CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 10.13 : YURA & DEVY (1)

The group of young people was engaged in a conversation filled with focus and seriousness, yet from a distance, the loud commotion of other customers seated at nearby tables could still be heard clearly, even though a portion of them only whispered in hushed tones. The sounds of catcalling, whistles, and mocking laughter—especially coming from the men—spread across the café, making their female companions noticeably annoyed and displeased.

Two young women with fashionable appearances, both possessing proportional and graceful figures, entered the scene, walking confidently in the direction where Al and the others were gathered. Their steps were firm and steady, carrying a rhythm that made the café floor resemble a glamorous runway.

Each stride radiated confidence, instantly drawing countless pairs of eyes that could no longer avert their gaze. The faint fragrance of a sophisticated perfume lingered in the air, blending freshness with elegance, creating a stark contrast against the otherwise rowdy atmosphere surrounding them.

"They finally arrived." Armin muttered under his breath, his voice betraying a trace of nervousness.

The two young women dressed in casual outfits, yet their clothing carried a refined maturity that set them apart. It was clear that the influence of foreign lifestyles had shaped their fashion sense.

One wore a white cropped shirt combined with light blue high-waisted jeans, completed with simple white sneakers that added a stylish yet effortless charm. The other chose a casual pastel-colored dress with a loose cut, layered with a thin cardigan that emphasized her femininity while still appearing relaxed and comfortable.

The reactions of the people nearby grew increasingly intense: the men became more excited, whistling and clapping lightly as though welcoming celebrities, while several women were visibly displeased, some even clinging tightly to their partners’ arms with irritation written across their faces. The once ordinary atmosphere of the café instantly shifted into a spotlight, with their table becoming the very center of attention.

Aside from Al, even Rina and her friends could not hide their nervousness at the sudden arrival of the pair.

As the two young women walked past a group of men, whistles and crude remarks were shamelessly thrown in their direction.

"Ladies, oh sweet and beautiful ladies, spare us just a little smile... Such a beautiful face is a waste if it is displayed without charm," said one of the men, his light-brownish dyed hair slicked back, smirking as he raised his glass.

His companions erupted in laughter. The two women abruptly stopped, their eyes locking onto the crude man’s words.

"How about you keep me company tonight? I promise, I will make sure your time is anything but wasted," the man continued, smirk widening.

"Count me in."

"Yeah, me too, haha!"

The other men chimed in, thoroughly enjoying the moment.

The young woman in the pastel dress looked at them briefly, her lips curving into a thin smile. Her eyes scanned the man from head to toe, dissecting him with cold disdain.

"Do you think you are worthy? Trash like you is not even qualified to look at me, let alone dream of me keeping you company," she said sharply, her calm tone cutting far deeper than if she had screamed.

The café instantly fell into silence for several seconds before hushed whispers started to ripple again.

The man, visibly offended, stood up with a half-angry expression. "How dare you speak to me like that! Do you even know who I am? I am from the Diwangsa family, one of—"

"—one of the garbage families, at least in my eyes," the young woman interjected coldly, her glare piercing through him. "Do you really think empty threats like that have any value to me?!"

The man visibly faltered, an uneasy feeling rising within him.

The woman stepped a little closer, playfully twirling her finger in front of the man with a teasing smile.

And then—

Her expression changed in an instant, twisting into one of annoyance, cruelty, and menace.

SMAAACK!!!

The very hand that had been moving gracefully mere seconds ago now delivered a vicious slap across his face, so powerful it sent him crashing down to the ground.

The man looked up at her in outrage, his friends scrambling to their feet in shock. None of them had expected the woman to act so boldly. They looked ready to retaliate, despite the fact that their opponent was "only" a young woman.

The onlookers gasped, stunned, but no one dared to intervene.

Al and his group merely observed, although Johan and Rina prepared themselves in case the situation escalated into something worse.

The café’s security team had already begun moving to diffuse the conflict.

But then—

"Here," the other young woman said calmly, handing her companion a phone. The call was already connected to the police department.

The pastel-dress woman reported the incident in a cold voice, hanging up right after.

Yet the men only laughed with renewed arrogance.

"What’s the use of calling the police, little miss? Hahaha! Nothing will happen to us. On the contrary, you’re the one who just committed violence. Your so-called weapon will only turn against you."

Their words reignited irritation among the bystanders, because technically, they were right. The men had not done anything beyond verbal harassment, whereas the woman had already resorted to physical assault.

The other woman, her long hair cascading down her shoulders, raised her hand, signaling the café security. Her voice was calm yet carried undeniable authority. "Wait for the police. This man has just sexually harassed a minor."

The group of men instantly panicked, though one of them tried to deny it.

