[AFYC] Chapter 47

Half an hour later, the carriage arrived at the hotel. It was nearly midnight, and the Wolves instinctively shrank back as they caught the scent of blood carried in by their master. Among them was Abel Sting, who Oscar had summoned.

With his thick, elegantly combed golden hair, Abel had an appearance as striking as any actor. He quickly fell into step beside Simon after a brief nod of acknowledgement. Oscar entered his room, glancing at the room where Seo Ah was staying before heading straight to his quarters. Once inside, Simon and Abel followed and closed the door behind them. Oscar picked up the contract that had been placed on his desk. He leaned against the desk, extending one leg casually. Just as he was about to gesture for Abel to approach, something made him pause. 

Oscar stopped abruptly, causing Simon and Abel to halt as well. They followed Oscar’s gaze toward the door, their instincts sharpening as they strained to sense any presence beyond it. 

Had another assassin managed to sneak in? Despite the number of people who had been killed the previous night, was there still a threat? The guards stationed in the hallway should have dealt with it even if there were. 

But what Oscar sensed wasn’t a sharp, deadly presence; it was much fainter, like a tentative pencil line drawn on paper. It was a small, light presence, moving neither too quickly nor too slowly, stopping and starting as if uncertain whether to proceed. 

The footsteps hesitated a few steps from the door. Abel and Simon exchanged glances, watching Oscar’s reaction carefully. 

Oscar, leaning slightly against the desk in a relaxed posture, looked at the door with narrowed eyes. As the presence beyond the door seemed to retreat slightly, Oscar tilted his head and let out a faint chuckle. Stretching his body like a languid wolf, he walked toward the door with unhurried steps. 

The presence beyond the door neither advanced nor retreated further. Oscar opened the door before whoever was outside could flee. 

Standing there, just a few steps from the door, was a woman who looked desperate to escape. The night before, her eyes had been wide open, unable even to avoid his gaze; now, they were cast downward, staring at the floor. Even that sight had been somewhat interesting; Oscar mused as he observed her bowed head. Though her expression seemed neutral, her eyelashes fluttered, and her body remained still; her clasped hands were so tense that the bones and veins stood out starkly. 

Oscar remained silent, waiting for her to speak first. She had come to him, so the reason was likely for her. Eventually, the gaze that had been fixed downward lifted slightly, and a tightly controlled voice emerged. 

“I heard you come in….” 

“…” 

“Did you have a good night?” 

She bowed her head respectfully before looking up again, her expression serious. The gravity of her demeanour made Oscar laugh softly in disbelief. She did seem like the illegitimate child of a noble family, approaching him with such a weary expression. 

“Yes. Did you?” 

His smile faded into a gentler tone as he asked, though it was clear he was merely humouring her. 

She nodded slightly, clasping her hands more tightly, and then, as if she had rehearsed what she wanted to say, quickly continued. 

“I visited the bank today, and as you mentioned, they said it would take at least half a year.” 

“They kept your identification document, then?” 

“Yes. They said it needed verification.” 

She nodded again and glanced at him cautiously. 

“I look forward to working with you. And….” 

Her voice trailed off as she looked down at her dress. 

“This dress and everything else I needed—I could buy them comfortably thanks to you. Thank you.” 

Oscar’s gaze followed hers, landing on the simple white dress with small floral patterns. The kind of dress made him wonder whether a merchant summoned to the Royal Suite of the Ritz Hotel would even have such a modest item on hand. He had never seen any woman he knew wear something so plain, making him curious about where she had found it. 

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?” 

He tossed out the compliment, perhaps because the day had been long and tiresome. The naive and peculiar foreigner seemed taken aback, her eyes widening slightly as if unsure how to respond. Her lips moved, but no words came out, and she pressed them together. 

Oscar leaned against the doorframe, taking a drag from his cigarette before speaking again. 

“Why don’t you give me a twirl?” 

//such a tease hahaha