Eternal Undying Chronicles

Chapter 73 Dashing

La Belle Époque was a luxurious restaurant located in the city's most developed district. The restaurant didn't accept any common rabble, it featured grand chandeliers casting a soft glow over the intricately decorated dining hall, plush velvet seating, and elegantly set tables adorned with fine china and crystal glasses.

The walls were adorned with tasteful art pieces, and a live pianist played soft, soothing melodies in the background. While there wasn't a strict dress code, the mantra was clear, you dress the way you want to be addressed. After all, clothes make the man.

Alicarde and Liam both wore extravagant clothing, though Alicarde's were of a more niche brand—notoriously expensive but not well-known enough for the general public to recognize. However, the discerning eyes of the maître d' could tell the value and prestige of their attire.

In his heart, there was no doubt that they were La Belle Époque material, judged by the depths of their pockets. It was for this reason they were allowed to film. An influencer could easily start a witch hunt on the internet, but worse than that, making an enemy of someone powerful, wealthy, and influential was not worth it.

"You guys don't mind if I upload the first part I filmed, right? Don't worry, it's already been edited, and... tiny favor, mind if we go live?" Liam asked, still worried about the potential price tag. However, after thinking about it, while the food was gourmet, it was not so expensive that it would surpass his allowance.

"Nah, we're cool," Alicarde waved dismissively.

"I mean, you're already filming, so it's fine," Anne continued with a sweet smile.

The menu was presented to them in the most luxurious fashion, bound in fine leather with gold embossing. There were no price tags listed, indicating that patrons were expected to order based on desire rather than cost.

Alicarde sighed. He had no idea what was more expensive, which meant putting this arrogant young master in his place without blowing his cranium to pieces might prove difficult. To that end, they ordered based on how fancy the names sounded, Coquilles Saint-Jacques, Filet de Bœuf Rossini, and for dessert, Mille-Feuille à la Vanille.

Their food was soon presented before them. Liam relaxed, these bumpkins didn't order anything too expensive. It was extravagant but not more than his allowance could cover.

Alicarde threw Anne a glance. It was a table for three, but only he and Anne were seated. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. She had a thoughtful expression, then she whispered back. Alicarde smiled, signaling the sommelier.

"Could we please have a bottle of Château Margaux 2005?" he asked smoothly.

Anne followed, adding, "And a bottle of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, please."

They proceeded to order several more, Château Lafite Rothschild, Pétrus, and a rare bottle of Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon.

Upon hearing what they ordered, Liam's face paled, his heart sank, and his knees buckled. He tried to call off the whole thing then and there, but he was already live. Cold sweat soaked his back. If he called it off while he was live, then he was going to die a social death.

He had wanted to get Alicarde and Anne on a date so he could create an edited video and spread rumors about him. Maybe the campus belle would ditch him. As long as she was single, all the guys on campus would be happy. His own reward would be extra fame and clout with the guys who really hated Alicarde.

Alicarde and Anne knew they were doing something right when they noticed he was sweating.

Liam didn't mind the food, quality ingredients, yes, but still within his price range. Even if the two of them were pigs, they couldn't eat more than ten thousand dinars worth of food. But the wines were all expensive, more than two hundred thousand dinars each, and they had ordered several bottles.

The wines arrived. Alicarde and Anne each had a glass, but upon bringing it to their lips, they stopped.

Alicarde turned to the sommelier. "Excuse me, good sir, is this wine alcoholic?"

'What is this guy, a bumpkin? You can't expect fine wine to not be alcoholic,' Liam looked at him with disdain.

The man replied, "Oui, monsieur, it is. This is one of the finest selections we have, known for its exquisite bouquet and balanced tannins."

Alicarde sighed and turned to Anne. "We don't drink alcohol, but it's fine... We have Liam here. He can sit with us and have a few glasses. I mean, we already opened all these sealed bottles."

'What the... wait a minute,' Liam felt the urge to choke the bastard. It was only now that he realized they had trapped him. He wished he had stopped them, even if it meant losing his views and dignity. Alas, it was too late.

"Hey, young master, why don't you join us? It would be a shame to waste all this good wine." Alicarde gestured to him.

