The two people who leisurely spent time at the sports center headed to François’ private room to have dinner together.

The general manager who was waiting greeted the two politely.

After settling into the guided room, Lee Se Hee was now skillfully placing the order that she had always left to Kyle, with an awkward expression.

After the general manager who took the order politely bowed and left, Lee Se Hee asked Kyle as if she had been waiting.

“What kind of outfit did you prepare for today’s event party? When I think of a masquerade ball, eerie costumes come to mind. Like zombies or ghosts?”

Lee Se Hee asked with a curious expression.

“That’s for Halloween. You didn’t prepare a witch costume, did you?”

Kyle asked back as if very suspicious of Lee Se Hee’s question.

“A witch? No way. There’s a dress code.”

“Then what is it?”

Kyle asked as if curious.

“It’s a secret!”

Kyle snorted at Lee Se Hee who was coyly refusing to tell.

“If you need an outfit, we could go prepare together after dinner.”

Kyle gently suggested.

“No, it’s okay. I’ve already prepared. I was just curious about your outfit.”

Lee Se Hee smiled brightly.

And like last time, telepathy might work, but just in case.

“My outfit has a lot of red in it.”

Lee Se Hee said casually.

“Red? Fortunately, it’s not a witch costume then.”

Kyle nodded as if relieved.

“I told you it wasn’t. It’s quite a nice dress.”

Lee Se Hee answered confidently.

“Quite?”

That word made Kyle very uneasy.

“Yes.”

“Why don’t we go prepare together after dinner instead?”

Kyle suggested once again.

“Are you doubting me now?”

“It’s not that I doubt you, but…”

Kyle stroked his chin doubtfully.

“You’ll probably be surprised.”

Lee Se Hee said meaningfully.

“If you say so, I’ll look forward to it.”

Kyle nodded as if he understood.

Just then there was a knock, and the general manager entered again.

And he began setting delicious-looking food on the table.

At first this place felt so unfamiliar, but in just a few days it had become a happy space.

No, the feeling that this space has changed wouldn’t be because of time.

It must be because of the subtle changes in emotions between Kyle sitting right in front of her and herself.

Lee Se Hee leisurely finished a satisfying dinner with Kyle in that happy space.

* * *

After finishing dinner and returning to her room, Lee Se Hee hurriedly began preparations.

She took out the splendid hanbok that had been well-preserved in one part of the closet.

In fact, it was a modified hanbok in the form of a top dress that had been greatly altered from traditional hanbok.

Since the dress code was 18th century attire.

There was no clause anywhere that it had to be European dress.

The 18th century in Korea was the Joseon Dynasty.

As soon as she saw the dress code, she thought of the hanbok she had brought.

Actually, the reason she prepared this outfit wasn’t because of the masquerade ball.

While looking for cruise travel information, she saw content saying that traditional Korean hanbok was very popular, so she should definitely prepare it.

However, the problem was that Lee Se Hee had prepared hanbok as excessively as swimsuits at the time, so she brought a revealing topless dress-style hanbok instead of a modest traditional hanbok.

It seems that the things she had resolved to be bold about were only greatly expressed in her clothing.

But since this event party was a masquerade ball, she thought the unique hanbok dress would fit in very well.

Wearing the hanbok dress and fixing her makeup, Lee Se Hee suddenly burst out laughing.

She momentarily recalled Kyle’s expression as he worried it might be a witch costume.

He’d be really worried even while saying it’s okay, right?

But come to think of it, a witch costume?

What does he take me for?

Lee Se Hee beautifully put on the exquisite hanbok.

For the off-shoulder top dress hanbok, a half-up hairstyle seemed to suit better than an updo, so she let her hair down in waves to one side.

Lee Se Hee who had finished preparing faced her reflection in the mirror.

This hanbok, boasting an especially colorful and voluminous skirt, was far from modest.

Instead of a pure appearance, a glamorous and alluring Lee Se Hee was sitting there.

When Lee Se Hee in the mirror slightly raised one corner of her red lipsticked lips, she even looked seductive.

Just then, as if sensing that Lee Se Hee had finished preparing, the doorbell rang.

After taking a calm deep breath, Lee Se Hee stood up.

And she slowly opened the room door.

Kyle was standing there in a red uniform.

It seemed he had considered the color Lee Se Hee had hinted at.

She had thought he looked really good in a suit, but his appearance in the stylish uniform exceeded imagination.

Lee Se Hee was staring blankly at Kyle’s breathtaking appearance.

Kyle was the same.

He couldn’t take his eyes off Lee Se Hee’s appearance in the hanbok that was like an enchanting dress.

“I see. You’re stunningly beautiful enough to be surprising.”

Kyle, looking down with dreamy eyes, kissed Lee Se Hee’s lips as if drawn to them.

After a long while, Kyle released Lee Se Hee and subtle possessiveness showed in his deep eyes.

As if he didn’t want to show her to anyone else.

Lee Se Hee walked gracefully, lightly holding her hanbok skirt.

“18th century Korea was the Joseon Dynasty, when they wore hanbok. Of course, it’s a style slightly modified from traditional hanbok.”

Lee Se Hee smiled brightly.

“That’s reasonable.”

Kyle nodded as if agreeing.

While heading to the event hall with Kyle, people who encountered Lee Se Hee praised her generously, saying she was truly beautiful.

There were even those who wanted to take pictures together.

Lee Se Hee mingled with such people without frowning once, sharing happy times.

As if she didn’t care at all about Kyle’s feelings, having to watch as people took Lee Se Hee away from him.

But seeing Lee Se Hee’s joyful appearance, Kyle willingly endured and waited.

Of course, he didn’t allow a long time.

