[AFYC] Chapter 64

“Asking how much?” 

“15,000 Kertes.” 

Though she might have been naïve about some things, she seemed to have a good eye for people. 

“15,000 Kertes for this? Come on, sir.” 

His usual elegant manner of speaking was now tinged with a hint of his original, rough tone. 

“2,000 Kertes.” 

“Give me 3,000, and it’s yours.” 

She finally handed over the money, offering a small smile. 

“Thank you.” 

“...” 

It was around then that Abel began to feel an uneasy sensation creeping up on him. 

The woman he was supposed to be seducing was busy darting from one vendor to the next, as if she had never seen a market before in her life, exploring fishmongers and butcher shops with wide-eyed curiosity. 

She was so absorbed in the market that even the backup team, who were much more used to refined tastes, were exhausted. And just as Abel was starting to think about leaving the market, regardless of his mission… 

“Is that what you call a café?” 

Everyone, including Abel and the backup team, brightened at the suggestion. 

“Would you like to go in?” 

“Can we?” 

If only they had known it would be another trap, they would have done everything possible to prevent her from entering. 

Despite her lack of knowledge about many things, Seo Ah somehow knew that it was impolite to sit in a café for a long time without ordering something. She ended up ordering drink after drink, ultimately consuming six cups of coffee. 

Six bloody cups. 

Six. 

♔♔♔  

By the time Seo Ah and Abel returned to the mansion at sunset, Barbara and the other staff were puzzled. 

The soft-spoken foreigner seemed perfectly fine, while Abel Sting, looking completely drained of any motivation, had silently disappeared into the annex. Those who had expected them to return at least hand-in-hand after spending so much time together were thoroughly bewildered. 

But while Seo Ah noticed the presence of the many people who had discreetly followed them back into the mansion, she was unaware of Abel’s true intentions. She simply offered a polite greeting to Barbara and then headed upstairs to her room. 

The doors to the hall were firmly closed, and the corridor was eerily quiet. Beyond the windows facing the corridor, she could see the garden shrouded in darkness. The black silhouettes of the garden trees cast shadows, occasionally interrupted by slow-moving figures that appeared and disappeared. 

As she entered the study, her gaze naturally drifted to the left. There was no sign of anyone’s presence. 

Once inside her room, she carefully placed the notebook she had carried tightly in her arms on the table and took off her coat. The pouch Barbara had given her contained the remaining money from the day’s outings, which she estimated would be enough to last her until the day after tomorrow. 

As she hung up her clothes in the wardrobe, Barbara entered with dinner. 

“Here’s your evening meal. I’ll return in an hour to collect the dishes.” 

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.” 

The lady, who resembled a personification of cold steel, raised an eyebrow slightly before leaving the room. Only after she had gone did Seo Ah sit down at the table. 

On the round plate before her were crispy fried meat and a side of mixed vegetables. Everything in this foreign land, across the sea, was different. 

The meat was crispy and tasty. The vegetables had a slightly sour taste that wasn’t to her liking, but they did help to offset the greasiness of the meat. 

As she chewed thoughtfully, she suddenly found herself longing for a warm bowl of rice—steaming, freshly cooked white rice. 

She laughed at herself for being so fickle. 

Who was she to complain about the food when she was here, in this foreign place? 

Seo Ah chewed every bite thoroughly, finishing the meal even though it wasn’t entirely to her taste. When she had finished and set down her fork, Barbara returned. She quietly surveyed the empty plate before asking, 

“Was it enough?” 

“Yes, it was. Thank you.” 

Barbara nodded slightly and began to clear the dishes. 

“Are you planning to visit the market again tomorrow?” 

“Is there another market besides the one we went to today?” 

Seo Ah’s question made Barbara pause for a moment, deep in thought. 

In fact, Oscar’s instructions regarding the target were somewhat challenging for Barbara. 

He had restricted the target’s movements to within Vieux and had instructed that, while she should be watched closely, she should not be confined excessively. In essence, she was to be kept under surveillance without being lost, but with a certain level of freedom.