Elysia’s snow-white arms were fully exposed as she stretched.
The strapless dress and the thin undergarment beneath it gently hugged her figure, accentuating her soft curves.
The warmth of the sun gradually chased away the last traces of chill from her body.
She then picked up her phone, preparing to send an important message.
However, even though the preparations for the banquet had gone smoothly so far, this particular task felt unexpectedly difficult.
Her fingertips seemed heavy as she typed.
After a long hesitation, she finally finished the message and sent it to the group, tagging everyone.
She emphasized that this was a casual gathering for communication rather than a formal birthday banquet, and ended it with thanks and well wishes.
This was clearly supposed to be a birthday banquet for Edward.
Why…
Did it have to turn out this way?
===
Pink Fairy: Thanks for everyone’s help~?
Beautiful Fox Immortal: What’s this for?
If it weren’t for Lady Elysia’s guidance, we would have probably gotten stuck in a rut.
Ah…
Lady Elysia, the adorable Pink Fairy, the flawless Lady Elysia.
Wanna Play Cards: +1
Stop Slacking and Playing Cards: +1
Pink Fairy: If it weren’t for your help, I definitely couldn’t have hosted such a big banquet~?
Black Space Station Enthusiast: I only have some money left.
If it can help the perfect and lovely Lady Elysia, that would be for the best.
Vill-V: …
The chat group had unconsciously turned into a place full of flattery.
A single sentence from Elysia would prompt countless “+1” responses.
Although the members were all highly intelligent individuals, they behaved in an unusually harmonious manner when it came to praising her.
Almost everyone was in a frenzy of admiration, their devotion bordering on deification.
However, even in this perfect harmony, there were a few discordant notes.
One girl in the group stood out.
She might be described as innocent or even a bit foolish for using her real name online.
She felt somewhat confused as she read the messages.
Strange…
Wasn’t this supposed to be someone else’s birthday banquet?
The photos had already been sent, so why did the conversation shift so dramatically midway through?
It was hard to understand.
After a period of silence, Vill-V still began preparing a gift.
Perhaps it was because she had spent so long trapped in self-doubt and isolation that even a simple invitation felt precious to her.
===
[The next day, even though Edward had slept in, he still woke up early.
He felt refreshed and went through his morning routine.
He even took out some of his most precious clothes that he had bought on a whim but rarely worn.] Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
[In the past, he had been reluctant to wear them for fear of damaging them.
But today, for Elysia’s banquet, that no longer mattered.]
Edward changed into his finest formal wear: a black and gold jacket featuring a crescent moon woven from mithril, with buttons resembling full moons shining in the night sky.
The swallowtail coat and tailored trousers made his figure look exceptionally elegant and slender.
He was both excited and a little nervous about the gathering.
He wanted everything to go perfectly.
Once he was ready, Edward headed to the location marked on the invitation.
Along the way, he came across an uphill road.
There was nothing unusual about that.
Until…
A gentle breeze suddenly swept past.
It carried a faint, intoxicating fragrance and a swirl of petals that momentarily obscured his vision.
An elegant English-style top hat fluttered down and landed perfectly at his feet.
Edward instinctively looked up, following the direction the hat and the fragrant breeze had come from.
At the top of the slope stood a girl with soft, flowing khaki-colored hair, wearing a light gauze dress.
Her unique silver-pink eyes were filled with a mix of emotions as she stared at him, looking both shy and deeply puzzled.
Why the confusion?
The most obvious emotion in her eyes was bewilderment.
It was so clear that even a stranger could see it.
It was as if Edward’s appearance at this exact time and place was completely unexpected.
The girl seemed too stunned to even retrieve her hat at first.
The emotions in her eyes quickly disappeared.
Edward saw her cherry lips part slightly.
“Edward?”
The top hat spun through the air before landing near Edward’s hand.
He caught it instinctively and met the gaze of the bewildered girl on the slope.
Vill-V looked at him with shy eyes.
She fought the urge to look away and held his gaze.
A faint pink light shimmered in her silver-gray eyes, as though stained by dancing petals.
There was fear in them, but also a quiet determination.
It was a dreamlike encounter.
Just then, another gentle breeze blew through.
Spring blossoms fluttered down around them.
The bright morning light reflected off the small puddles on the ground, creating a beautiful, dappled scene.
Petals swirled in the air, gently brushing against the girl’s hair and delicate shoulders.
A refined, subtle fragrance, reminiscent of coffee, drifted on the wind.
Black lace garter stockings accentuated her full thighs, and her leather boots perfectly outlined the elegant curves of her legs.
The girl stood bathed in the golden morning light, looking both shy and captivating.
Edward paused for a moment, seemingly stunned by the sight.
He even forgot to question the strange sense of familiarity in her eyes.
It was definitely not the look of someone he had only met once before.
Unfortunately, the beautiful moment lasted only an instant.
The girl suddenly seemed to snap out of her daze.
Her soft eyes widened in panic, turning almost cartoonish.
Without even asking for her hat back, she turned and hurried up the slope, disappearing from view.
[Strange…]
[It was genuinely strange.]
[She called out to him as if she knew him, then ran away on her own after giving him quite the view.]
[It felt like the beginning of a light novel or a dating game, but Edward was certain he had never met this person before.
There was no connection between them in his memory.]
[Of course, he did not dwell on it.]
[Perhaps she had mistaken him for someone else and realized her mistake, or maybe she had simply seen him somewhere before.
Either way, it did not matter right now.]
[The only important thing was to attend the banquet Elysia had prepared for him.]
The walk from his tent to the venue was longer than he expected, which was unlike Elysia’s usual style.
Still, Edward did not think too much of it.
However, when he arrived at the location, he found a large crowd already gathered outside a luxurious mansion.
Everyone was dressed exquisitely, and their conversations sounded refined.
It was clear they were all highly intelligent individuals.
Once inside, there were even more people.
Edward began to wonder if he had come to the wrong address.
This looked more like a high-society networking event than a personal birthday celebration.
If this was truly his birthday banquet, why was no one paying any attention to him, the supposed guest of honor?
He tried to convince himself that he had taken the wrong path.
But then he caught sight of a familiar, beautiful pink figure in the distance.
It was Elysia.
Her pure pink hair and youthful, flawless face were unmistakable.
Even from a distance, her presence was impossible to miss.
She was surrounded by circles of people inside the grand mansion.
No one was looking at Edward.
Not a single gaze turned his way.
[Edward did not enter cautiously.
He walked with his head held high and his steps firm.
This was his birthday banquet.
While he did not expect everyone to focus on him, he certainly would not slink in.]
[Now he regretted it a little.]