novelraw Chapter 104 : Evening Banquet and Ball
Chapter 104 : Evening Banquet and Ball
Chapter 104: Evening Banquet and Ball
If possible, Levi wanted to jump straight off the ship right now and swim back to the Mist City.
Unfortunately, it was already too late.
All he could do now was to enjoy this trip as much as possible and then… pray that it would reach its destination safely and without incident.
What else could he do?
It was like watching Final Destination, and then having a dream right before boarding a plane—would you still get on?
Levi was certain that, for most people, that would be a real dilemma.
Night fell, and soon the first evening aboard the Arctic Star arrived.
Levi did not know how the passengers on the lower decks would spend their night, but clearly, the first-class passengers had their own means of entertainment. For example, tonight’s ball in the banquet hall: a gathering of elites from all over, dancing, chatting, and socializing.
Levi, however, sat in a chair by the side, sipping his vanilla tea, idly passing the time.
Just then, an aged voice sounded.
“If you went and invited those young ladies to dance, they’d be delighted.”
Levi turned his head to see an elderly man, white-haired and neatly dressed in a suit, smiling warmly as he came over and sat down beside him. Levi had just met him earlier at the luncheon banquet—this old man was none other than the business magnate Howard. They had spoken quite a bit then, but Levi had not expected him to seek him out again at the ball.
“Good evening, Mr. Howard.”
Levi nodded at Howard, while the latter sat down and cheerfully took up a glass of champagne.
“What’s wrong? Don’t like this kind of setting?”
“It’s fine. I’m already used to crowds, I just prefer observing.”
“That’s a pity. Look at those young ladies.”
Howard lifted his chin, stroking his goatee.
“They’re waiting for you to ask them to dance. Perhaps you’d have a lovely encounter?”
“Perhaps so, or perhaps not.”
Levi raised his teacup and nodded toward the group of young ladies whispering and stealing glances at him. They let out a suppressed squeal and quickly turned away, their faces flushed red.
“See? Sweet little birds, how adorable.”
Old Howard chuckled as he stroked his beard, gazing at them.
“Adorable they may be, but you’ll never truly know what they’re thinking inside.”
Levi withdrew his gaze.
“And women are fickle.”
He murmured to himself. The topic reminded him of his life before he had crossed over. Back then, he had a wife, and the two of them had been very much in love. Everyone thought they were a perfect couple, a match made in heaven. Yet when Levi fell ill, everything changed.
His wife soon left him, vanishing with her belongings. When Levi returned home, he found everything cleared out—even the bank accounts had been emptied. She took the money and disappeared without a trace.
Rationally, Levi could understand her decision to cut her losses. No matter what he had, at the core it was an incurable disease, and spending fortunes would only prolong the suffering.
So, from that perspective, it was understandable that she chose to leave rather than sink into the mire with him.
But emotionally, he could not accept it. After all, so many stories and legends told of a partner who stayed faithful and true even when the other was gravely ill. Levi had longed for that kind of love, bound together in life and death.
Sadly, he had not been so fortunate.
Friends had urged him to sue or expose her online, but Levi felt it meaningless. Such lawsuits dragged on endlessly, and with his condition at the time, he doubted he would even live to see a courtroom.
In the end, he gave up. Whether she felt guilty or not for taking the money was her burden to carry, not his.
So—was it his poor judgment?
He wasn’t sure. Back then, many women had wanted to be with him. He had chosen carefully, and he had thought his wife suited him, that they truly loved each other. But had that really been the case? Or was love nothing more than a fleeting decoration?
“Forlorn in love?”
Howard’s voice interrupted his thoughts, and Levi shrugged.
“Just some things I experienced before. That’s why it’s hard for me to understand what women really think.”
“Hahaha! What women think—I gave up trying to answer that question thirty years ago.”
Old Howard laughed heartily.
“I don’t know how you young people think nowadays, but I can give you a bit of my wisdom, Mr. Levi.”
As he spoke, he gestured toward the young ladies.
“Enjoy the present.”
“The present?”
“That’s right. For men, you can never be sure if a woman truly loves you. The same is true for women. When you whisper sweet nothings, when you enjoy intimacy, do you ask yourself that question? Look at me—there are always young ladies fawning over me. Do they love me? Or my money?”