Upon arriving at the event hall, Lee Se Hee felt as if she had entered a fairy tale palace, with the majestic and aristocratic interior reminiscent of a medieval ball.

As they entered, it was filled with women wearing Rococo-style dresses lavishly decorated with jewels and low-cut designs.

The Rococo-style dresses that were most fashionable in the 18th century were the princess dresses we commonly know.

“As Kyle said, there’s not a single witch.”

Lee Se Hee said playfully.

Kyle chuckled at those words.

When the time came, music announcing the start of the ball began to play.

Attendees took their partners’ hands and came out to the stage one by one.

“Well then, shall we dance together?”

Kyle naturally held out his hand to Lee Se Hee.

But Lee Se Hee hurriedly waved her hands.

Dancing? The polka she learned in middle school dance class was the first and last dance in Lee Se Hee’s life.

Dancing to this classical orthodox classical music?

Lee Se Hee, with an uncertain expression, even hunched her shoulders.

As if noticing that, Kyle gently supported Lee Se Hee’s back with one hand, took her other hand, and made the basic position.

“I’ll lead. Just naturally match your steps.”

Thus, Lee Se Hee, who blended in smoothly with the flowing music under Kyle’s lead, was handling the dance quite well.

“You’re doing well?”

At Kyle’s praise, Lee Se Hee’s mood quickly elevated and she ended up stepping on Kyle’s foot.

“I’m sorry.”

The flustered Lee Se Hee quickly apologized.

But soon she stepped on it again.

“Ah, I’m really sorry. I’m nervous. Let’s stop.”

“…How about this? One kiss for each time you step on my foot.”

Kyle, who wouldn’t just let it go, pulled Lee Se Hee close and whispered secretly.

“W-What did you say?”

Just as Lee Se Hee was startled and about to pull away, she was stepping on Kyle’s feet repeatedly.

“Oh my, I didn’t realize. I didn’t know you wanted to kiss so passionately.”

Kyle teased mischievously.

“T-That’s not it.”

Lee Se Hee, whose rhythm was broken, stepped on Kyle’s feet quite a few more times after that, and Kyle was secretly enjoying that pain.

When the music ended, to cool off the heat, Kyle found a balcony where they could feel the sea breeze with Lee Se Hee.

It seemed they weren’t the only ones with rising heat, as it wasn’t easy to find an empty space.

The two who barely found a space refreshingly enjoyed the wind blowing from the night sea.

Lee Se Hee turned to Kyle with a happy expression.

“I feel just like a princess from a fairy tale.”

Kyle looked at Lee Se Hee, who was delighted like a child, with gentle eyes.

But soon Lee Se Hee’s expression darkened.

“You know how it feels strangely anxious when you’re too happy? Like Cinderella worrying about the magic disappearing when the clock strikes twelve.”

Lee Se Hee’s eyes were already wet with tears.

“Then there’s no need to be anxious. This isn’t magic.”

Kyle said firmly yet gently.

“Right? It won’t disappear like magic?”

Lee Se Hee’s teary gaze turned to Kyle.

“That’s right. I won’t disappear. Ever.”

Lee Se Hee was wholly reflected in Kyle’s eyes, where intense emotion was spreading thickly.

Kyle’s heated lips descended right onto Lee Se Hee’s lips.

Soon Kyle’s touch began to secretly explore Lee Se Hee.

“K-Kyle.”

At Lee Se Hee’s voice shrinking as if embarrassed, Kyle, who had lost his reason while yearning for Lee Se Hee, painfully came to his senses.

“…Shall we move to another place?”

Kyle asked, looking down intently at Lee Se Hee with passionate eyes.

Lee Se Hee nodded instead of answering.

“…Just one cocktail first…”

Lee Se Hee said shyly with a face flushed red with heat.

It seemed she needed to borrow the power of alcohol.

“…Wait just a bit. I’ll be right back.”

Although Kyle’s heart was filled with hot emotion, he couldn’t refuse Lee Se Hee’s request.

Kyle quickly walked towards the bar.

After wanting and wishing for it so much, to crumble like this when such a time actually comes.

Lee Se Hee was dumbfounded by her own foolishness.

To say she wanted a cocktail of all things.

She could only sigh.

But Kyle’s unexpectedly proactive attitude made her tremble so much.

Her heart that felt like it would burst was still beating violently.

Lee Se Hee, wanting to show her prettiest appearance, took advantage of his absence to find a nearby powder room that was visible.

Perhaps because it was small, there was no one in the powder room.

Lee Se Hee went into the innermost seat and closed the door.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her pounding heart.

Just then, someone’s voice was heard.

“Did you check the inside?”

“Yeah, I just checked everything. There’s no one. Let’s just change this and leave.”

The sound of arranging items could be heard from outside, as if they were staff.

“Did you see? That annoying Asian woman? Korean, they said?”

“Yeah. She seemed to have put in a lot of effort today. She’s had a look of being happy to death since winning that wedding event. Meanwhile, our workload has seriously increased because of someone.”

Korean woman.

Wedding event winner.

The person they were talking about was Lee Se Hee.

The female crew members, not knowing Lee Se Hee was inside, began to openly badmouth her.

“How can she be so shameless?”

“She still doesn’t know, I guess.”

“How could she not know? She must be pretending not to know.”

“No way.”

What on earth were they talking about?

Lee Se Hee couldn’t understand the content of the two female crew members’ conversation at all.

Listening to their biting criticisms spoken in annoyance, Lee Se Hee could no longer hold back.

Lee Se Hee, who had flared up, clenched her fist intending to give them a proper piece of her mind.

And just as she was about to open the door and go out.

At the unbelievable shocking words that flowed from the female staff member’s mouth, Lee Se Hee froze right there on the spot.