About Your Pride and My Prejudice

Side Story Episode 8: Beautiful Lady

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Autumn.

In the coffee shop, a leisurely and gentle piano melody repeated several times. Contrary to worries, discussions about adaptations of novels, dramas, and upcoming schedules flowed naturally in a rather relaxed atmosphere.

It was natural that Melissa’s Lunorian flowed smoothly.

「Let’s stop here for today.」

The conversation, which was surprisingly not long, but quite refreshing, had come to an end. The gentleman in a taupe tailcoat and a well-groomed top hat politely rose from his seat.

「Thank you for your precious time, Mrs. Flynn.」

「Oh no… I’m the one who should thank you.」

Melissa hurriedly stood up and lightly held out her hand, which he graciously shook—a mere touch of his finger, though.

「Your estate isn’t far…」

「I came with my coachman.」

「Ah! Was the carriage in front yours?」

「Yes.」

The theater owner, inwardly surprised, absentmindedly stroked his sparse mustache, lost in thought.

‘The fact that the author of such a charming novel is a young lady seems indicative of changing times. Having an estate in the capital and riding such a splendid carriage… Now that I look closely, even though her attire lacks ostentatious decorations, everything she wears must be of high quality.’

What convinced him was the realization that this was Lunos, a city overflowing with mysteries’ magnates and gentry on every street. A senior gentleman, now consolidating his thoughts with little surprise, grinned.

However, there was a truth he overlooked: the lady before him was none other than the Countess Elsinore, adorned with various yellow newspapers and gossip magazines of the recent Commonwealth. The illustrated countess had a rather dazzling appearance—seemingly desperate to be recognized as Lunosian, despite any inability to recognize.

In reality, Melissa had been addressed as Mrs. Flynn the whole time. It seemed clear to the theater owner that he was unaware of her true identity.

Well, her name isn’t particularly memorable, and there’s hardly any information known about her appearance or personal details.

‘I must have worried for nothing.’

Despite this, Melissa couldn’t help but feel touched by the respectful treatment she received as a notable author. Even for a common woman who wasn’t Lunosian, being treated so cordially—what if she had revealed, “Actually, I am the Countess”? It might have made things awkward with excessive kindness.

「If there are any further discussions or matters to be informed of, I will send a letter to the publishing house.」

「Thank you.」

Alan quietly proceeded with establishing the publishing house, felt particularly fortunate at that moment. While rumors were already circulating in the upper echelons of society, it would eventually come to light.

Shortly after, the theater owner mentioned his next appointment and left with a polite farewell. Melissa, now relaxed after the tension of the moment, was left alone with her cooling coffee cup.

“Sigh…”

The mellifluous melody and plush sofa were incredibly cozy. It was her first time here today, but she found the space quite pleasing.

‘Should Alan and I come here together on the weekend? I wonder if he’ll be busy again this weekend?’

One thing for certain was that Alan wasn’t at the mansion right now. Melissa contemplated whether to play cards with her mother and Mrs. Kerney or not, and decided to order another cup of coffee to change her mind.

She wanted to savor the current leisurely mood a bit more—especially since things had ended earlier than expected.

However, just as she was about to signal the server, a moment when she was looking away, a stranger, a man in his early thirties with disheveled blond hair, suddenly approached and sat down in the seat where the theater owner had been sitting just moments ago…..

「Lady Flynn?」

What was perplexing was his demeanor, as if he already knew her despite being a stranger.

「Um, who are you?」

Startled, Melissa recoiled slightly, and the man burst into a sheepish smile.

「I’m Gustav. The playwright. About your pride…」

「…and my prejudice, yes.」

「Oh, right, yes, that’s it. I’ve been tasked with adapting your novel.」

With one arm on the table, he leaned forward. Melissa, still wary with her back against the chair, responded cautiously.

「I heard the playwright couldn’t make it today.」

「Oh, that… 」

The man ran a hand through his tousled hair and chuckled nervously. Melissa thought his expression resembled that of a prince from some distant kingdom—a rare and charming smile.

「You must have seen it, so you know he’s not your average person, theater owner.」

「Huh? Why would the theater owner…?」

「Mixing such naive and dull greetings and words gives me hives. Besides, I’m in a position where I just need to deliver my work on time and get paid; there’s no need to bother with inconvenient face-to-face meetings.」

Goodness. He even talks in whatever way that reminds one of Bentley, the prince.

「Being fellow writers, you understand, right? Aren’t we free spirits?」

「…So, why have you shown up now?」

「Despite the hassle, when I heard the novelist was a young lady, I couldn’t help but be curious.」

Hmm. Just as she let out a little sigh, a server approached with pen and paper. However, the playwright waved him away with a flick of his hand.

