IATAOTHKG | CHAPTER 49

~CHAPTER 49~

Feeling strangely nervous, she hesitated and couldn’t bring herself to open the envelope.

Hugo suddenly jumped to his feet.

“I have an important appointment, so I’ll be going.”

“Ah…”

Surprised, Meyna also stood up in a hurry.

“I’m supposed to enjoy an amazing midday drink.”

He added with a hearty tone and strode toward the door.

As Meyna followed to see him out, Hugo suddenly turned back with sparkling eyes.

“It’s called ‘The Old Man and The Tuna.’

There’s a new restaurant right in front of Idium Port.

Heard of it?”

“No, Sir.

I haven’t.”

“It’s run by a legendary fisherman.

They say he caught a giant tuna early this morning.”

Hugo stretched his long arms as wide as he could.

“It was about this big.”

“That’s a really huge tuna…”

“I’m talking about its snout.”

“Gasp.”

When Meyna reacted in shock, Hugo wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

“If you have time, you should stop by too.

They have amazing wine prepared for each tuna cut.”

“Yes, Sir.

Thank you.”

“No need for thanks.”

Hugo flung the door open.

Then he paused and looked straight at Meyna.

“My my.”

“…”

“Your lips are badly damaged.”

“…”

“Take care of your health while you work, Lady.”

He waved his hand casually as Meyna bowed deeply, then walked off down the hallway.

Left alone in the parlor, Meyna absentmindedly touched her rough lips.

Soon, she quietly repeated herself.

“Thank you.”

The recipient of her gratitude, Hugo Motenson, was already gone.

Of course, he probably did have a midday drinking appointment, but Meyna knew the real reason he left quickly was so she could read her letter comfortably.

She carefully opened the envelope.

As always, the short message was written in neat handwriting.

To Lady Meyna Winslet, I request a meeting.

I will come to you at any time and any place you desire.

From Biterion Parker.

* * *

Watching the woman who never stopped moving, Meyna took a sip of coffee.

She looks around my age.

The woman had dyed her hair completely blue and wore several unique accessories.

So stylish.

Very expressive.

Meyna normally didn’t entertain random thoughts about strangers, but something about this unknown woman was eye-catching.

The sunlit cafe was located in Gibrey Square.

If Gillingham Square was the largest plaza in the Eastern Continent Asirius and the commercial center of the northern city Whedon, then Gibrey Square was smaller and a bit outside Whedon.

Unable to withstand the massive land and rental costs of Gillingham Square, small business owners and poor artists gathered here, eventually creating their own district.

The unique, creative and free atmosphere began attracting visitors by word of mouth.

The blue-haired woman stopped rearranging small decor items and asked Meyna a question.

“Yes.”

Meyna smiled weakly and nodded.

“What kind of bastard stands up someone this beautiful?”

“Gasp.”

A b-bastard?

Shocked by the outrageous term, Meyna covered her mouth.

Then realization hit her.

Only she knew that the person she was waiting for was none other than the Empire’s prince.

Regaining her composure, she gently touched her lips.

The woman, unaware of anything, watched Meyna’s changing expressions with amusement.

She sat naturally across from her.

“I baked some cookies.

Would you like some?”

“Thank you, but I’m fine.”

Meyna declined with a polite smile.

The woman leaned her chin on her palm and stared straight at her face.

“I’ve seen you somewhere.”

“Me?”

“Have we met before?”

Meyna tilted her head at the question.

“No.

I’m seeing you for the first time.”

“Hmm?

Strange.

I’m sure I’ve seen you…”

“…”

The woman leaned in until her face was right in front of Meyna’s.

Meyna froze, unable to escape, forcing a stiff awkward smile.

“Well, I do have an unusual memory.

If we had met, there’s no way I’d forget.”

“Especially someone as beautiful as you.”

With no trace of joking, the woman suddenly rose from her seat.

She started sweeping while humming a tune, and Meyna scratched her head.

Excluding herself, there were five other guests inside the cafe.

An elderly couple, a shabby looking young woman, and a young man with a baby.

All of them were enjoying a peaceful afternoon, yet Meyna chewed her lips hard enough to taste blood because she couldn’t stop.

An hour has already passed…

The person she waited for didn’t appear.

He said to be where I want, at the time I want.

Prince Biterion wouldn’t say nonsense.

So did I choose the wrong place and time?

To be honest, there was no real “desired” time.

She was meeting him only to follow Banze’s orders, not because she wanted to.

If possible, I wanted to delay it as long as I could.

Still, as the trusted aide of the agency director, she pulled herself together and came straight here from Ocean Agency.

Then maybe I chose the wrong place.

Maybe I should have gone myself to his secret residence in the northern continent of Tan.

A mere aide telling a prince where to come?

He must have lost all desire to meet me by now.

“Sigh.”

Meyna buried her face in her hands.

Right then, while she was sulking over her mistake, the elderly couple left while chatting sweetly.

Almost at the same time, the shabby young woman suddenly got up.

She gathered an accordion, a mandolin, small cymbals and a wide-brimmed hat, then walked to the blue-haired woman sweeping.

“Thanks to you I had free coffee again today, angelic Tira.

I’ll head out to prepare for my street performance now.”

The baby sleeping in the stroller woke up with a jolt.

“Waaahhhhh!”

The panicked young father shoved half a croissant into his mouth and hurried outside.

Last to leave was the blue-haired woman, likely the cafe owner, Tira.

“My goodness.

I still have to stop by the fruit shop.”

Without even glancing at Meyna, she abandoned her shop and disappeared.

Soon, Meyna was completely alone.

She blinked, looking around with a dumbfounded expression.

“What…?”

This strange feeling was impossible to explain.

“It feels like a play.”

Yes.

It felt like a scripted performance.

As if the supporting actors had exited the stage before the lead arrived.

“Sorry for making you wait.”

Startled by the soft voice behind her, Meyna spun around.

A tall man wearing a pitch-black robe like the night sky entered, backlit by sunlight.

It was Biterion Parker.

As he removed his robe, his pale skin glimmered like pearls.