TWOTCL༘ ೀ⋆｡

XLVlll

⭑. ݁ ˖₊˚✩.𖥔 ݁ ˖๋ ࣭ ⭑.𖥔 ݁ ˖₊˚✩.𖥔 ݁ ˖๋ ࣭

A few hours before dinner, she played a card game with him. It was a simple game of poker where one had to read each other’s intentions through every bet and bluff to win. It was considered an essential refinement in aristocratic society. Naturally, Elysia, lacking experience, kept losing to Hadeon, who had plenty. Each time a card was revealed, she failed miserably at discerning his psychology, leaving her with nothing but the bitter taste of defeat.

Despite this, Elysia, driven by stubbornness and a desperate desire to beat him even once, kept challenging him.

Strangely, she managed to win the last three or four rounds in a row, but throughout those losses, Hadeon kept wearing a strangely indulgent smile, as if he had orchestrated the whole thing.

After a long three or four hours of card games, the train carrying them was now moving along the Archen River. The water sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight. Many passengers couldn’t take their eyes off the view from the windows.

“Shall we start getting ready? We need to change clothes.”

Hadeon stood up, calculating the time. He naturally guided her, wrapping his arm around Elysia’s shoulders as she hastily stood up to follow him. Other gentlemen were also escorting their lovers and wives to the cabins.

Though she had packed several evening dresses as Malcolm advised, Elysia hadn’t expected to change so frequently. She felt dazed by his natural leadership. He had claimed it was his first time, yet he seemed so familiar with the routine of female passengers.

A peculiar jealousy bubbled up inside her. Realizing this, Elysia was startled. Her mind was in turmoil.

“I’ll wait outside. Change and come out.”

He added mischievously, “If the dress has tricky buttons, feel free to ask for help. I’ll be waiting like a valet.”

Elysia blushed, unable to laugh at his joke.

Most first-class passengers were accompanied by their servants. The maid Malcolm and the Duke’s household had carefully selected for her would be waiting in third class, but Hadeon personally handled almost all escort duties for himself and Elysia.

Fearing he might wait too long, Elysia hurriedly changed into an evening dress and stepped out of the cabin.

When she appeared, she felt the stares of not only Hadeon but also other noblemen waiting in the hallway.

Elysia was wearing an elegant muslin dress with a white base and pink floral patterns, featuring puffed sleeves. It was the dress Ada, her personal shopper, had insisted she buy during their last shopping trip. The dress was appropriate for the dinner setting, giving Elysia the appearance of a young noblewoman.

Hadeon approached her with his characteristic crooked smile. His attire had also changed slightly, his jacket now a bit more formal. Elysia’s heart began to beat irregularly under the intense gaze that ignored the other ladies and focused solely on her.