However, now that the excitement of eating had faded, it was time to finally face things head-on—to look this new world straight in the eye.
With that resolve in mind, he turned his attention to the two people sitting across the table from him and the one standing silently behind them.
He decided to really take a proper look at them this time.
Yes, those three men were already there when Li Shen woke up, standing a little distance away, but still inside the same ornate gazebo.
He hadn't noticed them at all—his eyes had been locked on Somnus alone.
Looking back, he wanted to curse himself for being such a fool.
Idiot! Dumbass! How could he not see them?!
And now? Now he could only pray they hadn't seen him and Somnus with their foreheads touching.
If he pretended they hadn't seen it, maybe it would be true! Yes. That's how he was going to cope—with denial. Blissful, determined denial.
Okay. Focus. Time to focus.
First, the man who had saved him from a potentially very compromising situation by speaking up right before things with Somnus Shen escalated—yes, that was definitely a life-saving move.
That man had been called Agares by Somnus.
Wearing something that looked like a neat, deep-blue tailcoat, Agares stood with perfect posture, the only one still standing at full attention while the others sat.
His full name was Agares Roallie and he was Somnus's personal attendant.
He had short white hair, calm brown eyes, and a small white mustache that gave him the look of a refined, good-natured elder.
Li Shen figured he must be something like a butler—and he was probably not wrong.
Of the three who had been introduced earlier, Agares was the shortest and clearly the oldest in appearance, but he stood straight and tall with the kind of strong presence that came from age and discipline.
And most notably—yes, there it was—on top of his head were long white rabbit ears.
Including the ears, he was technically the tallest one in the group. …Well, if rabbit ears counted in height measurements in this world.
Next, there was one of the two sitting across from Li Shen and the young man, the one wearing a flowing sky-blue robe—someone who looked exactly like the "wizard" type from any fantasy story.
His name was Rhitahtyn sas Arvina and he was apparently the head of the Ministry of Magic, which oversaw all magical technologies and practices.
Although he's not quite at Somnus's impossible level of beauty, Rhitahtyn had a well-shaped face—sharp, elegant features like someone out of a foreign film.
He had a slim build and looked handsome in a very obvious, poster-boy kind of way.
His age seemed to be about the same as Somnus's, or perhaps slightly younger—the drooping, kind-looking eyes probably made him seem more boyish.
His face stayed locked in a cheerful, constant smile, the kind of expression that gave the impression of someone always in a good mood.
His long pink hair was braided and draped over his back, matching the soft pink color of his eyes.