"What?! A minor? What are you talking about? That’s impossible! You’re lying to set us up!" one shouted angrily.

The café’s security closed in, restraining them swiftly. One security officer even gave a respectful bow to the young woman.

"My apologies for the disturbance, Young Miss Yura."

The mention of that name instantly sent shockwaves across the café. Several patrons at other tables widened their eyes, realization dawning on them.

"That... That’s Young Miss Yura? Yura Atenri..." one man whispered, his voice trembling.

"The youngest daughter of the Atenri family... No wonder she looked familiar," another muttered, his face turning pale.

"It’s been, what, two years since she went abroad? She looks so much more mature now."

"No wonder she was harder to recognize," a different voice agreed.

The entire café fell silent at the weight of that name.

The Atenri family—one of the great houses, ranked just below Tamarvich, Norvalien, and, of course, Virellano in Eastern Indorosia.

And Yura Atenri—infamous among the elite circles, not only for her beauty but also for her cruelty.

Rumors about her were widespread. One of the most notorious stories was that she once tormented and relentlessly bullied a classmate at MES simply because the poor girl had accidentally touched Yura’s desk with what she deemed "dirty fingers." That case was rumored to be the reason why she was suddenly transferred abroad two years ago.

She was also regarded as one of the three most beautiful young women of her generation in Eastern Indorosia, ranked at Beauty Level A, equal to the girls of the Virellano family. Her popularity was so immense that gossip even spread claiming she once rejected David Virellano himself. Such boldness was considered abnormal in their society, with many even suspecting she might be a lesbian.

That suspicion was only strengthened by her habit of always being accompanied by the same woman—the mysterious Devy.

No one knew for certain where Devy came from, but for the past few years, she had never once left Yura’s side. Whether she was a bodyguard, an assistant, or something else remained a mystery. But the way Yura treated her resembled more of a close companion—perhaps even something beyond that. This fueled the rumors of Yura’s supposed lesbianism even further.

Even Rina and the others, who were clearly Yura’s old friends, had never truly known who Devy really was.

The men who had dared to harass them could hardly believe their misfortune. Even without involving the police, their downfall was already inevitable. Now, with the looming charges of sexual harassment toward women and minors, their fate was sealed. They were promptly escorted out by security.

The rest of the café’s patrons lowered their gazes nervously, afraid they might become Yura’s next target.

Yura, meanwhile, scanned the surroundings with a cold smirk before walking toward Al and Rina’s group, her aura shifting into one of warmth. Her delicate fingers trailed across the surface of a nearby table, making the few who still dared to look at her quickly avert their eyes. Each step of her heels clicked sharply against the floor, audible even amid the café’s background chatter.

But as she drew closer, that warmth vanished. Her sharp eyes locked onto an anomaly within the group—Al. Her penetrating gaze seemed to peel away layers of his soul, pressing down on the atmosphere around the table.

The two young women finally entered the private room. Floor-to-ceiling windows surrounded them, allowing the magnificent night view of the city to stretch endlessly. The glow of city lights reflected against the glass, casting faint shadows across Yura’s face, highlighting the strange duality in her expression—a warm smile on her lips, yet her eyes full of cold calculation.

Her gaze lingered on Al, studying him as though attempting to dissect his very essence.

Rina and the others greeted the two women warmly, gestures and words flowing naturally as if they had been lifelong companions bound by shared experiences. Yura responded in kind, her smile soft yet carrying a weight of authority, while Devy, less familiar with the group, merely offered a polite nod and a brief greeting. Al was introduced to them as well, and the exchange seemed cordial on the surface. Yet in his heart, Al could feel it—the sharp, unyielding gaze of both Yura and Devy, eyes that resembled predatory eagles. Cold, piercing, and unmoving, their attention never once strayed from him.

They all sat down. Yura and Devy chose a separate sofa across from the others, positioning themselves like bridges connecting the circle of seats. Devy, curiously, sat closer to Al, while Yura aligned herself near Karen. Despite the casual seating arrangement, Yura’s gaze remained locked on Al with razor focus, though she occasionally entertained conversations with her friends.

What was even stranger, however, was Devy. From the moment she entered the room, her eyes had hardly shifted from Al, as though measuring him for her own hidden reasons. Whether she did so under Yura’s instructions or for her own purposes remained a mystery.

"Wow, you really took your time. Our drinks are nearly finished and only now you decide to show up," Karen complained lightheartedly, her tone carrying a playful edge.

"That’s not something an elite should be saying," Yura replied flatly, tossing her long hair back over her shoulder in a simple motion that nonetheless radiated superiority.

"Hahaha, my bad," Karen admitted quickly, brushing off the subtle scolding.

