“Shall we do it properly?”

A solemn atmosphere hung in Francois’ private room, as cold as Kyle’s expression.

“W-What?”

Se Hee asked cautiously, tensing up.

“Confirmation.”

“What kind of confirmation?”

“About whether we really are nothing to each other.”

Nothing to each other.

Kyle persistently clung to those words that stirred his emotions.

“What did you say?”

Se Hee’s eyes widened in surprise.

“It doesn’t seem like we’re nothing to each other.”

Kyle’s persistence seemed to be crossing into obsession.

“Pardon?”

What is he saying now?

Really confusing people?

A bewildered look flashed in Se Hee’s eyes as she stared back in surprise.

Kyle was reacting quite seriously to those words she might have thrown out thoughtlessly, perhaps wanting to confirm his feelings as well.

“Do I look like someone who has dinner with just anyone?”

Kyle stared intently at Se Hee while stroking his chin.

“Well…”

Se Hee deliberately spoke nonchalantly.

Kyle’s eyebrow raised disapprovingly at Se Hee’s seemingly indifferent attitude.

Soon, a strange light gleamed in his eyes.

“Your behavior at last night’s pool party was quite impressive, Se Hee.”

Kyle’s gaze grew strangely intense.

In that moment, Se Hee’s face turned red.

She vividly recalled her actions from that time that Kyle was calling impressive.

Se Hee was helplessly caught off guard by Kyle’s sudden aggressive advance, unable to say anything.

“Judging by your expression, it seems your thoughts have changed a bit?”

“Ah, no? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Greatly flustered, Se Hee feigned ignorance and even avoided eye contact.

“Is that so? Then from now on, we’ll gradually find out. What kind of relationship we really have.”

Kyle leaned towards Se Hee as if about to say something important.

“From this moment on, you will attend all events with me without fail.”

And he spoke as if making an announcement.

“This seems like an additional penalty?”

Se Hee asked with furrowed brows.

“No. This isn’t a penalty, but a proposal. A date proposal to properly confirm our relationship.”

Kyle said with a subtle smile, the corner of his mouth rising slightly.

“A date? Attending all events together?”

Kyle simply nodded lightly in response to Se Hee’s question.

“What do you mean by…”

That’s welcome news.

Swallowing the rest of her words, Se Hee barely managed to suppress a smile that almost slipped out.

This man, subtly planting fantasies?

Though she frowned as if troubled, Se Hee, whose heart had already leapt into a field of beans, struggled to control the corners of her mouth trying to lift.

Fortunately at that moment, the dinner Kyle had pre-ordered arrived.

With a knock, the general manager entered.

“Here is the Romanée-Conti you ordered. Would you like to taste it?”

The general manager presented the wine bottle for confirmation after finishing setting up the food on the table.

“Yes.”

As Se Hee nodded, the general manager poured the wine, beautiful as a red ruby, into the glass.

Se Hee tasted the wine with quite skillful technique.

The wine, with its beautiful and vivid color matching Se Hee’s elated mood, was excellent in both aroma and taste.

In fact, it was a wine she had only heard of by name.

She had heard it was occasionally prepared for VVIP customer events at the hotel where she worked.

“Then, enjoy your time.”

After finishing arranging the table, the general manager politely excused himself and left the room.

“The wine is really excellent.”

Se Hee said with a bright expression after lightly emptying her wine glass.

“The wine evaluation is done, so what’s your answer to my proposal?”

“It’s an extremely excellent proposal.”

Se Hee gazed intently at Kyle with a flushed face and a smile.

How could I refuse a date with you?

“Does that mean you accept?”

Kyle asked again, wanting to hear that answer clearly.

“Of course. Actually, I feel like even the dinner is more like consideration than a penalty, you know? Like you’re looking out for me so I don’t have to eat alone.”

Se Hee gave a clear smile.

That smile naturally melted into Kyle’s heart.

As if trying to hide the tickling emotion, Kyle soon shifted his gaze to the food.

“Shall we… eat?”

“Yes. Actually, I’m really hungry.”

