“Alright then, as long as I can finish it, I can order whatever I want—you said that yourself, right? Then I’ll have this, this, and this—bring me one of each of these. Mmm-hmm, let me think... bring me a Daviel ice cream too. This young lady still hasn’t tried what your ice creams and desserts taste like!” Vinny jabbed at one item after another on the menu, eyes shining with longing. His expression and movements turned even more unrestrained—hunched forward, one leg thrown up on the sofa.

Beside him, the server jotted down each item while breaking into a sweat.

This must be the Young Lady’s friend, right? Why are her manners so... unique??

But a mere server had no right to dictate to the Young Lady’s friend—probably just someone with a rather singular personality.

As for Vinny, what did he care? He wasn’t afraid to lose face. Since Aesphyra was treating him, what was wrong with letting himself go a little? If she had the nerve, she could kick him out of her family’s restaurant right now and refuse to feed him??

That was the kind of person Vinny was—no disguises. He’d be exactly what he was, act exactly as he pleased—no fakery, no affectation. Besides, this wasn’t the stage. If he even had to eat with his tail tucked and his elbows glued in, would he still be himself??

Though to be fair, he did feel a pinch of reluctance. He’d finally scored such a feast—being kicked out would be a loss, wouldn’t it?? Better not get kicked out. At least let him get a few bites in!

“Excuse me, miss, is there anything else you need?” After recording Vinny’s order, the server asked with utmost respect.

“Mmm-hmm, that’s all for now. If it’s not enough, I’ll call you back, alright?” Vinny handed the menu back and instructed.

“No problem. If you need anything, just call for me.” This was the Young Lady’s friend, after all—no room for discourtesy. The server bowed out, passed the order to the kitchen, then waited at a respectful distance from Aesphyra and Vinny’s table.

As expected of a top-tier restaurant—the service attitude really was different. "

“What is it? You’ve been staring at me non-stop since just now. What are you doing?” After returning the menu, Vinny propped his chin in both hands, swaying his head, happily awaiting the food. Then he looked up—only to see the silver-haired girl opposite him gazing at him with laughter in her eyes, smiling without a word. A chill ran down his spine.

What on earth was with her today? So abnormal—has the nut sprouted a soul or something?? ^

“Worried I ordered too much and you’re starting to regret it? Heh. Even if you regret it now, it’s too late—I’ve already put the order in.” Vinny huffed.

“[Virtue +70].” '

“[Current Virtue: 11704].”

“Lady Vinnia.” Aesphyra was having trouble holding back a laugh. .

“What is it? What are you calling this young lady for?” Vinny lifted the teacup and took a sip.

“You’re truly adorable~.”

“Pff—pff!” Aesphyra’s sudden remark nearly made Vinny spray his tea. He barely held it back, then grabbed a napkin to dab the tea at the corner of his mouth.

Was she sick?? To disgust him, she’d even say something like that??

“Aesphyra, I’m begging you—stop saying things that torment both me and yourself. Hurting others without helping yourself—it’s hard on you too, having to say something so against your heart.” Vinny tossed the napkin and rolled his eyes at the silver-haired girl across from him.

Who would’ve thought: he, a former villain, being called “cute” by the story’s destined heroine??

“Lady Vinnia thinks I’m speaking against my heart? Why?” Aesphyra asked, curious.

“What else could it be?? Saying something like that—I find it hard to believe you aren’t doing it just to nauseate me.” Vinny said sourly. ^

“Really now. In Lady Vinnia’s eyes, am I such an awful person?” Aesphyra tilted her head like a noble princess-cat appraising its human.

“Sorry, but that’s simply the truth.” Vinny said with a blank face.

“Even so, I sincerely think Lady Vinnia is adorable. Which only makes it more of a pity—sigh, sigh.” Aesphyra let out a theatrical sigh.

“What are you pitying?” Vinny slanted a look at her.

“It’s a pity I can’t see such an adorable Lady Vinnia often. A pity, since Lady Vinnia says we won’t be seeing much of each other from now on.” Aesphyra said with regret.

