The Author's POV

Duke Ukhan licked his lips as he grasped the hooded figure by the throat. Raising his hand, he reached out for the hood and lowered it.

When he did so, something unexpected caught his attention.

"Interesting..."

His voice bordered on amusement and annoyance.

Presented in front of him was what seemed to be a male wearing a white mask. It covered his entire face, only exposing his blonde hair.

The Duke opened his mouth and made sure his voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.

"I wonder what gave you the confidence to attack a noble in front of everyone?"

While everyone present was a 'noble', the term could also signify a purer bloodline as compared to the others, with the seven houses placing more emphasis on them.

At this very moment, Duke Ukhan was using this pretext to find trouble with the person who had just saved Priscilla.

Had it not been for him...

"Tsk."

He clicked his tongue and grasped more tightly.

"Ukh."

"What are you doing?"

Priscilla was unable to maintain her silence at this very moment. She did not know the hooded figure, but he had indeed saved her life moments earlier. She was not the type to repay a debt with ungratefulness.

"Let him go."

She took a step forward. This time, her words were not empty threats, and she was truly determined to take action. While she may not have died, he had indeed saved her a lot of trouble. If she did not save him, she'd look like someone who didn't care about those on her side.

Duke Ukhan looked at her.

"What's this? I'm sure he hit you. Why are you defending him? Does your pride only amount to this much?"

"It does."

She smiled, and her eyes turned hazy.

"I'm from the Sloth clan. What do I need pride for?"

"Hah."

The Duke lightly laughed at her words.

"You set a very bad example, Duchess..."

As he tightened his hold on the individual wearing the mask, ruthlessness began to spread across his eyes at that very instant. He was prepared to break his neck.

Priscilla's face quickly changed when she noticed this, and her figure blurred.

"Don't you dare!"

"Sorry, bu―"

Grip

The Duke was about to clench his fist when he was suddenly grabbed by the wrist by an unseen hand.

"Let's settle this peacefully."

A calm voice sounded not long after.

"Uh?"

At that very instant, the entire vibe shifted, and everyone's attention turned to the one responsible for all of this.

It was another hooded figure.

"Insolent!"

A loud shout echoed within the perimeter of the cave.

Almost immediately after that, the guards that were standing behind the Duke moved. Within a split second, they stood behind the masked figure with their weapons drawn and ready to attack at any moment.

"Wait."

They were stopped before they could take action.

Looking at the hooded figure, Duke Ukhan's eyes glossed over their body.

'How did he get near me without me noticing? Furthermore, my guards too... He only looks to be a Marquis ranked individual.'

Duke's mind at that moment. Opening his mouth,

"Who are you?"

"His friend. "

Despite the fact that his face was hidden, the duke could feel the figure

It irritated him.

"Hm?"

he was about to say something, the guards in front of him began to twitch, and the Duke in front of him raised his head. Staring into the distance, all trace of

appeared behind him, and the duke cast a wary glance toward the entrance of the cave before turning his attention back to the hooded man and

"Haaugh...haaa...haaa..."

a low sounding thump, the masked man fell to the ground and

"You're really lucky."

who'd heard his words clearly understood what they meant. This was especially true for Priscilla, who had a deep understanding

glance into the distance and sighed

reinforcements arrived

would've happened had they arrived

up toward the one that had appeared before

she stopped

"Let's have a talk."

***

three figures appeared. It was none other than Duke

There was no sign of emotion on his face, and it appeared as though

guards

eventually brought himself back under control by taking a few deep breaths. After that, he smiled as

what

question, but the two guards immediately understood what he meant. They

Leave their bodies exposed, and don't bother covering them up.

and his eyes flickered with a

you can't deal with, send me a report. I'll personally get rid of them myself. If there is a time to act, it's now. Especially since the Patriarchs

and looked at the two guards. A dangerous

head, he

"Understood?"

without saying a word and

the two guards vanished before shifting to the distance. In the direction of the

his voice sounded especially

envy, all variables

***

feels like a

floating, yet at the

can't really explain

few years have numbed me

Sometimes, I hear voices.

when I eat, when I walk, when

on and on

the last time that I

want to be normal

***

deliver a letter. You don't mind,

"No, have some tea."

demon dressed in butler attire stood behind me as an emerald green substance poured

that it was safe

sat. In

thank you for

removed the teapot

of tea and took a sip from it. My tongue was flooded with a wave of bitterness, and the sensation almost caused my face to change. But I didn't let it show on the

set the

"It's nothing worth mentioning."

Duchess's mansion. At that moment, everyone was

Duchess sat her

mentioning to you, but you still saved my life. I'd

"Oh? In what way?"

caressed my chin and pretended to fall

a bit low on

in her direction from

primary objective right from the start, so I didn't waste any time

shameless, but I didn't

"Pretty straightforward, aren't you?"

"I indeed am."

didn't see it, as

much do you

can you give

"Twenty Jor."

life only worth

"Fifty."

"One hundred."

to my lips. I didn't take a sip. I was just pretending to. It tasted horrible, but I had to look

"Hmm."

brows furrowed for a moment. Eventually, she nodded her