Kyle snorted softly as if unable to help it at Se Hee’s playful response.

The two began their meal in a much softer atmosphere.

Se Hee popped open the burrata cheese on the salad plate in front of her.

The arugula, well mixed with the cheese, had a delightful crunchy texture.

A satisfied expression appeared on Se Hee’s face.

“Um… By the way. You said we’d attend all event schedules together from now on, right?”

Se Hee cautiously brought up the subject.

Thanks to Kyle making the unexpected proposal first, it seemed the issue of writing his name without permission might be resolved more easily than expected.

Kyle’s gaze turned to Se Hee.

“Um… Do you know there’s something called a wedding event?”

Se Hee carefully observed Kyle’s expression.

For a moment, Kyle’s eyebrows twitched.

“If a passenger who applied gets selected for the event, they can have an unforgettable wedding ceremony on the ship.”

Se Hee continued her explanation earnestly, trying to convey that she hadn’t applied out of personal interest.

“When I went to the shopping center, I caught a glimpse of the wedding dress to be used for that event, and it was so beautiful. Maybe because it’s a famous designer’s work. I felt like I absolutely had to apply.”

Contrary to Se Hee’s lengthening introduction, Kyle remained silent.

He was waiting only to hear about the name of the partner Se Hee would have written down.

“So I applied too.”

Se Hee said with sparkling eyes.

But she didn’t speak clearly about the partner.

Instead, she was moving her lips hesitantly, as if watching Kyle’s reaction.

“You might be upset, but actually…”

Finally, the impatient Kyle asked first.

“…Did you perhaps write my name in the partner section?”

“Huh?”

Se Hee was startled by Kyle’s direct question, which he had perceptively figured out.

“H-How did you know?”

Se Hee said, extremely tense.

“I’m sorry for writing it without permission. Only one couple gets chosen, so the chances of winning are probably almost zero. So you can rest assured. Really. But I thought you should know that I applied.”

Se Hee trailed off apologetically.

Kyle seemed quite sensitive even normally.

He’ll surely scold me, right?

Will he just let it slide?

Se Hee carefully observed Kyle’s expression.

“Didn’t I say I’d allow the use of my name? We’re planning to attend events together from now on anyway.”

Se Hee’s eyes widened like a surprised rabbit.

Does that mean it’s okay?

“Really? Is it okay? Even if… we actually win?”

Se Hee was surprised by Kyle’s unexpected reaction.

Instead of answering, Kyle asked back.

“Would you… like it if we won?”

“…Honestly?”

“Honestly.”

“…Yes.”

Se Hee’s cheeks reddened shyly along with her answer.

“So you applied even with that zero point zero zero zero zero… percent chance of hope? Without permission.”

Se Hee smiled shyly.

In that moment, Kyle’s heart wavered.

If he had known beforehand that he was the partner, he might have accepted Captain Marcus’s proposal.

“I’ll wish you luck.”

“Really?”

Se Hee asked in surprise at Kyle’s words.

“Yes. I’ll wish you luck strongly.”

“It might just be my feeling, but when you say that, I feel good somehow? When I was trapped in the hatch before, I felt really reassured then too. Those words that you’d protect me somehow.”

Se Hee’s sincere gaze turned to Kyle.

“We didn’t know each other well then, but your voice and those eyes gave me confidence. Thank you. For being here with me like this.”

Se Hee’s voice, becoming wet, stirred the water.

Se Hee quickly lowered her head and fiddled with her eyes.

“I-I’m not crying, okay? Absolutely not. So don’t misunderstand. Really. My eyes are just a bit sensitive. They get red like this even when they’re just a little dry…”

Se Hee’s words were getting faster and faster.

Suddenly, a fine handkerchief was held out in front of Se Hee.

Full of Kyle’s fresh scent.

“You know your lies show, right?”

“Does it show a lot?”

Se Hee carefully took the handkerchief.

“Seriously.”

“Then… pretend you don’t notice. Please.”

Kyle burst out laughing at Se Hee’s prim retort.

“Shall we go to the midnight event together? Oh right, we have to go together now no matter what, huh?”