Vinny heard the subtext.

This white-haired nut probably wanted to say: “If only you were really a girl.”

“Well, there’s nothing to be done. We just don’t have that kind of fate.”

“No fate—can’t fate be made?”

“Sorry, can’t be made. And do you even understand what fate is? Since when is that something you can fabricate?” Lady Vinnia pouted.

“[Virtue +20].”

“[Current Virtue: 11724].”

Wait, why is the Virtue ticking up non-stop??

Vinny stared at Aesphyra in surprise.

He wasn’t doing anything and Virtue was popping off on its own—wasn’t that Mirexia’s passive skill? Since when did Aesphyra learn Mirexia’s passive??

Also—

“Why do you keep looking at me like that??” Vinny couldn’t help asking.

“Because... a beauty is nice to look at~” Aesphyra beamed, the words slipping out without any wind-up.

???

She’d never said that when he was Vinny. Was this girl... trying to flirt with him as if he were a girl??

What the—??

Vinny froze, even setting his teacup back down.

No, that shouldn’t be Aesphyra’s reaction to him. Even if she wanted to nauseate him and pop his Virtue, it wouldn’t go this far, would it??

Soon, the ice-cream dessert arrived on a delicate little plate.

Vinny quit thinking about weird things. His attention was wholly seized by the ice cream. He lifted the luxurious glass bowl before him, stared at the generous portion inside, and felt an indescribable joy.

“Sweet things make people happy”—turns out that was true. That was him now: the sight of such a portion of ice-cream dessert lifted his spirits.

Dig in!

Vinny grabbed the glass spoon the server handed over and shoveled ice cream into his mouth like mad.

Ohhh—this was the sweetness! He felt resurrected, reborn!

In this world, ice cream was pure aristocrat fare—ordinary people couldn’t afford it. So Vinny had basically never eaten frozen desserts like ice cream here.

Now that he had the chance, he would eat his fill. Even if his belly burst, he’d get his money’s worth!

As for Aesphyra, she didn’t touch the parfait set before her. She simply watched the ice-blue-haired girl in front of her wolfing hers down, idly stirring her own parfait with a spoon, smiling without a word.

As for table manners—Vinny had none. He gobbled. After swallowing a whole plate of parfait, his head throbbed.

Looked like he’d eaten too much cold in one go.

Vinny poked his own head—then suddenly felt a soft tissue at his lips, gently wiping away the parfait clinging to the corner of his mouth.

Huh??

Vinny blinked, staring straight at the silver-haired girl across from him, who had taken out a disposable tissue and was tenderly dabbing at the corner of his mouth.

What? Did someone swap out this white-haired princess-cat??

How did she go from a feral, undomesticated wildcat to a docile housecat??

And what was this, exactly??

He could understand Aesphyra wiping Vanessa’s mouth—but wiping his??

Had this green-eyed menace fallen ill!?

Startled, Vinny shrank back, dropped the act, and blurted, “Aesphyra, what do you think you’re doing??”

What potion was she selling now??

Vinny was genuinely spooked. If earlier there’d been a chance that Aesphyra was merely trying to disgust him and pop his Virtue, now the nature of things was completely different.

Something was off. Was this white-haired nut... playing for real??

He was a man, you know??

“Ah-reh? Lady Vinnia got parfait on your lips. Let me wipe it, okay? Honestly—Lady Vinnia, you’re so careless.” Aesphyra set the tissue down with a smile, seemingly unaware that anything she’d done just now was strange.

Which was the strangest part of all!

“You—could you not do that?” Vinny was starting to panic. He truly couldn’t guess what had gotten into Aesphyra to make her act like this.

At first he’d thought she was simply indulging a bad sense of humor to mess with him. Later he’d realized... maybe not??

Could someone tell him what was up with this iron-blooded green-eyed girl? What chemical reaction had occurred in her??

“Lady Vinnia, is that enough for you? You can have mine too. But~ girls should eat fewer sweets, or your weight will get away from you.” Aesphyra propped her cheek on her hand.

