That same day Mona didn't let go of her ambition to know the truth. She'd try new things, regardless of the outcome.

For the new experiment, she'd switch up her strategy. Mona was a hydromancy expert, but that didn't mean her abilities were restricted to her scryglass. With a simple medium-sized bowl, water and leaves of any kind, people's fates could also be deciphered. The water would move the leaves into the shape of Venti's constellation. It was a simpler and much less accurate technique, but it would have to do.

When everything was set up, she produced a small hydro droplet and let it fall into the water-filled bowl. With a small windup, the leaves started to move. Her breathing stopped as shapes started to form. The leaves began to form something, and even her heart was still.

"Words?" She leaned into the bowl and rubbed her eyes. "That looks like an A… and a B…O…An epsilon?…A square?!… Oh goddamn it."

She splashed the water surface and cursed at the wind.

"What the hell! I don't get it, that whole "curse" thing couldn't be true!" She angrily ran her hands through her hair. "I'm going to run out of ideas at this rate…"

Divination wasn't working, and asking wasn't cutting it either.

"Did I hit my limit? Is this my full potential?" Mona carefully twirled the water and leaves, deep in thought. "No… this isn't my issue. It's him. He's absolutely doing something! I know it. Because I don't believe in curses! Well, astrology curses."

She had thousands of books, enough for at least a couple of them to mention such a curse. Of course, she could just check them all again… And waste precious time needed for other things. Like scheming.

During the night, she had thought up several plans to make him spill the beans. Then, she combined them all into one foolproof plan.

First off, she needed to get Venti completely hammered. The issue last night was that he was just tipsy, so Mona just needed to somehow make him even drunker. However, this meant that the bard needed more money than what he scrapped every day.

Second off, visions showed a people's constellation. So getting a glimpse of it would be enough. And for that, she just needed to make him black out. Either with alcohol or… if she got desperate, just hitting him in the head with something heavy. Which was very dangerous. Not only because she could kill him, but because she'd end up exiled from Mondstadt even if he survived.

And third off, she had to be present when it happened. Due to their frictions, passing off as a drinking friend would be impossible. She wasn't a good stalker either. If he passed out in some random alley, she'd never find him in time. It had to happen somewhere contained, with good alcohol where he wouldn't want to leave. So for that, she could do one thing.

Accept Diluc's offer and work at Angel's Share.

She could do it for a while since she had finished her last article for the Steambird magazine. That gave her a month or so. Mona just needed to break the bard before that.

Angel's Share's interior was impeccable and spotless, even more than yesterday. There were a few cleaners here and there, somehow making the place even tidier. When Charles, the usual bartender of the tavern, saw her, he immediately understood why she was there. Diluc was quite fast with information, Mona realised.

Regardless, she was being treated like a novice, a random woman that knew no better.

The people of Mondstadt didn't seem to care about Fontaine's latest hits. Of course, that meant they didn't even know that Mona was a trusted columnist for the famous Steambird magazine. The fame she had wrongfully gained for being some sort of crazed fortune-teller without a job was a complete lie. Well, the first part was true. But she would never say it out loud.

Still, accepting Diluc's offer felt like a gut-punch. It would be admitting to the City of Freedom that she wasn't living properly. But no, Mona couldn't think that. It wasn't for the money, she had a plan. And many other reasons too, totally.

But there was no need to list those reasons now. Or ever. Because when the wealthiest man in the country offered you a job, you couldn't say no.

And as the first hour of training passed, and Mona learnt how to properly serve wine, she hated each non-existent reason she came up with. She was wasting precious time learning useless skills for a plan that might not even work. What's more, Charles kept talking about how she had to never react negatively to the clients. What was so bad about putting people in their place? The client is always right was a farce, the stars said so!

Still, she clenched her jaw and nodded. Mona had mastered hydromancy, a skill reserved for the greatest minds of the land. Some drunk clients wouldn't stop her. Besides, learning how to properly brew coffee seemed like a quite needed skill for those long nights…

After the third hour, Diluc appeared from the back entrance. If he was surprised at seeing her with a tray, he didn't express it.

"Welcome, Master Diluc." Charles quickly turned around when he heard the door open. The man himself nodded before moving towards Mona.

"How is her technique?" The owner asked, staring directly at her.

"She has potential, I can tell you that much. Good balance, endurance and learns quickly." Charles answered. "If I had to nitpick, her personality is not fully compatible with this line of work."

