No Such Thing as a Chaste Man! Just Give It Ten Tries! - Chapter 18
Seo-ah was resistant to most drugs—a trait she had developed after coming to Genève. Whether it was a sleeping pill or a poison, nothing seemed to affect her.
She had discovered this after repeatedly falling into various traps on the black dragon expedition, and only her fellow expedition members knew this fact.
Thus, most of the medicines Jenny prepared were tailored to bypass Seo-ah’s resistance by emphasizing beneficial ingredients.
So, whatever Livo Arsene had put in the wine wouldn’t affect her.
Still, she didn’t want to play along with his schemes, not even to give him the slightest impression that he might succeed.
Of course… while Livo Arsene might be promiscuous, he wasn’t necessarily scum who would resort to drugs. But the fact that he’d gone out of his way to bring a private drink not offered at the banquet was certainly suspicious.
“If you enjoy it, would you grant me the honor of a dance with the savior of Genève?”
“A dance, hmm.”
Seo-ah’s eyebrow arched slowly.
Naturally, she didn’t want to dance with him either.
But considering his influence in the capital’s social circles, she couldn’t easily refuse. If Miriam had been there, she would have deftly deflected him, but it was clear he’d timed his approach to when she was absent.
As Seo-ah hesitated, unsure how to respond, Livo Arsene stepped closer to her.
“There are things I’d like to discuss with you privately, Miss Seo-ah.”
His hand brushed against her bare back as he spoke.
Moving closer to share confidential words was understandable, but unnecessary physical contact? Not to mention the fact that he was addressing her as ‘Miss’ instead of ‘Dame’ despite their lack of familiarity—it was revolting.
“I’ve heard from certain sources that you don’t wish to return to your homeland… If you’re planning to appeal to the Senate regarding this, I could mediate on your behalf through my grandfather.”
His hand, resting on her upper back, slowly slid down along her spine, landing in the dip of her lower back.
A shiver crawled down her back, revolted. It felt as if bugs were crawling over her skin. He must have thought he had her cornered and was behaving like this as if he held some power over her…
‘You need to show that you’re prepared to blend in with the people of Genève. Etiquette is the foundation, understand?’
Several ways to put him in his place flitted through Seo-ah’s mind, but she held onto her composure.
She could have broken his head with her wine glass, or kicked him in the grxin, or twisted his arm behind his back without him realizing it… For Genève’s greatest warrior, dealing with him would have been effortless, and it would have been entirely justified.
But she couldn’t risk making a scene. He was the Senate Speaker’s grandson, and she had only just begun showing her intention to refuse the summons back to her world.
If she made the wrong move, she could be branded as a violent barbarian and sent back to Earth in disgrace.
She had intended to teach one of the staring men a lesson, but she had hoped it wouldn’t be him…!
No matter how hard she racked her brain, she couldn’t think of a suitable solution.
The most moderate option was to chop him in the neck to knock him out and then blame it on his pre-existing condition…
Why couldn’t she handle these situations with political finesse?
Just as she hadn’t been able to convince Ephelinus with words and had resorted to seduction…
‘Is this what His Holiness felt, too?’
As thoughts of him crossed her mind, a flood of self-reproach washed over her.
Her embarrassing attempts to seduce him flashed through her mind, one after another. When she’d leapt into his bed after taking an aphrodisiac, when she had begged him to hold her, when she had worn a dress with a low neckline and subtly bent forward…
How was she any different from Livo Arsene?
Overwhelmed by shame, confusion, and guilt, Seo-ah found herself unable to respond.
“Seo-ah.”
In that moment, Seo-ah felt as though her thoughts had been exposed. The voice filling her ears belonged to him—the elegant, charming voice she adored.
Even without turning around, Seo-ah already knew who it was.
“Yes, Your Holiness…”
“Ah, High Priest Ephelinus! It’s been a while, hasn’t—agh…!”
His long leg, hidden by his ceremonial robe, moved swiftly, closing the distance in an instant.
With a strangled yelp, Livo Arsene’s face flushed red.
Ephelinus had firmly grasped his wrist.
Specifically, the wrist of the hand that had been touching Seo-ah’s lower back.