Alicarde insisted that Liam join them. Liam hesitated, his legs feeling weak as vertigo set in. His thoughts raced, picturing the enormous bill and how he'd cover it. If he called his father, it would be taken care of, but...

'If I call my old man, I'm so dead,' he thought despairingly.

Alicarde, on the other hand, wasn't particularly concerned. He felt a twinge of pity for Liam but also a dark satisfaction in bringing down those who acted high and mighty.

Anne had come along because Alicarde assured her it was a harmless prank, and she trusted him. But now, he saw a trace of worry on her face. Despite that, she stuck by his side, her faith in him unshaken.

"Here, Liam buddy, have a few drinks," Alicarde offered, pouring him a glass.

Anne joined in. "Come on, Liam, enjoy yourself."

Liam was cornered, gulping down the entire glass in a graceless fashion.

"Another," Alicarde said, filling it up again. "Let's make sure you try them all."

Alicarde handed the card over. "I'll cover the bill. Add a generous tip for the staff, please."

The maître d' took the card with a polite bow. "Merci, Monsieur Asad. Your generosity is appreciated."

Liam's live stream comments continued to explode with curiosity and admiration. What started as a harmless prank had turned into an unforgettable spectacle.

The maître d' was pleased, his intuition justified. Years of experience had taught him when to go the extra mile for guests, and today was no exception. The substantial tip he received was a reward for his trust.

Alicarde maintained a calm exterior, but inside, his legs were shaking. He had just spent 700,000 dinars—more than his father's annual income of 182,000 dinars.

'How much is even in that account? I was flying blind here. Just how rich is Carrisa?' he wondered.

Keeping his composure, though his heart was racing, Alicarde pulled out his phone and pressed a button—not to call any human or supernatural, nor Carrisa. Instead, he was summoning his car. The call activated the car's AI, courtesy of Amena, allowing it to drive itself to his location.

Alicarde decided they would wait for his car to arrive. During the wait, he engaged Anne in casual conversation.

"I had no idea you were bourgeoisie," Anne remarked, still reeling from the shock.

Liam, who had initially looked down on Alicarde, now regarded him with gratitude. "Man, I owe you one. Seriously."

"Yeah, you do. How about not looking down on people just because you're rich? In other words, learn some humility," Alicarde said, enjoying the reversal.

"Right, sorry about that," Liam muttered, looking chastened.

Alicarde sighed. He wanted to see the arrogant young master humbled, but unlike in cultivation novels, making Liam grovel would just make him look petty. Not to mention, Anne was watching.

On the live stream, comments continued to pour in:

@CuriousCat: "Who is this guy really?"

@LuxuryLover92: "Alicarde is a hero!"

@InfluenceKing: "That's how you handle a crisis!"

@WineSnob101: "Respect to Alicarde."

@FashionistaFay: "New crush unlocked. ????"

After a few minutes, the car arrived. Alicarde, though outwardly composed, was still reeling inside. Carrisa probably wouldn't care, the amount likely meant little to her.

Leading the way out, Alicarde was followed by Anne, Liam, and the green-haired cameraman, Marcus. Outside, they found his luxurious car waiting—a heavily customized masterpiece with sleek lines and an opulent interior.

The comments exploded anew:

@AutoEnthusiast: "That car is a work of art!"

@MoneyMatters: "Custom ride? This guy's on another level."

@GlamGoddess: "The car, the card, the charm! ????"

@RichKidProblems: "Mystery solved—he's loaded."

@LuxuryLover92: "Who's this guy dating again? Campus belle?"

Liam, who hadn't spent a dime, felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards Alicarde. Anne, entering the car, was still trying to process her friend's wealth.

She had known he was somewhat well-off and owned a car, but she had never connected him with the mysterious guy on campus. Then again, Alicarde had always kept his personal life private, rarely inviting her to places close to his home or sharing details about his lifestyle.

"Do we have any more classes today?" Alicarde asked her.

"No, we don't. We only had one today," she replied.

"Then let me take you home," Alicarde offered as the car glided away.

Liam's eyes widened. "It's him, the guy who drives a new car every day... No wonder the campus belle is his girlfriend. He's a total badass."

Marcus nodded in agreement. The stream's comment section was still filled with unanswered questions, but for now, they left a stunned audience behind.