Evan continued drinking his milk with quiet resignation.
Meanwhile, the table in front of him looked like a feast prepared for royalty.
Steam rose from freshly cooked meat.
The scent of roasted herbs filled the private room.
And yet…
None of it was for him.
Lyra calmly ate her meal while occasionally glancing at him.
"You are staring again, my prince~,"
she said with a small smile.
Evan blinked. Was he that obvious?
He slowly turned his head away and continued drinking.
Lyra chuckled softly.
"You will be able to eat these things soon."
Evan hoped so.
Because right now, this felt like torture.
Just as the room settled into a peaceful silence—
A loud voice echoed from the hallway outside.
"Move aside! Do you know who I am?"
Heavy footsteps followed.
Another voice spoke nervously.
"My lord, the private rooms upstairs are currently occupied…"
"Occupied?" the first voice snapped.
"So what?"
Lyra paused.
Her expression remained calm, but her eyes shifted slightly toward the door.
The voices outside grew louder.
"I paid good money for this restaurant," the man continued arrogantly.
"I will dine wherever I please."
Evan frowned internally.
That tone…
He had heard it many times on Earth.
The voice of someone who had never been told "no" in their entire life.
The restaurant staff tried again.
"My lord, please—"
BANG!
A door somewhere in the hallway slammed open.
Footsteps continued down the corridor.
One.
Two.
Three.
Then—
They stopped right outside Lyra's room.
The door suddenly swung open.
A young man stepped inside without permission.
Behind him stood two armored guards.
The man wore elegant, noble clothing embroidered with silver thread.
His blond hair was neatly tied behind his head.
Expensive rings decorated his fingers.
But what stood out most was the arrogance written across his face.
His eyes immediately landed on Lyra.
Then they widened.
"…Well now."
He slowly stepped further into the room.
"I knew someone interesting had taken the private rooms."
His gaze moved slowly across Lyra's body.
Evan felt an uncomfortable chill.
The noble smiled.
"A beauty like this hidden behind a veil… what a waste."
Lyra remained seated.
Her expression didn't change.
Her voice was calm.
"You entered a private room without permission."
The noble shrugged.
"And?"
"This restaurant belongs to my family."
He spread his arms proudly.
"So technically, this room belongs to me."
The guards behind him smirked.
Lyra calmly placed her chopsticks down.
Evan watched carefully.
He knew that expression.
She was not angry.
Not yet.
But she was no longer relaxed either.
The noble leaned slightly closer.
"Why don't you remove that veil?" he said with a grin.
"I would very much like to see your face."
Silence filled the room.
Lyra looked at him quietly.
Then she spoke.
"No."
The noble blinked.
He clearly hadn't expected such a direct answer.
His smile faded slightly.
"You seem to misunderstand your situation."
Lyra tilted her head slightly.
"Do I?"
The noble chuckled.
"This entire district belongs to my family."
He pointed casually at the table.
"You are eating in my restaurant."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"And you refuse a simple request?"
Lyra didn't look up. "It was not a request."
The noble's expression hardened.
"Oh?"
Lyra continued calmly.
"It was an order."
Evan nearly choked on his milk.
Oh no.
The noble laughed.
But there was no humor in it.
"Interesting."
He slowly walked around the table.
"You must be new to Lunaris."
Lyra said nothing.
The noble leaned forward slightly.
"You see, beautiful lady… I am Lord Cassian Valmere."
He tapped his chest proudly.
"My family governs this entire city."
Evan watched him carefully.
Cassian.
Another arrogant noble.
Earth had plenty of those, too.
Cassian continued speaking.
"If someone refuses me in my own city…"
His smile returned.
"…I usually take it as a challenge."
Lyra finally looked directly at him.
"You should leave."
The room suddenly felt colder.
Cassian noticed it too.
But instead of fear—
His smile grew wider.
"Oh?"
"You're threatening me now?"
Lyra's voice remained soft.
"I am advising you."
Cassian turned to his guards.
"Did you hear that?"
One of the guards laughed.
"A brave woman, my lord."
Cassian nodded slowly.
Then he suddenly reached forward.
His hand moved toward Lyra's veil.
"Let's see what kind of beauty hides under—"
The moment his fingers touched the veil—
The air changed.
Pressure filled the room instantly.
Invisible weight crashed down like a mountain.
Cassian's hand froze.
His eyes widened.
The two guards behind him staggered backward.
"What—"
Cassian's voice trembled slightly.
Lyra hadn't moved.
She was still sitting calmly in her chair.
But the invisible pressure surrounding the room continued to grow heavier.
Evan watched with mild curiosity.
Oh.
She's warning him.
Cassian tried to move his hand again.
He couldn't.
Sweat appeared on his forehead.
"What… are you?"
Lyra spoke quietly.
"I told you to leave."
The guards looked terrified now.
"My lord… something is wrong…"
Cassian gritted his teeth.
He tried to speak confidently, but his voice betrayed him.
"You think… Can you threaten a noble? Lord Cassian Valmere?"
Lyra slowly stood up.
The pressure in the room doubled.
The wooden floor creaked under the invisible force.
Evan casually finished his milk.
Cassian staggered backward.
His face had turned pale.
But pride still filled his eyes.
"You… you dare attack a noble of Lunaris?!"
Lyra looked at him quietly.
"I did not attack you."
Her voice remained calm.
"I warned you."
Cassian clenched his fists.
Then suddenly—
He laughed.
A cold, angry laugh.
"You're finished."
He pulled a small jade token from his pocket.
A symbol was engraved on its surface.
The emblem of the Valmere family.
Cassian raised it high.
"Guards!"
His voice echoed through the hallway.
"In the name of the Valmere family—"
More footsteps suddenly rushed upstairs.
Several armored soldiers appeared at the doorway.
Cassian pointed at Lyra.
"This woman attacked a noble!"
The soldiers hesitated.
The pressure in the room was still crushing them.
But Cassian shouted again.
"ARREST HER!"
The soldiers slowly began stepping forward.
Lyra didn't move.
Evan watched everything calmly.
Things were getting interesting.
Cassian smiled coldly.
"You should have obeyed."
Lyra's eyes shifted slightly toward the soldiers approaching.
The invisible pressure in the room slowly began to change.
Evan suddenly noticed something.
Lyra's aura was rising.
Not a little.
A lot.
The lanterns in the room flickered.
The wooden table cracked slightly under the pressure.
The soldiers froze.
Cassian's confident smile slowly disappeared.
Lyra spoke one final time.
Her voice was still gentle.
But the power behind it made the air tremble.
"You really should have left."
Then—
The entire building shook.
And the soldiers finally drew their weapons.
To be continued…