Episode 2. Full Moon
Adel Nora. The sole surviving daughter of an unnamed baron's family in the countryside that fell into ruin.
According to Karl Kingdom law, which states that women cannot inherit their deceased parents' titles or property, she was a pitiful young lady who had all her wealth and status taken by a male cousin she had never even met.
That was Adel's reputation at 24.
However, Adel herself seemed utterly unconcerned with the eyes of the world. Unlike other ladies in similar straits, she didn't strive to debut in high society just to keep up appearances, nor did she desperately seek marriage to a man with a decent title to remain part of noble society.
She performed tasks that commoners or maids would do without shame. Instead, she diligently endured life at the academy filled with nothing but men. Afterward, she became self-supporting as a court clerk at Carlo Palace.
Around that time, people naturally came to realize it. That she truly did not despair over her circumstances. And that she was resolute.
It was one such day. She, who never stirred from home unless working, was wandering a dark corner of Carlo's city center late at night. Dressed in a pink silk gown that was utterly unlike her usual taste.
A splendid carriage stopped before her near the edge of the bustling district, by a glamorous building. The torchlights illuminating the night street flickered from the snorting breaths of its four horses.
The carriage door, emblazoned with the crest of a renowned count's family, opened, and a sturdy-built man stepped down.
"Adel? You're early."
Adel paused, as if newly struck by the man's status, then quickly nodded.
"Yes, Mensha. I had business in the city, so I came right after. I arrived early."
It was a lie.
Adel had been waiting here 30 minutes before their appointed time. It was due to her meticulous nature, always surveying her surroundings before important matters.
"Wow. Anyway, Adel, you had clothes like this? They suit you well."
Mensha smiled amiably and offered his hand. Adel hesitated slightly but accepted his escort without awkwardness.
"That's what I should be saying, isn't it?"
Mensha was the deputy director of the treasury division in Carlo Palace's court affairs office—Adel's direct superior. She knew he was the son of a count's family, but having only seen his down-to-earth side at work, this glamorous attire and backdrop felt unfamiliar to her. Mensha felt the same about her.
"Seeing you in bright colors, Adel. Wow."
"Is it strange?"
"No, not at all. It suits you perfectly."
They stared at each other's awkward appearances before bursting into laughter.
"Mensha, thank you for granting my request."
In response to Adel's polite gratitude, Mensha merely wrinkled his nose playfully.
"No need to thank me. Shall we go, miss?"
When the usually curt Adel gracefully gathered her dress skirts and dipped into a curtsy like a true lady, Mensha watched in wonder before chuckling heartily.
Perhaps because their clasped hands felt warm. Adel briefly felt sorry toward Mensha, who had so readily agreed to her personal request to tour Full Moon.
But such half-hearted sentiments didn't last long. Even with the help of her kind superior, she had something she wanted to do, and from now on, she intended to focus solely on that.
Full Moon.
The social club frequented only by the top echelon of Karl Kingdom's nobility.
The first impression Adel got upon entering was otherworldly—exactly that.
Adel, who had secretly gathered information on the kingdom's most powerful house, Valoneck, by visiting all sorts of places, was still overwhelmed by Full Moon's elegance and splendor. With a vast forest and artificial lake behind the building, its scale alone was immense.
Yet somehow, here felt a bit...
"The atmosphere's like that, right?"
Adel just smiled at Mensha's sheepish remark. The upper crust who acted so refined by day played like this at night.
Dimly lit chandeliers that felt gloomy. Flickering table and wall lamps equally subdued.
A slow, sticky melody. Waitresses endlessly serving drinks with heavy makeup.
And crucially, gentlemen and ladies sprawled in corners, drunk and entangled.
Reading her expression, Mensha cleared his throat.
"It wasn't always like this. At some point, it turned into... well, they say it's the vibe from the Halock Empire."
"This decadent?"
At Adel's blunt remark, Mensha fell silent and coughed again. Adel glanced subtly around the club interior without drawing notice, then asked casually.
"If it's a Halock trend, did it start when Gray joined?"
Mensha squinted one eye slightly.
"No. Gray's got that reputation, but he's not really into places like this. It started because of Prince Harold and other friends who kept visiting Halock to see him while he was studying there."
Mensha, well-connected in noble circles, was acquainted with Gray, the current hot topic. So when talk of him arose, he often defended him like this.
In any case, it was fortunate for Adel. That Mensha was friends with that man. She didn't know why, but thanks to it, this unexpected opportunity had arisen.
The beautiful rogue nobleman, Gray.
His full name was Gray Roer Valoneck, implicitly the hottest figure in Karl Kingdom right now.
His words and actions teetered daringly on the edge; recklessness in betting his entire fortune against Halock's crown prince; sensually captivating looks that enchanted all regardless of gender. Thus, he naturally conquered Halock's social scene as a debauchee.