“I—” Vinny gulped, sneaked a glance at the servers some distance away, and lowered his voice. “You’re addicted to this, aren’t you? What are you doing saying stuff like that like some kind of idiot??”

Previously he’d kept things under wraps because he figured Aesphyra just wanted to mess with him for kicks. Now he suddenly felt like Aesphyra wasn’t quite right.

She felt more dangerous now, so he decided to stop talking to her. Once the food arrived, he’d just mind his own plate.

The waiting was slow—maybe because it felt like torture to Vinny.

Then, who knew how much time passed, the food finally arrived, and Vinny could ignore Aesphyra and focus entirely on the dishes.

Right then, Aesphyra waved the waiting servers back, telling them they weren’t needed and to leave.

They obeyed and withdrew.

“Lady Vinnia, you’re eating too fast. You’ll give yourself indigestion.”

“Chomp chomp—so what if I do? This young lady’s happy to, and this young lady’s digestion is fine. Doesn’t need your concern.” Vinny clearly didn’t want to talk to Aesphyra. He just wanted to finish quickly and get out.

But before he could take more than a couple bites of those top-tier, gorgeous dishes, a spoonful of food appeared before his mouth.

“Here, open up—ah~” Aesphyra held out the spoon, amethyst eyes glinting with mischief.

“?? Ah?” The light-blue-haired girl stared, stunned, lips parting—only to be gently fed without warning by Aesphyra.

“Mmph!” Vinny’s pupils tightened, but Aesphyra’s feeding was very gentle—he wouldn’t choke. And he couldn’t waste food, so he could only gulp it down.

That did it. Vinny couldn’t hold back any longer.

Fine—he’d planned to do this from the start anyway. Hadn’t this white-haired nut known that already? What was the point of acting?

He’d intended to say it after the banquet—but clearly, that was impossible now.

“Pocket-sized bun, cut it out. How long are you going to keep this up? Don’t tell me you really don’t recognize who I am?” Vinny glanced at the retreating servers, made sure no one else would overhear, and lowered his voice. “How long are you planning to mess with me??”

Those two lines came out in Vinny’s own voice, not the disguised one.

Hearing that, Aesphyra smiled without /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ speaking—only, whether it was his imagination or not, Vinny felt like her smile was hardening.

What was that supposed to mean?

Before he could be sure, Aesphyra stood, picked up a metal spoon, walked around the table, and approached him.

“W-wait, what are you doing? We had a deal—admit defeat and meow like a cat. Don’t you dare back out!” Vinny panicked. He had no idea what Aesphyra was about to do.

“Ah-reh? Lady Vinnia, wait a moment—don’t panic yet.” Aesphyra lifted the spoon, tilting her head. “Don’t worry. I’m going to get you out of there.”

“G-get me out—out of what!? Who needs you to ‘get me out’? Don’t you recognize who I am? What are you doing—don’t tell me you’re going to stick that spoon in my mouth?? Stop it!”

“I know, I know. Lady Vinnia, don’t worry—I’ll rescue you right away.” Aesphyra smiled radiantly.

“W-wait, wait! Hold on!” Vinny shrank into the sofa and hurriedly switched voices, slipping back into the falsetto.

“Ah, Lady Vinnia—you’re back? Good. That’s better~” Hearing that, Aesphyra’s tone shifted. With a blossom of a smile, she nodded and sat back down.

Vinny pressed his lips together.

This terrifying nut-person.

He barely enjoyed the meal at all before it was over. Even walking out of the restaurant, he still hadn’t recovered.

“Hey, you—drop the act. You recognized me from the start, didn’t you??” Out on the empty street, Vinny planted his hands on his hips, used the falsetto, and fixed Aesphyra with dead-fish eyes.

“Don’t think you can wriggle out of admitting defeat because of this. I’ve kept track the whole time!” Vinny jabbed a finger at Aesphyra.

(We’re about to transition back into the main plot. 0.0)