Though Diluc's expression didn't change, he nodded. "No recruit is perfect. That issue can be fixed with experience."

"It's just moving drinks from the bar to the tables, it doesn't require much brainpower," Mona answered, enjoying the praise more than the faults.

"Most people quit after the first week." Diluc merely said, heading towards the main bar. There, he kneeled behind it and hid something, though Mona couldn't tell.

"Is that so? I don't quit that easily."

"So says everyone." He answered back, returning with a wine bottle. "Your hydro vision, how well do you use it?"

"A most unexpected question. I'd say well enough, why?"

Diluc placed the wine bottle on a nearby table. "I want my employees to use their full potential. People like tricks, they raise morale and will tip even more. Learn how to flow wine like it is hydro."

"You want my hydro skills for… party tricks?" It's not like she held her vision in high esteem, but she wasn't a clown.

"Nonsense. It will lead to more sales and better customer enjoyment. Take it home and explore what you can do." He was completely serious about it, though that was his usual expression. "Charles seems to like you, so you have passed the second test. You can't back away now."

"Second test? What was the first test?" Mona thought out loud. "Wait, I can't back out?"

That created a slight issue, but she'd deal with that in the future.

Diluc didn't answer. "You will need a uniform. Let's go."

"W-What? I don't…"

He didn't look back as he answered again. "Stop questioning everything. This is an investment, not an expense. Don't worry about the debt."

Mona cleared her throat as if coughing would diminish her insecurity. "Thank you very much."

She placed the tray on the bar before taking her hat and following Diluc. He had a strange aura around him that Mona couldn't help but admire. He was reliable, with skill and manners to boot. When the Master of Dawn Winery wanted something, it got done, no questions asked.

That was commendable and charming, Mona couldn't deny that. But he was pretty dull to hang around. On their way to the tailor, he didn't say a word. What's more, he stopped Mona from making any idle chat. What was she supposed to do then? Observe how the people gossiped as she walked beside Diluc? What a pain! As if they had never seen him around with a woman!

Luckily for her, the walk couldn't have been longer than five or six minutes.

The tailor was an old yet kind woman that must have known Diluc for years. She treated him like a child, which was oddly cute. He didn't seem to mind, though Mona couldn't appreciate it as the old tailor placed her in front of a full-length mirror.

"I need the outfit as soon as possible." Diluc broke his silence, observing Mona's measurements being taken. "Don't make the skirt too short. Though I doubt she will care."

The astrologer looked at her skin-tight outfit. "What's that supposed to mean? This doesn't show any skin."

"Quite practical for a hydro vision, I'm sure. It still doesn't leave much for the imagination, and Angel's Share is a respected establishment. People come because of the quality of the drinks, not the eye candy. As such, a waitress' dress must show diligence and expertise."

Mona could only imagine herself being stuffed into some dress knitted three hundred years ago. She'd die of heat or exhaustion after thirty minutes.

The old woman nodded, though it seemed like she dismissed his request. The tailor measured Mona's hips before turning to Diluc. "Quite the entourage enters your bar to meet you, doesn't it? Having a young waitress will do the same."

She scribbled a few notes before returning to Mona's side.

"Indeed, this is one of the reasons why I hoped the girl would never show up."

"Harsh," Mona muttered.

"But, I stand by my word. What good is freedom, if you can barely make due?" Diluc's words were sincere.

"That's a bit rich coming from you." Mona looked back at the off-time bartender.

He didn't answer, preferring to simply stare with his arms crossed at the astrologer. That was enough for her to get the message. Too intense.

That was another of the issues she had with the Master. She was too scared of standing up to him. His constellation, Noctua, was oriented to justice. So that would mean she didn't have anything to fear… But his glare was too scary. It reminded her of the ol'hag she called teacher, and that was too much.

When her measurements were fully taken, the old tailor gave her estimations.

"The girl is petite enough, so I'll have it ready in a day." The kind old woman said. "Two days if you want it with extra charm."

"Take as long as you need, I appreciate your speed either way. Thank you for your time."

With those words, Diluc left the shop, followed by Mona. With the golden sun blinding her for a moment, it took her a moment to realise she was being stared at.

"Tomorrow your training will begin before sunrise," The Master's eyes once again pressured to answer, but his words continued. "I will oversee it. After that, we'll visit the shoemaker."

"Eh, thank you, Master Diluc."

