By the time Daina finished changing Maur’s sheets and bedding, it was already 10 PM.
Maur was still sulking. Thanks to Evelyn, he’d been kept from sleep for at least half an hour!
“So how should we reply, Young Master? Which invitation will you accept tomorrow? Or… all of them?”
Daina had already settled at the desk, pen in hand.
As Maur’s personal maid, she handled everything: daily routines, homework, letters, finances, social ties—anything Maur was *supposed* to do but simply didn’t feel like doing.
“Keep Lilith and her lackey’s invitations. Return the rest.”
Nobles had two standard ways to decline an invitation.
One: a polite letter explaining the refusal with sincere apologies—tactful, common, and courteous.
The other: simply returning the letter unopened. Among nobles, this blunt method was reserved only for those you utterly despised.
But Maur and Mavis had always exchanged letters this way.
For years, they’d tossed each other’s invites back and forth. The entire Royal Capital’s nobility knew they were sworn enemies.
Accepting an invitation also had two forms.
One: a clear reply expressing agreement, followed by warm pleasantries.
The other—like Maur’s method—was keeping the letter without replying or returning it.
This meant: *“I’ll consider it.”*
To most nobles, “consider” was just a graceful synonym for “yes.” When a noble said, “I need to consider,” it usually meant agreement—wrapped in reserved elegance.
And Maur was, after all, a perfectly *reserved* young nobleman.
With the letters handled, Maur finally drifted into sweet slumber.
Just before consciousness faded, he mumbled half-asleep plans:
*Wake up… put on the invisibility cloak… observe the new students… bribe… bribe… Annie Camp… Bell… find out about di… divination…* …results.
(｡し_し｡)...zzzZZZ
⌈▓͟⌉ꆟ)ꍞ
“Darling, wake up.”
“Huh? Ugh… so sleepy…”
Maur had been dreaming of cackling “hehehe” at the exposed game heroine, about to deliver his villain monologue—when a familiar voice cut through.
Rubbing his eyes, he sat up. “Is it morning already?”
His body still felt heavy, lacking that usual post-sleep freshness.
The quiet scent of forest herbs drifted through the air. Evelyn, seated on his bedside, nodded calmly:
“Yes. It’s morning.”
“So… let’s begin our date.”
Maur: “!??”
W-w-wait—E-E-Evelyn?!
“Yikes!” He scrambled backward on hands and feet, pressing against the headboard. “Damn fairy! How the hell are you *here*?!”
Evelyn blinked. “I came to date you.”
She pointed to the alchemical clock opposite his bed.
“See? Morning.”
Maur followed her finger.
“What the—?! It’s *midnight*!”
Barely 12:01 AM, you monster!
“Midnight *is* morning,” Evelyn insisted. “Date time begins.”
Per human romance novels, she’d arrived at his window at 11 PM.
As a Level 7 Legendary Spellcaster, no one in Violet County Manor could detect her.
She’d even cast the Level 6 sleep spell *“Heart of Nightmare”* on the entire household.
*Everyone’s having sweet dreams tonight.*
Once all were asleep, she slipped through the window—no wind magic needed. Forest Fey had wings. Flying was easy.
Then came the wait.
She opened her “dating bible”: a romance novel confiscated from a student.
[*Gazing at her lover’s sleeping face, my heart felt soaked in warm honey…*]
…Huh. Hard to grasp.
What did “heart filled with love” even *feel* like?
*“Emotions… far more complicated than magic.”*
She pressed on, advancing the “date progress bar.”
“Ah~ Darling, come to my arms… Let us never part from this moment~”
Recited with zero emotion.
Maur stared in horror. “Are you *insane*? Did that trash novel melt your brain?!”
He *knew* that line—from *The Arrogant Fey Falls for Me: A Love Song with the Haughty Noble Lady*! Thanks to lackey Natasha, even he knew the hype.
“Slight reference,” Evelyn said modestly. “No experience. Must study actively.”
No more delays.
She’d planned *many* date activities.
“Let’s go.”
A flick of her wrist—wind surged—and Maur was swept into her arms.
“Hey! What?! Where?! Put me down! Are you *listening*, damn it?!”
The Forest Fey soared from the window into the Royal Capital’s starlit sky.
Her high-tier concealment magic hid them perfectly—even patrols saw nothing.
Maur knew wind magic too… but barely enough to hover. Flying this high? First time.
After initial dizziness faded, he adjusted.
Wind brushed gently; speed was calm. A thrilling, weightless freedom washed over him.
Below, the majestic Royal Capital shrank into toy-like lights.
*So… the Royal Capital’s just like this, huh?*
His heart felt lighter than it had since leaving the Violet Count’s lands—and being named First Princess Athena’s fiancé.
A grin broke out. “Higher! Faster!”
He wanted to touch the sky.
“Okay.”
The Forest Fey obeyed every whim.
Dives. Loops. 360° spins. Speed bursts.
She even cast a warmth spell *before* he shivered.
After the aerial rollercoaster thrill faded, the pampered young master grew tired.
She shifted him onto her back.
*(She *could* have given him flight magic… but instinct said: no.)*
Maur slept soundly, head resting on her shoulder.
She slowed, gliding toward the planned destination.
—Mount Sandara. Highest peak beyond the Royal Capital. *Name meaning: Dawn.*
Its summit offered the finest sunrise view nearby.
Beneath a colossal ancient tree—trunk carved with scattered lovers’ names—the legendary Lovers’ Tree.
Too steep for humans to climb. Legend said: carve your names here at dawn, and happiness lasts forever.
*Perfect human date spot.*
Maur stirred awake beneath the tree.
Pre-dawn gloom softened with a hint of light.
*Is sunrise near?*
He yawned, stood—and walked toward where Evelyn had been gazing.
(Just curious what *she* saw…)
Then—
The sky ignited.
Golden light burst through churning cloud-seas. The sun rose.
*Thud.*
Evelyn caught his hand, gently lowering him onto soft grass.
—Sunlight spilled across the world.
Her warm breath brushed his cheek. Soft lips met his.
“The sun is up,” the Forest Fey whispered.
