Chapter 27: "The Black Knight, You’ll Do It, Right?"
What does a man need to win a woman's heart?
Appearance? Wealth? Wit? Or perhaps so unique charm that only belongs to him?
There are many possibilities, but perhaps so would say that looks are the most important. The power of a handso face is beyond imagination. You can’t truly understand its full impact until you experience it for yourself.
Exactly such a person, with this value system, entered the banquet hall of the Red Flower Gate. The man, tasked with a certain mission, was nad Song Seonwoo. He was known as the best Huahua Young Master in the Jangsa region.
‘Let’s see.’
His eyes scanned the banquet hall, searching for his target. As his vision spread out like a net, it quickly selected the pretty won scattered around.
“Oh...!”
A truly stunning beauty stood in the center of the hall, her small, snow-white face resembling a plum blossom gently erging from the snow.
Just looking at her left him breathless. She was soone he had never seen before. If such a beauty existed around here, he would have known. This ant...
‘That woman is Hwang Bo Yeon.’
Naturally, he raised his glass and turned his attention elsewhere. Approaching the woman also had its etiquette. Now, with everyone’s attention focused elsewhere, it wasn’t the right ti yet.
After taking a sip in silence, his excitent grew even stronger. For him, seducing won was an ever-refreshing hobby and specialty. Moreover, this ti, there would be a reward if successful.
‘If this isn’t my true calling, what is?’
Just then...
“Song Young Master!”
“When did you arrive?”
The won, seeing him, approached and greeted him. Normally, he would have responded to ease his boredom, but Song Seonwoo deliberately wore a cold expression.
“Ladies, I have an important appointnt today. A business matter, you see.”
“Ah...”
After a few more words, the won soon caught on and disappeared. Although it was a little disappointing, they were won he had already succeeded in seducing. Besides, today, he was going after a flower so beautiful that it could not be compared to them—plum blossoms blooming in the snow.
As the banquet progressed, the crowd around Hwang Bo Yeon began to thin out. So of them even gave him silent signals.
‘Don’t worry, you ugly fools. Today, I’ll get it done whether you tell to or not.’
Finally, after a long wait, Song Seonwoo turned his gaze toward Hwang Bo Yeon. She seed to have been waiting for this mont, looking directly at him. Despite her beauty, her gaze was provocatively sharp.
‘First hurdle cleared.’
It was clear she had been conscious of him. With a subtle smile on his face, Song Seonwoo responded with a flat look. Giving off the impression that he wanted nothing in return was the key.
The reason foolish n often fail in their pursuits is not just their looks, but because their gaze reveals their desires. No matter how much they try to hide it, won can detect that instantly.
Thus, the phrase "stealing a woman's heart" was a flawed expression in Song Seonwoo’s philosophy of seduction. One should not steal. The mont that thieving heart is revealed, the woman will close the door to her heart.
‘I won’t steal anything, Hwang Bo Sojeo.’
Because even without doing that, you’ll give it all away—your body and even your heart.
With that thought, Song Seonwoo began to move. Normally, if eyes et, one shouldn’t delay.
“Good evening.”
“Yes, hello.”
‘Second hurdle cleared.’
The fact that she responded ant half of it was done. It would have been more favorable if she had been more aloof, but this was not bad either.
“Who are you?”
A man’s voice suddenly rang out, and Song Seonwoo frowned slightly. It was the tall man who had been sticking close to Hwang Bo Yeon since earlier.
“Who are you to ask...?”
“I am tasked with guarding the young lady.”
He looked rather ordinary but had a certain manly sharpness in his eyes. His physique was decent, and what irritated Song Seonwoo was that he didn’t flinch even when they locked eyes.
Normally, soone with such a handso face would shrink back. He seed to be the type who fills his self-esteem through physical training.
‘He must have learned martial arts.’
Song Seonwoo was also a skilled martial artist for a Huahua Young Master. However, there was no need to flaunt strength here. Using force recklessly in front of a woman was the act of a fool.
How could he humiliate this ugly guy? As he pondered, Hwang Bo Yeon spoke.