"Is your matter with the bard finished?" Though Mona's face flushed at remembering the events of last night, Diluc's words weren't ill-meaning.

"I'm just… moving on…" Her lie was obvious. At least for her. But Diluc didn't seem to mind it, not at the moment. "Is he going to show up?"

"Unfortunately for both of us, he's a hard-to-remove weed."

Remembering the odd one-sided friendship from last night, she asked: "Why do you put up with that nuisance? He's just a ticking bomb, just ban him from entering."

"For reasons I can't disclose, I cannot ban him. He might seem unreliable and chaotic, but his heart and mind are in the right place. If you had met him under other circumstances, you would agree as well." He adjusted his gloves, avoiding her eyes. "He's a mere nuisance at best, with a well-meaning soul."

Mona waited for Diluc to continue, but he had no intention of continuing to talk.

"Don't forget your hat next time."

With that, the bartender walked away with an air of elegance.

She had the job. The Master was making investments in her, so that was a good sign. Still, Mona's plan had to continue. Now, she had to ensure Venti would go to Angel's Share and not get booted off. Giving him free drinks would just jeopardise her job security, and she couldn't do that yet. If she had to pay for his drinks to get him drunk… She'd be doing exactly what he wanted. And that was a no!

Perhaps she could use his guilt to manipulate him into saving? How could she even do that? She wasn't an introvert, but it seemed out of her ability… Maybe she could try to bond with him with music? But that too was out of her ability. She didn't know much about music or instruments. And she didn't drink alcohol. Maybe she could feign she was continuing his crappy plan?

That was enough, Mona didn't need to pry out an answer for the moment. She just had to go home and continue her research.

"I forgot. I have to get that wine bottle…" She muttered, ambling towards Angel's Share once again.

People still glanced at her, whispering rumours. They were still hung up about the odd astrologer being beside Diluc. Was that so weird? It was just a man and a woman walking together, it didn't have to be romantic or…

Wait. That was it. Love made people stupid. And it wouldn't be the first time she had used her charm to get her way.

She just had to feign interest for Venti. If she could ensnare him, he'd come flying to Angel's Share every night like a bee to honey. But how in the world would she do that? They had no shared interests, barring barely making due.

Or… she didn't really need to have any of that. If she acted cute enough, her natural charm would be enough. A bit of fooling around would totally enthrall him. The bard might be smarter than he looked, but he was still a naïve idiot.

When the sun reached its highest point in Mondstadt, a beautiful array of songs always appeared on the Cathedral's main plaza. There, below the shade of the Anemo Archon's statue, a bard played distinct and engaging music. From simple tunes to ballads, he sang from the story of Mondstadt and his people to silly humorous lullabies. That earned him some easy mora sometimes… though he did it for his love for art.

With his repertoire finished for the day, he used his hat as a way to collect the coins that his eager listeners deemed him worthy of. Which wasn't that much. Whatever he earned, Venti spent it on not letting his mortal body waste away. Yes, he could use his powers to simply not let it die. But that would make him look like a walking tornado, and, honestly, it was too exhausting.

As the crowd dispersed, he started counting the mora he had earned. It wasn't enough for even dinner. Maybe he should simply be a little sneaky and…

Venti hadn't noticed Mona's annoyed glare until she tapped his shoulder. His hands almost let go of his hat, and with it, of his money. If he was some sort of God, it would have been pretty embarrassing to be suddenly ambushed like that. Oh, right.

"You scared the crap out of me! What did I do now?" He put back his hat, mora included and took a step away from the mage. He certainly didn't expect her to return, much less on that same day.

Venti had a simple tactic to deal with annoying people. Make them angry. If he continued to make the conversation unpleasant, then anyone would loathe continuing the conversation. That simple rule had saved him for many years.

"Nothing, I came here to… Erm… request a song?"

Mona had a plan to follow, and it had been shattered completely by Venti's uppity reaction. How did he even do that? She was good at detecting lies, not so much at lying.

"Is that so? Well, you can come tomorrow and join the crowd." He didn't have anything to do, but he also didn't feel like interacting with the astrologer. The sooner he got away, the better.

"No, no. I want you to play a song for me. I don't want anyone else to listen to it." Mona was just winging it, feeling the embarrassment of her bad acting. She bit the inside of her cheek, holding back her urge to grimace.

For Venti, however, her odd expression was interpreted as a pout. Like a kid asking for something embarrassing. And that was his weak spot. For Mona to ask him of all people, it had to be something deep and personal.

