Leon’s POV
I uncorked the wine with a satisfying pop, the cork flying off with a sharp, sudden burst. I poured the dark, rich liquid into Charlotte’s glass, the crimson flow catching the light, then filled my own.
“You really are quite the gentleman,” Charlotte said, her eyes narrowing with disdain. “If that was your true persona, I might actually think about dating you. But it’s not. You might play the part of a gentleman, but deep down, you’re just a scum who takes advantage of others.”
I took a long swig of my wine, savoring the smooth taste before meeting her gaze with an amused glint in my eyes. “You really don’t hold back, do you? No filters at all,” I said, my smile widening. “But don’t forget, there are scummier people out there than me. If I were truly the scum you think I am, I wouldn’t have let you go in the first place.”
“I can’t really think of anyone else who’s as much of a scum, other than you,” she told me.
I swirled the wine in my glass, watching as it spiraled into a mini whirlpool. “Really? Maybe you just can’t see anyone worse because you’re not looking hard enough. Or maybe you’re blinded by familiarity, so close to someone that you fail to recognize their true nature as scum.”
Her eyes hardened, clearly intrigued and taking the bait.
“What do you mean?”
“Think about it,” I said smoothly. “Have you ever considered that you might be scum yourself?”
“What? No! I’m not scum!” she snapped, her face flushed with surprise and a hint of defensive anger.
I chuckled softly, the sound rich with dark amusement. “See, I told you,” I said, my smirk widening. “A scum will never see themselves as scum.”
“W-What do you mean? I’m not scum!” she shot back, her voice trembling with indignation.
“Yes, you are, Charlotte,” I said firmly, my tone unyielding. “Have you ever wondered why you’re left all alone now? Why your followers scattered the moment you fell from grace? Or why the sons and daughters of minor barons, people beneath you in every way, are now ganging up on you? Have you thought about it?”
“W-What…?” she stammered, her face a mask of shock and confusion.
The shift in her expression made it clear she’d never considered these questions before.
“You’re as scummy as they come,” I said, my smile vanishing into a hard, unforgiving line. “You’ve been so blinded by your high status that you thought you could do anything without consequence. You laughed at those below you, fixated solely on your own pleasure. You abandoned the Prince in his time of need, ignored his feelings, and fed him lie after lie. You’re infinitely scummier than I could ever be.”
“T-Take that back! I’m not scum!” she roared, pushing herself aggressively against the table, her eyes flashing with fury.
I met her fierce glare head-on, my expression unshaken. Nothing she did would make me flinch; she was nothing more than a discarded plaything to me now.
When she realized she was losing to me, her face twisted with frustration as she snapped, “I’m going to the bathroom,” before storming out of the VIP room.
I watched her retreat, her heels clicking sharply against the floor as she headed for the restroom. Now, it was time for phase two of this date.
***
Charlotte’s POV
I splashed cold water on my face, hoping the chill would numb the sting of the tears forming in my eyes. How dare he talk to me like that? Despite his own scummy behavior, he had the audacity to call me scum. I knew I wasn’t like that. I knew I wasn’t.
I didn’t mock those beneath me out of spite. It was simply what my followers—those who clung to me because of my lofty status—expected. It wasn’t that I took pleasure in ridiculing commoners or belittling Leon for his lack of skill. I didn’t laugh because I found it enjoyable or satisfying. I did it because I needed to keep my supporters from abandoning me.
As for Prince Julius, I didn’t neglect his feelings intentionally. I was prepared to face his emotions head-on and reject him properly since my heart had already chosen someone else. I didn’t lie to him out of malice or ignore him out of indifference. The truth is, I didn’t want to hurt him, which is why I lied. I thought he was okay—hadn’t heard otherwise, so I figured he was fine. I never meant to forget him or leave him hanging in his time of need.
I wasn’t scum. I knew I wasn’t.
“It looks like I’ve pushed things too far,” a voice suddenly sliced through the silence behind me. “I didn’t expect you to be so hurt that you’d end up crying like this. I’m really sorry.”
Leon’s voice was laced with genuine remorse. His apologetic expression was clear as day.
I shot him a glare, but words failed me. I couldn’t find the strength to ask him to retract his harsh words about me being scum. My mouth stayed firmly shut.
“I’m sorry for calling you scum,” he said.
I bit my lip, and finally, the tears broke free. As I sobbed, he wrapped his arms around me, gently rubbing the back of my head. I couldn’t see his expression through the embrace, but in that moment, I didn’t care. All I could focus on was the comfort of his touch, as my sobs came in ragged, shuddering bursts.
***
Leon’s POV
I let her sob into my shoulder, feeling the wetness of her tears seep through my shirt, while I rubbed her back with a soothing motion. My reflection in the mirror showed a face as cold and unfeeling as ice. The apology I’d given was nothing but a facade—I still considered her scum. But to break through her defenses and get what I wanted, I needed to see her vulnerable, crying. I planned to use the advantage of her lowered guard to infiltrate her heart.
As she continued to weep, I took full advantage of her emotional state. With a calculated move, I gripped her ass firmly with both hands, my fingers kneading and squeezing her cheeks with an insistent pressure. She didn’t resist; she merely squirmed slightly, her body betraying a mix of confusion and subdued response.
“L-Leon…?”
It was the first time she had called me by my name today. That single word signified that I had finally broken through to her heart, and now, I had the power to do whatever I wanted with her.
I looked into her eyes, and then closed the distance between us, capturing her lips with mine.