“………………”
Levi glanced at Howard’s frail body; the answer seemed obvious enough.
Yet Howard only smiled.
“It doesn’t matter. Do you know why? Because when she coaxes me, she really does make me happy. That’s enough. Happy together, unhappy apart—what’s so wrong with that? Whether someone truly loves you is perhaps an unanswerable question for both men and women. But many still stay together. Is it because they are certain of love, or simply because they cherish the happy moments?”
“………Perhaps you’re right.”
Levi gazed at the hall before him, at the dancers gliding gracefully. Back then, he had married because being with her made him happy. They had been young, and her betrayal had later caused him immense pain—far greater than the pain from his illness.
But it did not erase the joy they once shared.
Perhaps Howard was right—he should not obsess over an answer, since everyone might have their own, or none at all. Perhaps even she had once believed she truly loved him, that she would remain loyal forever.
But reality had shattered that illusion.
If their roles had been reversed, what would he have done?
Abandon his wife for someone new? Or exhaust all his wealth to prolong endless suffering, only to lose everything?
Levi had no answer.
From a moral standpoint, he could say he would give up everything to save her. After all, heroes in novels, films, and games always did so.
But in reality, abandoning her meant keeping his assets, his status, and the freedom to begin anew. Beyond guilt and moral conflict, he lost nothing.
Just then, a commotion stirred in the hall. Levi turned and saw a beautiful young woman walking in arm-in-arm with a young man. Guests parted like courtiers before a king and queen. The pair embraced and began to dance at the center of the floor.
“Oh, this is quite something.”
Howard donned his glasses, chuckling as he watched.
“Have you seen that young lady before?”
“Is she famous?”
“Rosalie Porto. At her age, there isn’t anyone richer.”
“Inherited?”
Levi guessed at once. For Howard to say this, she must have great wealth. At her age, unless she were blessed with the power of a novel’s protagonist, inheritance seemed the only explanation.
“Indeed. The ‘Million-Pound Miss,’ that’s her title. She comes from a good family, and she’s smart. I recall rumors that the eldest son of the Calest family courted her, but she chose a nobody instead. Surprising, isn’t it?”
“………………”
Levi narrowed his eyes, studying the dancing couple. The young woman, in her early twenties, had dazzling golden hair and a tall figure. Every move radiated authority and presence—clearly someone born to command.
Her partner, with curly brown hair and a boyish, carefree smile, seemed charming and likable.
“Interesting, isn’t it, Mr. Levi?”
Howard put down his glasses, rubbing his eyes.
“What do you think? Did that young man pursue Miss Porto for her? For her money? Or out of pure love?”
He chuckled.
“But it doesn’t matter, does it? At least now, they’re happy.”
“Indeed.”
Levi watched the pair, radiant in each other’s eyes, oblivious to the world. In that moment, their passion seemed pure.
But flames eventually die. Conflicts, rifts, even separation might follow. Would they still remember tonight’s dance then? Or would it fade into forgotten memory?
But that was none of Levi’s concern. He finished his tea, bade Howard goodnight, and returned to his room.
He had to admit, Howard’s advice was thought-provoking. At present, Levi had little interest in love.
Of course, this world had courtesans, simple and convenient. But Levi had no desire for deep involvement with them.
The reason was simple—even if conversation went well, when the clothes came off, he could not help scrutinizing their bodies and then…
Ah, syphilis symptoms.
That looks like gonorrhea…
And this seems to be genital warts…
Levi had to admit, the 【Diagnosis】 skill he learned from Doctor Doolittle was truly useful.
Perhaps too useful.
In the end, it always became him giving them money to see a doctor.
Such were the sanitary conditions of this era… lamentable, to say the least.
Since then, Levi seldom visited such places.
He sought pleasure, not free clinic duty.
Levi shook off the thoughts, went to bed, and fell asleep.
Until knocking woke him.
“Who is it?”
He opened his eyes and glanced out the window—it was early morning.
In his nightclothes, he went to the door and opened it. A waiter stood there, looking grave and tense.
“Forgive the intrusion, Mr. Levi, but we urgently need your assistance.”
“Oh?”
Levi immediately sharpened his focus.
“What happened?”
“…There’s been a murder on the ship.”
“……………Hm?”