「But goodness, you’re… quite the beauty. I simply couldn’t stand by quietly.」

「What?!」

Melissa flinched at his blatant gaze and words. He leaned forward a bit more, his eyes scanning her bare white neck, even without a necklace.

「Are you from Sourne?」

「Um, is my Lunorian strange after all?」

「No, no.」

He chuckled and raised both hands.

「You’re flawless. It’s just that your accent is rounder and softer compared to the locals here…」

「I wonder what it feels like to create that pronunciation with those lips—」

Thud! Melissa abruptly stood up with a loud noise.

「I-I’m married!」

「Ah, I see. That Mr. Flynn is indeed a very lucky man.」

He showed no concern and stood up along with her, shrugging his shoulders in a loose shirt.

「Well, marriage is just a formality. Besides, aren’t we souls who detest being bound by norms?」

「Are you kidding me?!」

「Don’t make it difficult, Mrs. Flynn. Since we’re colleagues, it’s only natural to know each other’s bodies—」

「I don’t want this!」

It was becoming absurd. Melissa adjusted her pale pink shawl and crimson satin dress, her face turning pale. Without bothering to respond, she hastily left the coffee shop.

「Oh, madam. You truly are a Lunosian lady now!」

However, the creepy playwright followed closely behind her with leisurely steps.

「You’ve already mastered the art of intentionally teasing men—」

「Don’t follow me! My husband is a dangerous man!」

Melissa shouted in a trembling voice. Alan’s advice to use her shoe heel to pinch a man’s nose seemed impractical now. For now, it seemed best to hurry onto a carriage; surely he wouldn’t follow all the way to a moving carriage.

「Where did it go…!」

However, for some reason, there was no carriage in sight near the coffee shop.

「Well, madam. I understand…」

「…..」

「Ah!」

His rough hand approached as if it could snatch her at any moment. Melissa’s vision blurred as she tried to muster the strength to run away, but her legs felt stiff, refusing to move.

She huddled her body, tightly shut her eyes—there was no other way…

‘Oh?’

Then, in the pitch darkness, her body spun around as if dancing. Her trembling form was soon enveloped in warmth, and then… their lips met.

「M-Mrs. Flynn?」

She heard the man’s hesitant voice, but Melissa was focused only on the fervent kiss and the intoxicating scent. She didn’t need to open her eyes to know who owned these lips and this embrace. She knew it wasn’t a fantasy or a dream.

The miraculous curve of their lips fitting perfectly, sweeter than any fruit on her tongue. And the man who could summon the entire universe with just a kiss, Alan, was irreplaceable, even if she were to be reborn.

He breathed heavily like a merciless tyrant. Melissa eagerly responded, as if offering not just her lips but her entire being to him. Fireworks exploded in her mind, so ecstatic it felt like she could die.

「Ah…」

In that moment when she felt like bursting, Melissa blinked and opened her eyes wide. Her legs, about to collapse, were held firmly by strong arms. The distance that felt like their lips would meet again was but a fleeting moment.

「Alan…」

Alan, rarely one to show emotions outside of the bedroom, held me tightly with a distraught look on his face. Even his usually perfect hair was slightly disheveled.

As Melissa squirmed and reached out her arms, she tidied up his fallen hair and whispered, “How did you end up here now… um.”

However, she was swallowed up by him again. Melissa’s waist bent like a bowstring in a passionate kiss that left her cheeks deeply imprinted. He seemed a bit angry.

It was bewildering that Alan’s absurd worries had become reality, but seeing her worried husband trailing behind her like that was just adorable, so she giggled with her lips pursed.

“Ah…”

Amusingly, it was only then that Melissa realized they were standing smack dab in the middle of Luno’s Street. Not only were they putting on a perfect display of a passionate kiss for quite a few passersby, but also the yellow media of the republic would surely be buzzing again with excitement over this playwright man and his scene-stealing kiss.

Melissa scratched her husband’s broad back with her nails and lightly tapped him to bring him back to his senses, as she usually did.

“Alan! Pull yourself toge… uh.”

Like a scene from a masterpiece, Gustave mumbled as he watched the lovers completely melt into each other.

「T-That man is Alan Leopold, right? That famous…」

The man quickly slapped his forehead.

「Oh no, Alan Flynn! The changed name is not quite familiar… Wait a moment.」

…Then Melissa Flynn’s Flynn…

As the fiery kiss reignited, the man who had been taking slow steps back gradually picked up speed and eventually bolted away with all his might. In front of a formidable opponent who could not be swayed even by the free-spirited nature of a Lunoan man, he could only be polite.

In any case, the dramatic kiss of the Flynn couple, which was sure to adorn the front page of the newspapers, reportedly continued endlessly afterward.

Not long after that, news spread that playwright Gustave Oud suddenly disappeared, but Melissa paid it no mind. Free spirits are naturally inclined to such ways.

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