“It’s fine, he must have sothing to say to .”
“...Understood.”
The man reluctantly retreated, and Song Seonwoo inwardly laughed loudly.
‘Ha ha ha! This fool must like !’
This was an unexpected reaction. The minor details could easily be skipped now.
“My na is Song Seonwoo. Don’t worry, I’m not a strange person.”
With a playful smile, she too smiled faintly.
Song Seonwoo then wasted no ti and started talking. He casually ntioned his noble background and subtly hinted that he could even secure a separate seat in such a grand banquet.
In other words, he suggested they go sowhere quieter, and after a brief hesitation, she nodded.
“Well, fine. I was feeling a bit bored anyway.”
At that mont, Song Seonwoo’s first impression ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ of Hwang Bo Yeon shifted slightly.
‘She agrees so easily? Maybe, despite her looks...’
Could she be a woman who knows how to have fun?
Song Seonwoo’s smile deepened.
“Then please follow . I will lead the way.”
Song Seonwoo led her to the prepared room. He had to bring the bodyguard along, so he let the man co too.
After asking for permission, he stepped out of the room and urgently called soone. It was a person from the Red Flower Gate.
“What happened?”
“It went well. We don’t need anyone else, just call a courtesan. We need to remove the guards.”
“Understood, the Gate Master specifically ordered this...”
“Enough! If you’re going to keep talking nonsense, just go already. I’ll handle it myself.”
With that, the man, who had been speaking with pursed lips, hurried off. Song Seonwoo sneered at his retreating figure before opening the door again with a clean smile.
“Ha ha. Sorry, I just had to order so food.”
“Hmph, I’m not very hungry though.”
‘...What’s this?’
The strong signal was embedded in her words. Those too dull to notice wouldn’t catch it, but Song Seonwoo’s sharp senses reacted imdiately.
‘Was bringing the bodyguard just a test?’
The confusion only served to amuse Song Seonwoo. The hairs on his body stood up. This was a sensation that only occurred when encountering a truly special woman.
‘Forget about the mission. I want to enjoy myself. A woman like this... I need to truly savor her scent...’
However, if he did that, the Gate Master wouldn’t leave him be. The task he had been given today was not about sharing love, but about ruining her.
“Damn it, what the hell has this woman done to deserve this? Please tell you’re not thinking of putting her in the palace?”
Song Seonwoo steadied himself. No matter how insane the Red Flower Gate Master was, he couldn't possibly be thinking of sending a woman like her to the palace. Every woman sent there ended up completely ruined.
His gaze, concealing his sadness, turned toward Hwang Bo Yeon.
“I’m sorry, but tonight, you’ll probably never forget this night for the rest of your life.”
Of course, he had to be the one to open it. He couldn’t let that slip away.
At that mont, the door opened, and a woman entered. He knew her well; she was the top courtesan of the palace. It seed the Red Flower Gate Master really was paying special attention to her.
“I’ve called one of my younger sisters. Is that alright?”
“Younger sister?”
“After all, it’s more fun when n and won are paired, right?”
“Ah...”
Hwang Bo Yeon seed sowhat flustered. Song Seonwoo, who wasn’t too familiar with this culture, spoke up.
“If you’d rather not, we can always do this another ti...”
“No, it’s fine. Please go ahead.”
“Ha ha, I knew you’d say that. Please sit over here, Hong Mae.”
“Yes, older brother.”
The woman called Hong Mae smiled, but there was a hint of indifference in her expression. It seed she was disappointed after seeing the face of the bodyguard.
Thinking it wasn’t his concern, Song Seonwoo naturally stood up and took the lead in the drinking session. The awkward atmosphere quickly dissipated as they exchanged drinks and jokes.
“Here, let pour you a drink, Hwang Bo Sojeo.”
“Ah, yes.”
Hwang Bo Yeon’s cheeks were flushed, probably from the alcohol. Since the rchants at the banquet had already offered her drinks, it was no surprise.
