Chapter 12. After the Praise

“Of all the hotels, why bring me to one owned by a regular client? Bragging rights?”

A deep frown settled on Serenia’s face.

“And as if that wasn’t enough, they were openly flirting right in front of me!”

At this point, she uncrossed her arms and slammed her fists onto the sofa cushions.

“You looked so happy about it, too! So why are you even thinking about quitting? From what I can see, being a host is clearly your calling!”

She knew this kind of ranting only made her look worse, but for some reason, she couldn’t stop herself.

‘It’s probably because everything just keeps piling up, yesterday and today,’ she thought.

As she muttered to herself, her dinner was brought to the room and the empty dishes taken away. Afterward, fresh clothes and hot bathwater arrived, and only once she finished her bath did she feel her mood finally begin to settle.

“Maybe it’s the warm water…”

Not just her mind but her body felt more at ease, and sleep began creeping in.

As she drifted off atop the warm and fluffy bed, there came a soft knock at the door.

Knock, knock.

Startled, Serenia bolted upright as though spring-loaded.

“Are you awake? I have something to deliver,” a calm woman’s voice called from outside.

“A-ah, yes! Just a moment!”

Hastily, Serenia ran to the door and flung it open without thinking to cover her hair or face.

Standing there was Angela, who didn’t so much as blink at Serenia’s uncovered black hair. Instead, she smiled gently and spoke.

“A package arrived for you.”

With that, Angela handed her a bouquet of roses and a small box.

“This…?”

“From Ain,” Angela explained, nodding toward the bouquet. “There’s a card in there as well.”

Feeling awkward, Serenia pulled the card out from between the flowers.

On the stiff paper, elegantly written, were the following words:

[I thought you might have forgotten, so I’m sending this as a reminder. Three times a day. Don’t forget to apply it.]

Reading that, Serenia reflexively touched her left cheek.

She could feel the rough scab that had already formed, a texture she hadn’t noticed until now.

Oblivious to Angela’s curious gaze, Serenia awkwardly cleared her throat and flipped the card over, revealing an even longer postscript.

[The photographer mentioned that today’s shoot was difficult because of the angle restrictions caused by your injury.

For the sake of gathering solid evidence, please make an effort to return to your usual appearance as quickly as possible.]

‘This man, honestly…!’

Serenia scowled and clicked her tongue in irritation.

Angela, startled by the sound, widened her eyes and asked, “Oh my, is there a problem?”

“Ah, no! Not at all!”

Only then did Serenia remember Angela was still standing there. Startled, she waved her hands frantically.

“I was just a bit upset with myself for forgetting something important…”

Making up a hasty excuse, she laughed awkwardly.

Eager to end this uncomfortable encounter with the hotel owner, she quickly added, “Thank you for delivering it. I mean, thank you very much!”

Angela chuckled softly in response.

“No need to be so formal, dear guest.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I mean, I’m not going to ask about anything you don’t want to share. And I won’t pretend I don’t notice what’s obvious, either.”

“Uh… what?”

Angela’s smile turned mischievous as she continued.

“Black hair like a slice of the night sky, eyes as pale as a mermaid’s tear… Your description in this morning’s special edition matched perfectly.”

Angela winked playfully, and that’s when Serenia realized—her face and hair were completely exposed.

Horrified, she stumbled back in a flurry of panicked movements.

Angela, trying to reassure her, spoke gently.

“No need to worry. Like I said earlier, whether you’re a prince, princess, or count’s daughter, to me, you’re just a guest.”

Hearing those calm words, Serenia felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her for her earlier flustered behavior. She fidgeted awkwardly, playing with a strand of her hair.

An awkward silence hung between them in the hallway outside Room 312.

Unable to bear it any longer, Serenia blurted out, “So, um…”

“Yes? Is there something else you’d like to ask, dear guest?” Angela replied warmly.

“Not really… I mean, sort of. I heard that… um… that man saved you once?”

Angela paused, briefly confused, before realizing Serenia meant Ain. Smiling, she nodded.

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Could I… ask what happened, if you don’t mind?” Serenia asked cautiously.

Angela couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.

‘How cute. Is this jealousy? Ah, no. Bad Angela, don’t tease the lady.’

Chiding herself, Angela decided to share the story.

“It was about ten years ago,” Angela began.

“Ah, I see,” Serenia replied hesitantly.

“Back then, I was in despair because my husband no longer looked at me,” Angela said with a wistful sigh.

“…What?” Serenia blinked, her expression turning incredulous.

Angela was referring to the time after her husband had passed away ten years ago. Yet, her choice of words seemed tailor-made for misunderstandings—a knack she possessed without even realizing it.

In truth, Angela used such phrasing because it was still painful to recall that time, but Serenia immediately jumped to entirely different conclusions.

Unaware of Serenia’s spiraling thoughts, Angela continued with a soft smile.

“Ain saved me from that despair.”

“Excuse me?”

“You could say he opened my eyes to new joys.”

“What?”

“Ah, no, perhaps it’s better to say he showed me a whole new world.”

A whole new world? Of ‘what’?

Serenia’s face turned pale, her mind racing in the most scandalous directions.

The misunderstanding stemmed entirely from her conviction that Ain was a host. In reality, Angela was praising Ain’s theater performances, which had given her a reason to live after she had considered following her husband in death.

But Serenia, with her mistaken assumptions, interpreted Angela’s words as something far more risqué.

Then Angela added a final nail to Serenia’s imagined coffin of misdeeds.

“In short, on the very night I first met Ain, he saved my dried-up soul.”

Serenia’s pupils quivered like an earthquake was tearing through her mind.

In her head, the story now went like this: the gold card Ain had been so proud of earlier was a gift from Angela, offered after a particularly satisfying ‘night of hosting’.

Perhaps something along the lines of, ‘Come back anytime, and we’ll have fun together at the hote.l’

And now, Ain had the audacity to use that very card to cover his fiancée’s accommodation.

‘Is he insane?!’

Had Ain been present to hear this wild misinterpretation, he would have vehemently protested his innocence. But fortunately—or unfortunately—he wasn’t there.

Angela noticed Serenia grinding her teeth in what appeared to be pure rage. Perplexed by this reaction, she mulled over the situation until a realization struck her.

‘Oh no, does she think I have romantic feelings for Ain?’

Panicking, Angela hastily tried to explain herself.

“Just so you know, I absolutely don’t like Ain in ‘that’ way. Not at all. Really.”

Not in ‘that’ way?

‘Then what? She meets him purely for… physical reasons?’

Serenia, already horrified, now found herself imagining scenarios she didn’t want to. Her face twisted in disgust as her mind conjured unsavory images of men and women engaging in less-than-wholesome behavior at extravagant parties.

Completely oblivious to Serenia’s deepening misunderstanding, Angela earnestly clarified her admiration.

“I just adore Ain’s talent. That’s all.”

‘Talent? Talent in what? Is there even talent involved in… that sort of thing?’

Serenia’s expression turned even more appalled, but Angela didn’t notice. She pressed on, extolling Ain’s virtues.

“Experiencing Ain’s work is something truly special. The way he draws you into a world of fantasy—it’s mesmerizing! Once you’ve experienced it, it’s impossible to look at anyone else the same way.”

“…Ah, I see.”

Serenia replied weakly, wishing she could plug her ears and block out the mortifying conversation.