In the silent, velvet-lined cocoon of the carriage, Seraphina's voice was as sharp and clear as striking glass.
"Explain yourself."
It wasn't an accusation, but a demand for data. Kenji met her gaze. "Lady Beaumont values her work above all else. Flattery about her person would have failed. Praising her legacy, however…"
"I am aware of her personality," Seraphina cut in, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What I want to know is how you knew. You pinpointed her deepest professional desire with surgical precision. That is not a skill one learns by chopping wood."
Kenji chose his words carefully, offering a half-truth. "I listen. People's passions are a language all their own. I'm just a quick study."
A ghost of a smile touched Seraphina's lips. It was not warm. It was the smile of a general who had just discovered a new secret weapon. "A very quick study indeed. See that you remain so. Genevieve is a gatekeeper to immense knowledge. Her favor is a valuable asset."
As she spoke, a system notification, subtle and for his eyes only, appeared.
[Target Acquired: Lady Seraphina Valerius (S-Rank)]
[Affection Meter Unlocked!]
[Seraphina Valerius Affection: 5/100 (Useful Asset)]
Kenji hid his surprise. He was an asset, a tool. It was a low starting point, but it was a start. He was on her board, and that was all that mattered.
"Speaking of assets," Seraphina continued, seamlessly, "we have been invited to the Duchess of Elysia's monthly soiree this evening. It is the heart of the capital's social web. You will accompany me. You will watch, you will listen, and you will not speak unless spoken to. Consider it your final examination."
That evening, Kenji found himself in a world spun from crystal and candlelight. The Duchess's ballroom was a breathtaking spectacle of gilded arches, impossibly high ceilings, and a sea of nobility dressed in silks and jewels. The air hummed with string music and the low murmur of a thousand conspiracies.
He stayed by Seraphina's side, a silent shadow, observing the intricate dance of power. And then he saw her.
Lady Genevieve Beaumont stood near a collection of star charts, looking utterly, profoundly bored. A pompous, red-faced Baron was droning on, gesturing wildly, clearly trying to petition her for something.
Kenji activated [Keen Insight].
[Genevieve's Desire: To discuss something, anything, of substance. She is starving for a worthy intellectual exchange.]
[Baron's Ambition: Wants a favorable land survey for a new mine. He knows nothing of her work and is trying to brute-force his way through with feigned interest.]
This was his opening. He leaned towards Seraphina and whispered, "My lady, a moment's leave? I wish to inspect the Duchess's cartography collection."
Seraphina glanced over and saw the scene. A flicker of understanding crossed her face. "Go. But be subtle."
Kenji navigated the crowd and approached the pair, bowing respectfully. "Lady Beaumont, my apologies for the intrusion. I was just admiring this chart of the southern constellations. I noticed the use of the 'Azure Star' as a fixed point. A bold choice, considering its micro-variations. Was this your own innovation?"
The Baron blinked, his monologue about ore deposits derailed. He had no idea what Kenji was talking about.
Genevieve, however, turned to Kenji, her eyes lighting up with a fire he hadn't seen before. The mask of polite boredom vanished, replaced by the eager face of a master artisan finally asked about her craft.
"You have a keen eye, Master…?"
"Kenji, my lady. Just Kenji."
"Well, Kenji," she said, her voice dropping into a more conspiratorial tone as she effectively turned her back on the sputtering Baron. "Most navigators refuse to use it. They call it unreliable. But they fail to account for the seasonal atmospheric refraction. Once you chart the pattern, it becomes the most accurate celestial anchor we have."
For the next ten minutes, they spoke a language no one else in the room understood. They discussed stellar parallax, magnetic declination, and the challenges of mapping the shifting sands of the great eastern desert. Kenji used his own modern-world knowledge, filtered through the lens of this world's understanding, to ask insightful questions that both challenged and delighted her. He wasn't just complimenting her work; he was engaging with it. He was treating her not as a noble lady, but as the brilliant scholar she was.
Eventually, she gave him a radiant, genuine smile. "It has been an age since I've had such a stimulating conversation at one of these gatherings. You must visit the Guild, Kenji. I will grant you access to the archives. There are some ancient Atlantean charts I believe you would find fascinating."
It was a direct invitation. A key to the fortress.
As she was pulled away by the Duchess, a victorious chime echoed in Kenji's mind.
[Genevieve Beaumont Affection: 35/100 (Intellectual Equal)]
[Her respect for you has grown immensely. You are no longer just a clever boy, but a mind worthy of her time.]
He had done it. From across the room, he caught Seraphina's gaze. She gave him a single, almost imperceptible nod of approval. The test was passed.
Kenji took a sip of wine, the complex flavors exploding on his tongue. Winning hearts, he realized, wasn't a battle of flattery. It was a war of fulfillment. He just had to figure out what deep, unspoken hunger each of these magnificent women held, and become the one person in the world who could satisfy it.