Strongest Among the Heavens
Chapter 474: Too much fun

Chapter 474: Too much fun

Two weeks of pretending to be nobility was torture. Quite honestly, Kazi could not understand how these people could live to be so fat in wealth and authority. It was too much. Way too much. Running a business, even a massive conglomerate, required charisma, education, or instinct. Being a successful seller or merchant was not a sin in Kazi’s books. To build one’s talents brick by brick was among the best feelings in the world. An addicting, pleasant feeling that Kazi understood, although did not entirely subscribe to.

But this? This credit card in his hand capable of spending tens of thousands of dollars in a day? This HAD to be a sin.

"No way they’re going to heaven after this..."

"Sorry? What was that?"

They were at a coffee shop. Pauline drank, he did not. Pauline had the veil and Kazi wore that mask. They received looks. They could afford to ignore them.

"Don’t worry about it."

A blank stare. "Do you want to eat?"

"I’m good. I ate before we came."

"Are your parents telling you to do something else?"

"Definitely not. Do you think I listen to them?"

Pauline shrugged. "Anyway, let’s go! Get up, get up!"

"You said you didn’t have tickets."

"I called my butler, he made all the arrangements."

Ah, Pauline. Pauline, Pauline, Pauline. He considered kidnapping her alongside Pavvo. The only reason he didn’t was because of her mother.

’Bloodline strikes again.’

Pauline’s mother was an important woman in France. A politician with connections to old money. Pauline herself on the other hand?

’When have you ever actually contributed to society?’ He didn’t cackle evilly, he said as it was. The truth in his mind was clear: this noble lady was sucking up precious resources for the rest of them.

"Korean pop..."

"It’s a new trend. You’ll like it!"

"Hm. Finish your food first, then we’ll go."

"Right." Pauline hummed and aggressively poked at a slice of mille-feuille with her fork. Kazi already figured she had some mental problem. Still, it pissed him off to see her waste food. Expensive food, mind you.

He sighed in his head and swiped the plate over to his side. "Go to the car, I’ll catch up."

"Thank you."

’She wants to eat alone in the limo.’

Whatever. He understood the psychology. He just didn’t care for the needs of this rich, spoiled woman.

"Oh, but don’t take too long!" Pauline said as she walked. "Five minutes and I’ll go to the concert without you."

"This is a one-minute meal at best."

"Point is: you snooze, you lose!"

***

The echoes of the Korean pop concert still rang in his ears—an endless loop of bright lights, synchronized dances, and an overwhelming crowd of screaming fans.

Pauline clapped her hands together. "That was a lot of fun. Pick you up, same time tomorrow?"

Kazi put on his best laugh, casual and warm. "Sure. What are we doing again?"

"What else, silly? Another concert."

He nodded, still smiling, playing his part to perfection. "What, do you think I have infinite patience?"

"Yes!"

"Haah. The things I do for you. Fine."

Pauline beamed at him before the driver pulled the door open. Kazi stepped out, adjusting his jacket. Ten more days. Ten more days of this mind-numbing routine, of concerts and fake laughter and grinning through gritted teeth. Ten more days, and he’d have exactly what he wanted—an invitation to the MaskdeMasque Gala.

Pauline waved. "Sleep well, Pavvo!"

He waved back, watching as the limo disappeared down the road. Only when it was out of sight did his smile fade.

’Ten more days.’

***

The days went by quickly. Every day, Pauline texted him and for the sake of appearance’s, he listened. She flashed her credit card anywhere and her butler took care of the talking for the lucrative locations.

Kazi suspected her butler was a former member of the French Secret Service. The way he carried himself and his method of speech, it was classical and intentional. Secret Service types.

Somehow, that became the least of his worries. Pauline was who he had to talk to everyday. Pauline took up most of his time. It was annoying. Very, very annoying. It took away from his investigation.

But.

It wasn’t boring. So. There was that.

