don’t even know that I was blessed by Yeonhong Chunsamweol?’*

There were not many records of Florin-related stories in the Sentient Specs.

So, he tried to deduce various possibilities himself, one of which was the absence of Yeonhong Chunsamweol in Florin’s memories.

"Hmm, well. If I overcome it, what about you..."

"Me... Is it really possible? How... Please, teach me too!"

The sight of her desperate and forlorn appearance as she tightly held her trembling hand and cautiously pleaded seemed urgent and pitiful, but in fact, Baek Yu-Seol himself had not completely overcome the curse.

Originally, when the Yeonhong Chunsamweol bestowed blessings upon Florin, it was so powerful that she likely failed to control it.

As a result, she received an excessively overwhelming power, akin to a curse, and yet when Baek Yu-Seol received the blessing, Yeonhong Chunsamweol had already weakened significantly, so he hardly received the power of fascination.

He merely acquired the ability to become mentally stronger and to perceive the opponent's psyche to some extent.

"Well, there is a way."

"Is it really possible?"

In truth, he didn't know well.

He only knew that it was possible to neutralize the curse by utilizing the protection of Yeonhong Chunsamweol.

It was vaguely recorded even in the Sentient Spec, so he couldn't know exactly what method to use.

Perhaps scenes of resolving curses were mostly skipped in the original game.

Nevertheless, the reason for lying was his confidence.

Baek Yu-Seol was confident that if he could use the protection of Yeonhong Chunsamweol possessed by him, he could somehow eliminate the curse.

Florin was barely an extra in the original game, but she was close to being a completely good character and her abilities were also remarkable, so it would be quite a waste to leave her as she was.

Since there was no guarantee that Edna would save her like in the original game, he had no choice but to try to solve it himself.

It was not common for an ordinary student to have the opportunity to confront the Elven King.

Florin glanced at the clock on the wall and smiled softly.

There was no need to rush.

After all... Wasn’t there a living witness who overcame the same curse, despite suffering from it just like her?

With the boy in front of her having a way to resolve this curse, what's the rush?

Undoubtedly, she would regret later for not cherishing the time she couldn't afford to lose now.

*‘So, let's take our time and enjoy my tea time with him leisurely.’*

... Although she still disliked iced coffee.

With Baek Yu-Seol, however, she thought she might be able to enjoy it somewhat.

The room right next to the reception room served as a waiting area where attendants waited while their masters conversed.

Similarly, since Florin was in the reception room, the best magical knights to guard her were supposed to be waiting in the waiting room, thoroughly guarding the surroundings.

However, Florin sent them all away.

While taking off her mask inside, the curse could seep out and affect them.

For that reason, the waiting room had to be empty.

Except for one person.

Orenha was still there, waiting for Florin.

"......"

Tock! Tock!

He counted the time by tapping his finger on his thigh.

Despite a long time, they showed no sign of coming out.

It was irritating and frustrating, but he endured.

It was unlikely for the Elven King to suddenly fall for a teenage boy.

Her Majesty ordered him to "go back."

However, he didn't listen.

A man who actually goes back when a woman tells him to lacked charm.

Orenha, who had gone through several relationships as a disguise, boasted considerable knowledge about love, as he had been in love a few times for the sake of infiltration.

When Florin finished her private conversation with Baek Yu-Seol and came out, he would properly apologize and brief her on how to handle things in the future.

By doing so, he planned to prove his competence once again and lead her to trust and rely on him.

After all, because of that 'curse,' Florin couldn’t freely move around outside.

*‘Your Majesty. You can’t do anything without... me.’*

No matter what mistakes he made, ultimately she had to entrust everything to him.

That was the fate decided.

Thinking so, Orenha endured the time of patience thoroughly.

Finally, around the time the evening fell completely.

Clack!

As the door opened, they walked out.

"Your Majesty!"

Orenha stood up with a bright face to greet the king.

Then, frozen in the same posture, his body stiffened.

*'Huh?'*

His queen... had taken off her mask.

The familiar yet rarely seen beautiful face.

She smiled warmly at the boy, but her expression stiffened when she saw him.

*'Why?'*

It was truly strange.

Even with Florin’s face in front of him, another question arose in his mind.

*'Why did Her Majesty show her bare face, which she had never shown to me, to a mere human?'*

When jealousy filled his mind, he found himself unconsciously approaching her.

"Your Majesty, why..."

*‘Why did you show that beautiful face, smile, and affectionate gaze that you didn't even show me, to such a human being?’*

With all those questions in mind, he reached out his hand.

".... Don't come any closer."

Florin said with a guarded expression, and stepped back.

"Ah...?"

Shocked, Orenha stopped for a moment.

**Thud!**

The world tilted, and he collapsed on the ground.

His vision was engulfed in darkness.

He could no longer... do anything.",