"Well… What type of bard would I be if I said no?" He let out a sigh, summoning his trusty lyre again. "What song would you like? Something from Fontaine? Le Dèserteur, perhaps? Not the type of song people of Mondstadt would like."

Mona didn't expect he'd buy her excuse. So she had no idea of what to say without wanting to tear off her hair. "N-No, it's more obscure."

"More obscure. Ah, are you testing my knowledge? I'll have you know that I know all and any songs from Teyvat." Venti proudly proclaimed, much to Mona's disbelief. "If it's obscure… A la volonté du people? No, Mondstadt loves that song."

Flirting shouldn't be this hard. Mona just needed to spice the conversation, no? And… She wasn't quite so sure what to say without feeling awkward. Why didn't she make a backup plan?

"You're making this weird, you know?" Venti continued as Mona kept quiet for a few long seconds. "Well, if you remember it, just be sure to tell me." He shifted around, looking at the sun above.

"It's a love song?" She managed to say, twisting her lips.

"A love song, huh? Why do you have to say it with that face? Is that why you're blushing so hard?" The bard feigned stroking an imaginary beard. "This is eye-opening, I thought you were pretty shameless!"

"Shameless? Why would I be… Hey!" She put her hand to her collarbone as if she was actually hurt. "You weren't supposed to remember that!"

"Remember what?" Venti smirked. "Oh, that whole table incident? Honestly, I had forgotten until you said it. I was referring to your clothes. Don't you have anything else to wear?"

"Don't you?" She retorted but failed to make an impact.

"Nop. I live in the streets, you know? Pretty awful of you to laugh about the homeless." He wiped off a fake tear. "I thought you'd understand living in squalor, I guess not…"

Mona clicked her tongue. "Don't change the topic, bard."

"Topic? Are you sure you had one, to begin with? I think you came here with the first idea that you thought about, thinking that it was easy and made sense. And for some reason, you've now realised that it was a terrible plan." Venti didn't need to use his powers to know that. He had convinced nations to rise up in arms, fooling one girl would be a piece of cake. "Why continue with this headache of a situation? Just forget it and focus on something easier, you'd probably be happier. Mondstadt is the city of freedom. That applies to moving on as well."

Those had been a poor choice of words. Because Astrology was not an easy task to fulfill, she had not spent so many years being shunned to just switch objectives.

"Why are you acting so stuck up suddenly? You didn't complain when I pushed you on top of a table, and unlike now, I was being quite hostile…" As soon as Mona said those words, an idea suddenly appeared in her head. And at the mere thought of it, she recoiled in disgust. "Don't tell me you're one of those weirdos who like being pushed around by a woman?"

Venti unexpectedly choked on his own spit. "W-What? I was just avoiding confrontation."

He hugged his lyre as if it would stop the astrologer.

"Yeah, right. That's why you're acting so rowdy now, aren't you? You're just trying to make me mad so I lash out." She flinched and turned her body away from him. "Well, that's not going to work! You big… small… pervert!"

"O-Okay, let's settle down!" He tried to turn the conversation around, but Mona wasn't about to let him go. "Make love, not war and all that!"

"Love? I only love how you're a wimpy push-over, that's right!" Mona took a step towards him, though Venti was already backing away. "Hey, don't go away coward! I haven't finished!"

"What? Listen, I don't know what's your deal, but I already told you the truth last night. I've been cursed so I can't tell you certain things," Venti nonchalantly brought up, as the last defence. "Whatever you want to do with me, I rather not get involved in."

"Yeah? Well…" Mona quickly came up with something. "Then show me you've been cursed. There's no other way for me to believe you."

"Alright, seems fair." Venti pointed up. "See that there? Below the statue's hands?"

Unsure of the purpose, Mona decided to follow through. She wasn't too sure of what she was looking at. Sure, the statue was there, but there was nothing that called her attention.

"What am I supposed to be looking at?" Mona looked back down to find herself alone, with Venti running away in the distance. "Hey! Scoundrel!"

He was running towards the plaza's balcony. She started to give chase before the deceitful bard could jump off and glide away. She still hadn't taken the flying exam, so she only had one chance.

"You fell for the oldest trick in the book, sucker!" A surge of air lifted Venti from the ground, giving him the room he needed to escape downtown. Gliding with unsurmountable speed, there was no way she could give him chase.

