Having won her trust, Kenji knew his next step with Genevieve couldn't be in a formal setting. The path from 'Confidante' to 'Affection' required intimacy, a space where she wasn't the Guild Head, and he wasn't Seraphina's protégé. He needed to create a world that belonged only to them, even if just for a night.
During one of his study sessions in the archives, he "stumbled" upon an old text.
"Lady Beaumont," he said, approaching her with the open book. "According to this, the Lyrian Meteor Shower is tonight. The old texts call it the 'Rain of Silver Tears.' It only appears once every seven years."
Genevieve peered at the page, her professional curiosity piqued. "Ah, yes. A rare event. The atmospheric dust from the Crimson Comet's tail. Most observation posts will be clouded by the city's light haze. A pity."
"I was thinking," Kenji began, his tone casual but his planning meticulous, "that the Northern Rider's Ridge, just outside the city, would offer a perfect, unobstructed view. I intended to go myself. I don't suppose… you would care to join me? To have an expert's eye would be an honor."
He had framed it not as a personal invitation, but as a scholarly expedition. It was an appeal to her passion, an offer she could accept without breaching the walls of her professional decorum. Her trust in him did the rest.
"The Rider's Ridge…" she mused, a faint, intrigued smile on her lips. "The elevation is indeed perfect. Very well, Kenji. For the sake of science, I will accompany you."
That evening, when Genevieve arrived at the designated spot, she found Kenji had prepared for more than just science. He had laid out a thick, comfortable blanket on the crest of the hill, which offered a breathtaking panorama of Aethelgard glittering below. A small, elegant telescope borrowed from the Guild was already angled towards the heavens, and the air was scented with the warm, spicy aroma of mulled wine he was pouring from a silver thermos.
[Skill Activated: [Thoughtful Preparation] Lv. 1]
[Description: The ability to anticipate a target's needs and desires, creating an environment of comfort and care that lowers emotional barriers.]
"Kenji, this is…" she started, momentarily at a loss for words. This wasn't a formal observation; it was… considerate.
"I thought we should be comfortable while we work," he said with an easy smile, handing her a warm cup.
For the first hour, they talked as colleagues, tracking constellations and discussing the trajectory of the coming meteor shower. But as the sky deepened to a velvety black and the first silver streaks began to fall, the conversation shifted.
"My husband and I used to watch the skies," Genevieve said softly, her voice carrying a note of wistful nostalgia. It wasn't a statement of insecurity this time, but a shared memory, offered freely. "He saw them as points on a map. But I… I always thought they looked lonely."
Kenji looked from the stars to her profile, illuminated by the faint celestial light. "I don't think they're lonely," he replied quietly. "They're just far apart. They burn just as brightly on their own. But every once in a while, they get to cross paths and create something beautiful for the whole world to see."
He was talking about the meteors, but they both knew he wasn't.
She turned to him, her sharp, intelligent eyes softened by the night. The barriers of rank, age, and station seemed to melt away under the vast, silent sky. They were simply a man and a woman, sharing a moment of fleeting, breathtaking beauty.
As a particularly brilliant meteor blazed across the heavens, a tear of pure silver fire, Genevieve let out a soft gasp. In that shared moment of awe, something profound shifted between them. He had seen her intellect, he had validated her legacy, and now, he had shared a moment of simple, personal wonder with her. He had filled the void of her intellectual loneliness.
The system erupted in a cascade of triumphant, silent notifications.
[SHARED INTIMATE MEMORY CREATED!]
[You have successfully created a treasured memory outside the confines of your target's daily life, fulfilling her desire for a deep, personal connection.]
[HEART PHASE ADVANCED!]
[Lady Genevieve Beaumont: [Phase 4: AFFECTION].]
[Affection: 75/100 (Cherished Companion)]
[Her heart now holds a special place for you. Thoughts of you bring her a unique warmth and a deep-seated longing for your company. The final step is within reach.]