Chapter 1

Arc 1. Opportunity

There was something about the red-haired woman that drew attention from the very start.

“Amusing.”

Killian lowered his untouched glass, having been too absorbed in the woman to take a sip. At last, he dragged his eyes away and rolled his stiff neck.

He’d been fixated on her for so long that the moment he looked away, his field of vision opened up. The entire hotel interior came into view.

“Quite the place.”

Tinelli Hotel.

The restaurant was enclosed in glass walls on both sides, offering a breathtaking view.

Modeled after the grand Martius Cathedral, the lobby and dining hall featured towering ceilings.

Masterpieces and chandeliers adorned the ceiling, while vibrant fresh flowers decorated every table, even in the dead of winter, all working to create a lavish atmosphere.

Even the frost on the windows that was brought on by the freezing weather looked like part of the decor.

It was a place straight out of a romantic era.

Naturally, the Tinelli Hotel catered to the elite. Foreign nobles, politicians, and successful businessmen.

And in this gathering of powerhouses, all eyes were fixed on a certain someone. It was as if they’d all sipped from the River Lethe^[1], forgetting the rules of decorum, their eyes unapologetically drawn to her.

Everyone in the restaurant was looking at the red-haired woman.

Was it intentional? No, more so instinctual.

Even for someone like Killian, who wasn’t easily surprised, this was rare. After all, he was used to being the center of attention. His looks alone made him the star of any room.

Wherever he went, whoever he met, the spotlight naturally followed. Eyes would linger on his face, his body, as if it were only natural.

But the moment that red-haired woman opened her mouth, the entire hotel turned to her. And just like that, Killian went from lead role to supporting cast.

A strange feeling.

Killian tapped the table lightly.

An unknown actress, maybe?

Her sharp diction and pleasant voice were far from ordinary. That face, too. It was utterly captivating. He was considering—half-jokingly—scouting her when a hesitant voice cut in.

“I sincerely apologize. I should have intervened.”

“Hm?”

Still watching the woman, Killian blinked back to reality at his subordinate’s voice.

“The manager earlier. You seemed displeased.”

Killian chuckled at Derrick’s concern.

“Because he wouldn’t let me smoke?”

“…”

“It’s hotel policy. I’m obliged to comply.”

“…If you say so.”

Despite the denial, Derrick continued to read his boss’s mood carefully. The ever-present polite smile couldn’t mask the chill in his sharp eyes.

Of course, that was just Killian’s natural expression. But tonight, that cold edge felt deeper.

“Relax, Derrick. It’s the end of the year, and we’ve been invited to the ‘oh-so-famous’ Tinelli Hotel. Let’s enjoy it.”

Killian leaned back in his chair, resting his head against his fist. The silver Zippo lighter in his grip made the veins in his hand pop. Noticing that, Derrick silently took a sip of his drink.

Tinelli Hotel had always symbolized a wall Killian couldn’t climb.

His own hotel had opened around the same time as Tinelli, complete with a casino that brought in mountains of cash. And yet, the one hailed as the “top luxury hotel” was Tinelli.

‘Celestial Heaven is entertaining, yes. But hardly a place I’d frequent.’

‘For year-end affairs, Tinelli offers a more refined comfort.’

‘It’s Tinelli, after all.’

With its old-fashioned elegance, strict rules, and flaunting its ties to aristocratic bloodlines, Tinelli Hotel wasn’t accessible to just anyone. Even with money, entry was selective.

Reservations for a room had to be made two years in advance. Maybe it was the allure of the unattainable, but people often said this was a hotel you had to experience at least once in your life.

And yet, Killian had strolled in on a busy year-end night without even a reservation.