"Coward! Come back here!" Mona's chase was cut short anyhow, the balustrade of the plaza stopping her dead in her tracks. "That's it, this is personal now you…"

The mage's words trailed off as she heard the sound of coins rolling and falling beside her. She didn't trust karma. Even then, the moment Mona saw a hat half-filled with mora, there was only one answer.

This had to be fate.

Venti touched down on the city gates, wiping the sweat out of his brow. Another successful escape, he could be proud of that. Though this meant Mona hadn't given up, he still had a few tricks up his sleeve.

His head felt even lighter than usual, so that meant there were plenty of options left.

Making her angry didn't seem to have worked perfectly, but perhaps he could turn that table incident around. Yes, it should be easy. She had been the one to start it, after all.

And then he tapped around his head, trying and failing to find his hat.

"Oh." He turned around, still clutching his head, observing the only possible explanation. "Oh no."

Since he was using the hat to gather coins, he wasn't planning of putting it back on his head without removing them. When Mona showed up, he didn't place his hat in a tight fit. So the moment he launched himself to avoid the mage, the hat must have slipped off.

He rushed back to Cathedral square, this time running. He made sure to scout ahead and avoid Mona, but she wasn't there anymore. And when he sneaked into the plaza, neither was his hat.

Well, it wasn't that important anyways. He could just make another one. He wasn't that attached to it. Not at all. Zero per cent.

And she also must have taken his money. No issue, he could just earn it again tomorrow. Yeah, not a big deal.

This wasn't a big deal at all.

It was such a minor deal, that he immediately rose above the city with his powers and started to scan down every and each street of Mondstadt. Even the small alleyways weren't spared. But no, he couldn't find her anywhere. That mage must have rushed to her home.

But no, that was the first place to check. It would be dumb to retreat to her own house.

So Venti checked all possible places. The library, all restaurants he could think of, the alchemy store, the tailor, even Angel's Share. Though the last one was to get a quick drink. With the money he didn't have.

"Karma, you foul mistress, why must you do this to me!"

Sober and beaten, and with the day turning into night, he checked the last possible place. Her home.

He tapped on the entrance door once. Then twice. After the third knock, the window from the first floor opened.

"Oh, if it isn't the little bard. What's wrong? Did the oldest trick in the book lose something?" Mona's voice was calm and measured. Unlike the previous time, she was completely in control.

Though tired from his search, Venti had too much experience to slip up. Or so he believed.

And this time, Mona was more ready. No more rushing things, no more grand goals, no more underestimating the bard. Bit by bit, she'd accomplish her ambition.

"I'm not going to tell you my constellation in exchange for my hat, you know?" He sat on the handrail of the stairs leading to her home.

She only smiled, resting her arms on the window sill. "I got that stupid job at Angel's Share, did you know?"

"Yeah, well, congrats," Venti didn't have control of the conversation, that much was apparent. He had to reel her back in. "You know, I'm really glad that you were the one who found it. Had it been any other person, I might have asked the Knights. Master Jean takes really seriously little thefts like these. So you can give back the hat with no repercussions."

"A hat? Oh, the weird beret you wear around? Did you lose it?" Mona's warped smile showed her true emotions. "I might be able to find it with a little help…"

"I know you have it, you're not getting out of this one." He answered, his serious tone slipping for a moment.

"Do you have any proof of that? Why are you assuming it was me?" Mona feigned sadness. "Here I am, trying to help you to the best of my abilities, and yet you keep avoiding your fate! Cursing and lying like that, you must be a truly sad person."

Clicking his tongue, Venti knew when he was being outplayed. Mona had learnt from her errors too quickly and was adapting to his verbose. Still, he was sure those last words were a simple tactic. She couldn't have seen through him.

He had to tread carefully, or the trap would catch him unaware. She mentioned something about finding his belongings, which was most than likely what she wanted him to ask for. To then ask about his constellation. He would take the bait then, even more than that.

"You're right about that. Maybe I was a bit too hasty in my deduction. Then, you said you'd be able to find it, right? What would that require, oh mighty astrologer?"

"At the very least 18000 Mora, don't you think?"

"…What?"

"That beret had quite the needlework. I think that's more or less the price it's worth." Mona rested her chin on her hand. "But you're short on cash, aren't you? You can pay in instalments, don't worry. Or perhaps in some other way?"

That was it. Mona had no intention of taking his money for scrying. She had to just ask him to buy drinks from her whenever she started working at Angel's Share.