The roller coaster rocketed forward, steel wheels shrieking against the tracks as it dove into a series of twists and stomach-churning drops. Wind roared past Kazi’s ears, his white mask secure against his face, his grip loose on the safety bar. Next to him, Pauline let out an exhilarated laugh, her hands in the air, her veil whipping away into the wind.

And for the first time, Kazi truly saw her.

Her dark eyes sparkled with childlike joy, her golden hair wild and free, her cheeks flushed with the thrill of the ride. She looked... beautiful. Regal, even. Princess-like in the most cliché way possible.

"This is awesome!!"

Pauline laughed and shrieked as they went through a loop-the-loop. His lips curled upwards, then back down into a hard line.

Huh. No, impossible. He wasn’t enjoying his time with this filthy noble.

The coaster finally screeched to a halt, and as soon as they stepped off the platform, Kazi hardened his resolve. He would kill her. Her and that overly competent butler of hers. From what he understood, Pauline and her mother barely kept in contact. It wouldn’t be difficult to fake her presence for a while—text messages, phone calls, a bit of deception. Just long enough to get what he needed.

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Okay, okay, so..." Pauline laughed and caught her breath, walking backward and facing him with a big smile. "We’re going to the, haah, to the bigger one now!"

She spun back and practically skipped. The veil didn’t matter any longer. She wanted to have fun. Good for her. Kazi sped up and—

"Ah!"

She stumbled. Kazi reacted before his mind could catch up, catching her by the wrist and pulling her against him. She was light—too light. His sharp eyes took in the faintness in her expression, the slight sway of her stance.

She was dizzy. Her breathing was shallow.

"I-I’m okay."

"Sure, you are."

He guided her to a bench and wordlessly bought a bottle of water from a vending machine. She chewed on her bottom lip.

"It’s not life-threatening but it is important. Drink it."

"It’s not that. Couldn’t you at least get another brand? This water tastes pretty bad..."

Kazi...Kazi actually laughed. He laughed and just gave her the water. With a murmur, Pauline drank it.

Sitting beside her, Kazi tapped his fingers on his knee, his mind already putting together the puzzle. Pauline, a direct descendant of Jean Lannes, Duke of Montebello and Prince of Siewierz. A noble born into expectations and privilege. And yet, beneath that veil of wealth, an intense eating disorder had hollowed her out.

He hadn’t needed extensive research to piece it together. It was obvious. The way her dresses never quite fit, the way she barely ate in front of others, the way she covered herself as if ashamed of her own existence, and the wine addiction. Pauline’s mother never would have allowed such an anti-social daughter unless there was friction.

Pauline didn’t say anything at first and neither did he.

"So...you can handle a crazy concert but not roller coasters."

Pauline chuckled. "The human body works in mysterious ways."

"I’ve gone to plenty of concerts in my life. That K-pop stuff was certainly...up there," he admitted. "Remember that one guy with the neon green hair? Looked like a glow stick come to life."

Pauline managed a weak chuckle. "He’s supposed to be the cool one."

"He failed spectacularly then."

"You didn’t even pretend to have fun."

"I laughed, didn’t I?"

She gave him a knowing look. "Mockery doesn’t count."

Kazi noted how little she drank. He knew it wasn’t easy. He didn’t push.

"We should just take it easy for the rest of the day," he said. "Your butler is waiting in the lot, right? Give me his number."

Pauline huffed. "Sorry for ruining the fun."

"It’s...fine."

"Hey, at least you got to see my face." Pauline gave a peace-sign and a pleasant, happy-go-lucky smile. Kazi could not find faults in her even if he wanted to. Her smile was a masterpiece that illuminated her. "What do you think? Pretty, right?"

Kazi had never met anyone with violet eyes. At this point, he had travelled through most of the Americas and some of Europe. He had encountered sacred tribes and explored dozens of unfound ruins.

Yet those purple eyes of hers were a unique shade like few he had ever seen. A lavender that was more beautiful than any flower in the world.

"...very."

He looked up at the sky, watching the clouds roll lazily above them. His mind drifted—back to his own father.

And for a brief moment, just a fleeting second, he understood Pauline more than he cared to admit.