Se Hee smiled brightly.

“If you want to attend, gladly.”

His voice sounded wonderful, though it might have been her imagination.

“They said they’ll announce the drawing results at the midnight event.”

“I see.”

As he answered, Kyle’s gaze fixed on Se Hee had changed to a completely different emotion from when he first met her.

Perhaps Kyle had already noticed such a change.

* * *

Returning to her cabin to prepare for the midnight event, Se Hee encountered a crew member who had been waiting for an unknown time.

With a familiar appearance she had seen once before.

No, holding several even larger boxes than last time.

“Ah. Customer. I rang the doorbell but there was no answer, so I was waiting for a moment.”

The crew member approached Se Hee with a bright expression.

“What brings you… Have you been waiting long?”

“Not at all. I came to deliver this.”

“What is this?”

“It’s a special event gift from our captain for female passengers traveling alone.”

“From the captain?”

Last time it was the CEO, but this time it’s the captain?

Se Hee looked at the crew member with a puzzled expression.

“I’ll move them into your room.”

“Ah… Yes. Thank you. But are you sure these gifts are really for me?”

“Yes. These are gifts for Lee Se Hee, customer in room 1305.”

It was clearly her name, but…

Se Hee just tilted her head, not having heard of such an event.

Though she accepted it in a daze, she felt somewhat suspicious.

After the crew member left, Se Hee opened the box placed on top.

Good heavens.

It was that dress Se Hee had turned away from without being able to purchase at the 5th floor luxury brand store.

The dresses in the other boxes were also ones that had been recommended to her at that store.

How could this be?

Is it because she’s traveling alone that they’re paying special attention?

Should this really be considered a special service?

Perhaps it’s the famous special service unique to Evans.

Since they’re an unrivaled group in the hotel industry

It seems they’re called the number one in customer satisfaction and the best company by moving customers like this.

Though it was somewhat burdensome, Se Hee had no dress to wear to the event party right away, so after brief consideration, she decided to accept it inevitably.

Se Hee took out the dress she had really wanted.

A happy smile spread across Se Hee’s face.

* * *

Kyle, who was to meet Se Hee again after preparing for the midnight event, also headed to his own room for a moment.

However, Captain Marcus was waiting with a serious expression.

Kyle’s steps gradually slowed.

“CEO.”

Marcus, who had come to see Kyle again after much deliberation, had a face full of worry.

“Let’s go into the office.”

“Pardon?”

The captain, who thought he would be rejected immediately, held a small hope at Kyle’s attitude.

“CEO, you’ve arrived?”

Dave stood up from his seat upon seeing Kyle.

And seeing Marcus following behind, he shook his head with a regretful expression.

“Tell me. What matter is it this time.”

Kyle offered Marcus a seat as he sat down himself.

“CEO. It’s about the wedding event I mentioned earlier.”

Captain Marcus spoke with a grave expression.

Thinking it was the last chance, he had come with little time left before the event winner announcement.

“I know it goes against the rules. But couldn’t you make an exception just this once?”

Marcus’s appearance, looking at Kyle as if pleading, made even Dave’s expression, watching from the side, contort with pity.

“…Alright.”

Kyle answered after a long sigh.

As if reluctantly agreeing.

“Pardon?”

Marcus’s eyes widened in surprise at Kyle’s answer.

Dave’s mouth fell open in surprise as well.

“Not once have I ever allowed anything that goes against fairness. But just this once, I will accept Captain Marcus’s proposal.”

“CEO!”

Marcus called out to Kyle as if he might collapse from emotion.

“Since this is something Captain Marcus and all the crew members desire so earnestly, I will allow it for this event only, as the first and last time.”

Kyle firmly stated his position that there would not be a second time.

“Thank you. Thank you, CEO. Of course. This is the last time. This will never happen again.”

Marcus pressed his hand against his pounding chest, not knowing what to do with the surging emotion.

“I will take responsibility for persuading the partner. CEO.”

Marcus said, swallowing his tears.

Kyle asked nonchalantly, as if he knew nothing:

“…Who is the partner?”