Judging that the ti was right, Song Seonwoo glanced at Hwang Bo Yeon’s bodyguard. The man had been quiet throughout the evening, completely lacking in conversation, but now that he’d had so alcohol, it was obvious his body would be ward up. It wouldn’t take much for Hong Mae to push him over.
“Now then, to commorate our eting tonight, I’d like to show you a humble little trick.”
All eyes turned toward him.
Song Seonwoo, with a bright expression, stood up and placed a bottle of liquor down on the table with a loud thud. Then, he pulled out a flower from his sleeve and carefully placed it into the neck of the bottle. It was an unopened bud.
“A flower?”
Instead of answering, he elegantly rolled up his sleeves and raised his glass. As if to warm the drink, he let the glass hover over the candle fla for a mont before slowly pouring the liquor over the bud.
Drip, plop.
As the liquor dropped, the bud slowly began to bloom. By the ti the glass was empty, the flower had fully opened, revealing its inner petals. It was a plum blossom, the finest of flowers.
“Wow!”
The expected reaction made Song Seonwoo secretly smile.
This was his signature move, with a 100% success rate. It was an expensive flower, especially a plum blossom, which he treasured. But there was no better ti to use it than now.
And just as all eyes were focused on the plum blossom, Song Seonwoo’s hands moved like a ghost’s. Hong Mae’s hands moved in sync with his.
Shhh.
Both of their hands subtly tampered with the wine glasses of Hwang Bo Yeon and her bodyguard. Lost in the beauty of the blossoming flower, Hwang Bo Yeon only noticed after a delayed mont.
“How did you do that?”
“A little magic.”
“Wasn’t that just pouring wine? I didn’t see anything else.”
“Ha ha, that’s only to be expected... Hands are faster than the eyes.”
It was a remark with a bit of a sting, but Hwang Bo Yeon likely didn’t understand. Song Seonwoo felt a slight bitterness, but he knew the sweetness he was about to enjoy would far outweigh that feeling. Uncontrollable desire surged within him.
Managing his expression was becoming increasingly difficult, but it didn’t matter anymore. Once the glass was emptied, no one in this room would care about such things.
“Now then, to celebrate our new acquaintance, let’s drink!”
“Sure, older brother.”
Hong Mae chid in, though her expression was languid, as if she found the forthcoming events a bit of a bother.
Hwang Bo Yeon silently raised her glass. Just as Song Seonwoo was about to take his sip after locking eyes with her,
“Wait a mont.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“I’ve had too much to drink already, so this ti, please drink this one, Song Gongja.”
Normally, Song Seonwoo would have readily accepted. But of all tis...
“Ha ha, there’s no such thing as a celebratory drink. It’s not my role to drink it.”
Seeing him trying to get around it, Hwang Bo Yeon tilted her head.
“Really? That’s strange. I know of a tradition where this kind of thing happens. They call it the Black Knight.”
“B-Black... What did you just say?”
“Never mind. What I ant is that you should drink it for . You won’t refuse, will you?”
What is this? What the hell is going wrong here?
Song Seonwoo felt a strange sensation, but by now, his desire had clouded his reasoning. He forced a smile.
“Alright, alright. I’m not the kind of man who forces a drink on my woman. If that’s the case, let’s just wet our lips. Ha ha ha.”
Just wetting her lips, or even just a light touch of her lips to the glass, would be enough. After that, he could continue and feed her more while moving forward with his plans.
But Hwang Bo Yeon insisted.
“No, drink it for .”
“Ha ha, but I...”
“No, drink it.”
“Young lady, why the sudden change?”
“Drink it.”
At last, Song Seonwoo sensed sothing unusual. He lowered the glass. Despite thinking she was drunk, Hwang Bo Yeon’s eyes were now sharp and focused on him. In that mont, he caught a brief glimr of sothing in her gaze.
“Hey, Song Seonwoo.”
“...?”
At the cold voice, Song Seonwoo instinctively realized that sothing was wrong. And at the sa mont, a brief phrase shot from Hwang Bo Yeon’s lips.
“Drink, if you don’t want to die.”
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