"Normally, you would have resolved that matter with those perverts far more cruelly," Zaza commented, recalling the earlier incident. "It’s rare for you to be this... merciful. What changed tonight?"

"Of course," Yura answered, her tone devoid of emotion. "But tonight, I have something far more important to accomplish." Her eyes then turned, unblinking, directly toward Al. The intensity of her stare made the others follow suit, their attention now centered on him.

Rina’s fingers instinctively gripped the hem of her skirt, while Johan shot Al a questioning look.

Al, confused, glanced over his shoulder. Perhaps they were looking at someone or something behind him. Yet the space was empty. Slowly, realization dawned on him—he was the target of their collective stares.

"What’s wrong? You’re all looking at me kind of... strangely," he asked cautiously.

With the exception of Yura, the group quickly averted their gazes, exchanging uneasy looks with one another. Zaza cleared his throat nervously, while Karen abruptly turned to face the window, pretending the city skyline outside was suddenly fascinating.

Al turned to Rina, but she only grew more flustered, her eyes darting toward Johan as if seeking silent support.

Al opened his mouth to speak again, but Yura cut him off.

"I never expected Rina to befriend someone like you," she said casually, her tone making it sound less like a statement and more like she was appraising an object in a store display. For Al, it felt as though he was being put on trial, not valued as a person but scrutinized like merchandise in a luxury boutique—observed, measured, and judged without respect.

The atmosphere in the room grew heavier, tense.

Trying to lighten the mood, Armin chuckled awkwardly. "Ahaha... Yura, you don’t need to be so harsh. What’s wrong with Al—"

"Silence, Armin."

The sharpness of her tone was chilling. She didn’t even bother to glance at him. Yet those two words alone were enough to freeze him in place, his spine tingling as if pierced by ice. His lips refused to move further.

Armin sat frozen, utterly defeated without a fight.

Rina, who had been the one to bring Al here, began to feel genuine fear. If Yura decided to unleash her cruelty, Rina knew she would have no choice but to intervene for Al’s sake. She bit her lip, her hands gripping the armrest of her chair anxiously.

All of this had begun with a simple group chat. Rina had shared that she’d met a new friend—an unusual boy named Al, a scholarship student from an orphanage who was surprisingly charming and easy to get along with. Her words sparked curiosity, especially from Johan and Yura.

Johan had felt uncomfortable at Rina’s praise for another boy, though he trusted that her friendliness was just part of her personality and that her heart still belonged only to him.

Yura, on the other hand, as the self-appointed leader of their circle, believed it was her duty to evaluate whether Al was "worthy" of Rina’s company. Initially, Rina protested against Yura’s controlling attitude, but in the end, she had no choice but to yield, allowing events to unfold under Yura’s direction.

And so, the gathering tonight came to be. Johan concluded that Rina’s heart remained with him, though he still felt unsettled by the warm dynamic between her and Al—a dynamic more vibrant and comfortable than his own cool, romantic style. For Yura, however, the evening was just beginning.

Yura stood suddenly, her silhouette reflecting against the large window. The glass captured her figure in shadow, elongating it until she appeared taller, more imposing, more intimidating.

Rina shot up in alarm. "Yura, what are you trying to do?" Her voice trembled, and one hand stretched forward as though ready to drag Al away at any second.

But Yura ignored her. Her sharp eyes stayed locked on Al. Her steps were slow, deliberate, each one sending invisible ripples of tension through the room. The closer she came, the heavier the atmosphere became. Hearts pounded louder with every echo of her footsteps.

At last, Yura stood directly before Al, who sat relaxed, utterly unshaken by her presence. Al raised a single eyebrow, resting his chin casually on his hand, looking curious rather than intimidated by the suffocating pressure surrounding him.

Zaza, Karen, and Armin exchanged worried glances. Rina and Johan stood partially, bracing themselves for trouble. Devy remained motionless, but her eyes gleamed faintly, lips pressed tight, her body coiled like a spring—ready to intervene at a moment’s notice.

"Yo," Al greeted casually, unsure of what else to say.

Yura’s eyes narrowed, her lips parting to murmur words sharp as blades.

"You..."

Her hands lifted slowly, reaching toward Al’s head. The atmosphere thickened, suffocating. Her gaze was fierce, predatory. Her fingertips moved in agonizing slowness, closing in until they hovered dangerously close to brushing through his hair. Every second that passed only increased the suffocating pressure in the air.

Rina and Johan surged to their feet, preparing to stop whatever Yura intended.

And then—

GRAB!

Her hands seized Al’s head, her expression twisting into something unnerving, something disturbingly creepy.

Al blinked once. Yet instead of fear, his lips curved into the faintest smile, more intrigued than alarmed.

One thing was certain—

Something entirely unexpected was about to unfold.

---