NOVEL NEXT Chapter 152: ʕ•̫•ʔ---The Privileged
The journey to the building felt like it took forever.
The long queue wasn't just an eyesore—it was a full-on obstacle course, clogging up the walkway like a parade nobody asked for.
On top of that, the magical roads, where enchanted carriages and floating transports zipped around, were a mess of bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Even Dash, despite being an Arion, couldn't gallop through the chaos.
And to make things worse?
We had impeccable timing.
It was rush hour.
By the time we finally reached the grand entrance of the building, I was already feeling drained. Both Eva and I dismounted, and I turned to her with a warning look.
"Whatever you do, just don't say anything," I muttered.
Eva frowned but didn't argue.
Dash, however, wasn't coming with us. A massive NO MOUNTS ALLOWED sign was practically plastered across the entrance, bold and unmistakable.
Poor Dash. He wasn't just some regular ride—he was a divine beast. An intelligent one, at that. But rules were rules.
With an indignant huff, he trotted off to find a waiting spot, probably grumbling in several languages.
Inside, the layout was as predictable as it was ridiculous. I didn't even need to look for the famous wine shop—just following the absurdly long line was enough. The queue stretched deep into the building, filled with all kinds of creatures, all waiting for their turn.
Before I could get too far, a staff member—a Fae woman dressed in immaculate silks—strode up to us, her sharp gaze flicking between me and Eva. Her expression screamed disapproval.
"Excuse me," she said crisply, looking me up and down as if assessing my net worth. "You cannot cut the line here."
I flashed her my best confident smile. "Oh, I'm not in the line."
Before she could respond, I glanced around and—bingo.
Off to the side, separated from the common queue, was an entirely different section. It wasn't obvious at first, but the moment I noticed the velvet ropes, lavish decor, and the distinct lack of waiting, I knew what it was.
The privileged section.
Without another word, I turned and walked straight toward it.
The Fae attendant flustered for a moment, then quickly regained her composure and moved to block my path.
"Excuse me, sir, you cannot go there. That area is restricted—"
"Actually," I interrupted smoothly, sidestepping her attempt to stop me, "it's exactly where I belong."
Eva, looking thoroughly embarrassed, hesitated before reluctantly following me.
With confident strides, I walked straight to the counter.
The place radiated luxury—polished marble floors, soft golden lighting, and an air of exclusivity so thick you could bottle it. Behind the sleek counter stood an immaculately dressed male Fae, his tailored suit sharp enough to cut glass.
The moment he spotted me approaching, he switched on his professional smile, the kind that had probably been perfected through centuries of catering to the elite.
"Hello, sir. Welcome to the Tündér Wine Gallery. How may I assist you?" His voice was smooth, polished—practically rehearsed.
Before I could respond, the female Fae attendant from earlier rushed up to him, whispering something urgently in his ear. His polite demeanor faltered. I watched as the corner of his smile twitched, his eyes darting toward me with subtle scrutiny.
"I see," he murmured before straightening. When he spoke again, his tone, though still courteous, had cooled by a few degrees.
"My colleague informs me that you… barged in and skipped the queue?"
His words were carefully measured, his professional mask still in place, but I could detect the underlying displeasure.
I met his gaze evenly, unfazed. "That's correct," I admitted without hesitation.
"Because I don't belong in that line."
I gestured toward the long queue of regular patrons before sweeping my gaze around with an air of practiced nonchalance.
"This section—" I paused, letting my voice carry the weight of self-assured entitlement. "—is for VIPs, isn't it?"
The way I carried myself? Pure, calculated arrogance.
I had been watching Agnos long enough to know how the privileged operated. They didn't ask for things—they expected them. They didn't seek permission—they assumed they already had it.
So, I mimicked that behavior, straightening my posture, letting my expression remain cool and indifferent.
Because in places like this, power wasn't just about wealth. It was about acting like you belonged.
Seeing my behavior, the male Fae hesitant slightly.
I could tell that on his mind right now he's contemplating whether to attend me or not. But if it so happens that I'm an entitled person, he would be in trouble.
The male Fae decided to take a safe route.
And that is probing.
He cleared his throat before answering me, 'Yes sir, this is the privileged section. May I know what your—"
I pulled out the platinum card that Trauco had handed me earlier, its metallic sheen catching the soft glow of the gallery's chandeliers. The moment I placed it on the counter, time seemed to freeze.
Both the male and female Fae's eyes widened in unison.
"V-V-VVIP?!" the female Fae stammered, her earlier irritation vanishing like smoke in the wind.
Without hesitation, she dipped into a deep bow. The male Fae—Fïor, as his name tag now seemed very apparent—followed suit, his expression shifting from guarded skepticism to sheer deference.
"We sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding, sir," Fïor said, his tone now dripping with warmth and respect. It was almost funny how fast he adjusted.
"My name is Fïor, and I will be attending to your needs today."
I could practically hear the gears in his head shift into full-on customer service mode. He straightened, his polished demeanor fully restored.
"Are you here to purchase the Tündér Wine, sir?" he asked, now speaking as if I were royalty instead of some guy who had casually waltzed in pretending he belonged.
I allowed myself a smug smile, leaning on the counter just a bit.
"Yes, actually. It's my first time buying."
I tapped the card lightly against the surface, enjoying how much weight it suddenly carried in this room. "Care to enlighten me? What's the best you've got?"
Behind me, Eva let out a barely contained snicker. Because she knew who that card belonged to.
I ignored her.
I was enjoying this.
"Yes, of course. As a VVVVIP, you're entitled to exclusive discounts on all our wines," Fior explained smoothly. "Additionally, we offer complimentary engraving services should you wish to personalize your purchase—whether as a gift or for your own collection."
He retrieved a sleek, enchanted tablet and presented it to me, showcasing an extensive list of premium wines and luxury services. I skimmed through the catalog, nodding along—until my gaze landed on something near the bottom of the list.
I froze.
A section labeled 'Owner of the Realms' Pricing stared back at me.
Wait. Hold on.
Owners of the Realms get perks here too?!
Nobody told me that!
Since when were realm owners considered part of the privileged elite in this place? And more importantly—why was I just now finding out about this?!
I raised a hand, my finger tapping directly on the section. "This part right here—'Owner of the Realms.' Are you telling me they have their own separate benefits?"
Fior visibly stiffened. His polished professionalism wavered for just a second before he offered me a carefully measured smile.
"Ah… Yes, well…" He cleared his throat. "I'm afraid that's beyond my jurisdiction. My services are exclusively for VVVVIP clients and below, sir. I'm not authorized to discuss anything related to that tier."
I let out a thoughtful hum, then casually slipped the platinum card back into my pocket. "Well, in that case, I won't be needing this."
Fior blinked. His posture went rigid. For a moment, he looked genuinely lost.
Before he could fully process, I gestured toward the Owner of the Realms section and smiled. "Because, actually, I belong to this category."
The words had barely left my mouth when Fior's entire expression collapsed. His face drained of color, his lips parted in stunned disbelief.
Then, with a loud thud, the tablet slipped from his hands and smacked onto the desk.