Venti's mind raced to find a counter-argument. He had been outmanoeuvred again. He was acting too cocky, and it was costing him. No time for thinking, he had to take back the conversation right now!

"That's very kinky of you, Mona, but I'm not really interested in that." His eyes gained a mischievous gleam.

"N-No, I meant with y-"

"So that's why you brought up what happened last night back in the plaza. Honestly, I thought you were different. But I suppose women also have weird domination fetishes." With a fake sigh, Venti continued. "It would be a shame if this information got out. The reputable astrologer, tainted forever. Will that Fontaine magazine even let you continue working?"

Though he didn't wish to do any of it, the threat had to be credible. Was it worth ruining her life to get back a hat? No, but it would also stop her constellation meddling.

"Y-You… How do you even know about my articles?!" Mona almost leapt out of the window. "That's a fabrication, untrue! I'm not… You're the weird one!"

"Is that so? If you give me back my hat, I may forget about this whole conversation." Venti was confident of his victory now. Mona's face was so red that she rivalled even the most rusted of knives.

"N-No! I don't want your stupid constellation!" She barely held back screaming. "You just have t-"

"Nu-uh, not listening. I already told you what I want." Venti happily stretched his arms.

"Let me finish, I'm aski-" Her shame was beginning to become anger.

"Nice breeze today!"

"I said th-"

"Ehe~"

"Do you want me to hit you, is that it?!" Mona's grip on the windowsill threatened to crumble it into dust. "What, no more quips?! No more words to annoy me with?!"

Venti had already achieved what he wanted, which was making her mad. Now he just needed to run away, and she would be left with a sour taste in her mouth. Someone with a calm head would follow through with the plan. But this felt fun, a break from his usual boring routine. So one more retort couldn't hurt.

Stretching his arms and back, Venti just smirked. "Sorry what? I wasn't listening."

"That's it!"

Mona suddenly disappeared from her window, only to reappear in a sudden bubble in front of Venti. Unaware of this ability of hers, he was immediately caught off-guard. A mistake. Mona tackled him off the railing, falling a good two metres on his back.

She restrained his arms and placed her weight on his hips, locking him in an even tighter position than yesterday. Her twintails fell right beside his temples, locking his eyes on Mona's flushed face.

"I said that you need to repay me by going to Angel's Share and asking me for easy drinks. I'll find your hat afterwards." Her voice wavered between menacing and shyness. "Do you understand that?"

Venti could, and should, answer no and use his strength to get her off him. Because this was an awful predicament. After all, the God of Freedom was restrained by a second-class astrologer who was barely taller than him. He should hate every second of it!

So why didn't he? He reached through all his deepest memories but found no similar feeling. Like a slow wave of electricity methodically taking over his body, fully overtaking the pain of his fall. Her green eyes fuel that emotion tenfold. His mind or his body, he had trouble understanding what was giving him that tingling sensation.

For a being so old, a new sensation, a good one at that, was a very rare occurrence. And so, he needed time he didn't have to realise what it was.

"…Alright." Venti managed to say after a great ordeal.

"Okay, good." Mona quickly stood up, taking a step back from him. "Isn't… isn't it better when we can talk without being cut off?" It took her a moment to realise what she had done. "O-Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean… The red mist descended and… Please don't tell the Knights! This was intolerable on my part, I'll give you back the hat, I swear!"

And it suddenly didn't feel good for Venti anymore. "It's fine! I was basically asking for it." He quickly added. "As in, I was being an idiot! Of course you don't have the hat! I was insulting your honour, yep!"

Mona tried to help him up but Venti declined her help. He stood up with a jump and fixed his clothes.

"A-Alright, I'm sorry anyhow." Mona fidgeted in place.

"I guess I'll see you on Angel's Share, Mona. You better treat me properly, it would be a shame if you lost your job!"

With that half-threat, Venti slowly walked away from Mona's house. And when he was far enough, he stopped and heaved a sigh. His face was slightly blushing, wondering what the hell all that was about.

It didn't matter if it was lust or love. Either feeling made things unnecessarily complicated. Because he could feel his sensible mind being overtaken by a surge of irrationality. The more he pushed Mona, the greater her reaction. And that violent act… he hated to say it, but he wanted to see what else could happen.

His mind achieved a quick compromise. His identity should still be hidden. But if the astrologer kept going after him, why not have some fun?