And that was the purpose for which Adel, who usually shunned others' help, had begged Mensha to visit this place, Full Moon.
As his name suggested, he was from Carlo's Valoneck ducal family. Precisely, the late-born youngest son of the current duke. Thus, he was inevitably a target of interest for Adel, who doggedly pursued the Valoneck family's dirty secrets.
However, he had little connection to Valoneck's sub-duke and her revenge target, Hudson. After voluntarily leaving for Halock Empire in his youth, he had grown up studying alongside its royals and nobles.
Moreover, he was known to care for nothing but play. Even after returning to his homeland, Karl Kingdom, he proved the rumors true in short order.
So Adel had quickly lost interest in him. Someone uninvolved in family affairs would surely have nothing to do with the family's corruption.
But a few days ago, the situation changed drastically. Rumors spread that Gray was hiring a personal aide. Someone to assist with the family business allocated to him.
Adel still had no interest in Gray himself, but she was very interested in his aide position. Assisting with family business—what better spot to probe the family from within?
"Hey, Mensha's here?"
"Oh my, who's this lady?"
From the moment she entered Full Moon, Adel naturally drew eyes. Being a members-only club, newcomers garnered much attention.
Adel tried to blend in naturally for Mensha's sake, but her innate curtness was hard to overcome. The longer she spent at Full Moon, the more fatigued she grew. She even heard Gray wouldn't arrive until late tonight. Feeling deflated, Adel whispered quietly.
"Um, Mensha."
"Yeah?"
"Am I keeping you from hanging out with your friends?"
"Nah."
"Well, I'm fine. Just a bit tired."
"Tired?"
Mensha looked puzzled, as if wondering what she'd done to be tired. Adel feigned exhaustion and gently nudged him.
"I'll rest in that corner over there. I came just to look around anyway, so don't worry about me."
Adel decided to conserve her energy and nerves until Gray arrived.
"Still..."
"Really, it's okay. I'd feel sorrier if you couldn't hang out with your friends because of me."
"...Alright, then rest up. Call me if you need anything."
Mensha hesitated a bit before leaving to join his friends.
Once Mensha was fully out of sight, Adel subtly moved to explore deeper into the club. She might overhear more Valoneck family secrets in such a discreet place.
But contrary to expectations, in the club's shadowy corners, she only encountered bizarre sights. Heirs of great houses indulging in illicit trysts—scenes she neither wanted nor expected to see.
At first flustered and shocked by the embarrassing sounds and sights, she gradually grew numb after witnessing all sorts. She merely acknowledged her own naivety.
In any event, night deepened as she wandered the club.
"Miss Adel?"
A waitress in a neat tailcoat stopped her.
"Yes, that's me."
"Mensha is looking for you."
"I see. Where should I go?"
"He asked you to come to the central hall."
"Thank you."
As Adel walked in the direction the waitress indicated, she suddenly halted. She had glimpsed a man who seemed to be Gray.
Turning fully to look, she saw a balcony where a dozen or so people sat divided among several sofas. In the center lounged the man she sought.
It was a posture she could only describe as sprawling. Thus, Adel was certain it was Gray. Even from afar, he embodied the rumors swirling about him.
Half-reclining with his hips perched on a lavish velvet sofa. Silver hair sparkling as if absorbing all the moonlight from the balcony outside. The archangel Gray, so irreverently carefree he seemed banished from heaven.
Standing frozen in the corridor leading to the central hall, staring at him, Adel snapped back only when someone tapped her shoulder.
"What're you doing, Adel?"
"Oh, Mensha."
She hurriedly averted her gaze.
"I was on my way since you were looking for me."
"Yeah. I felt bad for neglecting my guest."
Adel stared intently at the kindly smiling Mensha. How could she get him to introduce her to that Gray?
"Have you met Conel?"
"Director Conel?"
"Yeah, Adel. I know you want to transfer to civil affairs. You said you wanted to meet the civil affairs director, Conel, separately, so you came to Full Moon."
"No, Mensha."
Sorry. Actually, it's not civil affairs—it's Gray's aide position.
Adel walked toward the central hall with Mensha, stealing glances at the balcony. Before leaving this place entirely, she had to veer that way. She couldn't just drift apart like this.
"I'm serious—I went out of my way to arrange a separate intro with Conel."
No. It's Gray.
"But if you really insist on civil affairs, I’ll be upset."
"Um, Mensha..."
Adel hemmed and hawed, grabbing his arm. As she pondered how to broach it, opportunity struck suddenly.
"Mensha! Mensha!"
"Huh? Talian?"
One man from the balcony group where Gray sat waved vigorously at Mensha.
