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.'

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

"Who are you?"

"His friend. "

it had been before. Despite

It irritated him.

"Hm?"

the Duke in front of him raised his head.

appeared behind him, and the duke cast a wary glance toward the entrance of the

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

masked man fell to the ground and heavily gasped for

"You're really lucky."

words clearly understood what they

glance into the distance and sighed

the reinforcements arrived

guess what would've happened had they arrived a tad

before walking up toward the one that had appeared

before him, she stopped

"Let's have a talk."

***

vegetation, three figures appeared. It was none other than Duke Ukhan himself,

Duke's expression remained unfazed as he touched down on the plush grass. There was no sign of emotion

the guards behind him

himself back under control by taking a few deep breaths. After that,

two know what to do,

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

everything you can about the people in the cave and kill them if you can. Leave their bodies exposed, and don't bother covering them

and his eyes flickered with a dangerous

personally get rid of them myself. If there is a time to act, it's now. Especially

the two guards. A dangerous and

head, he

"Understood?"

a word

to the distance. In the direction of the cave where he just came

his voice sounded

of envy, all variables need to

***

head feels like

like it's floating, yet at the same

really

past few years

Sometimes, I hear voices.

I eat, when I walk,

and on

last time

to

***

had to deliver a letter.

"No, have some tea."

stood behind me as an emerald green substance poured into a teacup that was in front of

that

my attention away from the cup, I looked ahead to where the Duchess sat. In her hand

thank you for what happened

butler next to me removed the teapot from the table and performed a single bow

wave of bitterness, and the sensation almost caused my face to change. But I didn't

the tea cup

"It's nothing worth mentioning."

the cave, my group was graciously escorted to the Duchess's mansion. At that moment, everyone was standing

sat her

be nothing worth mentioning to you, but you still saved my life. I'd like to

"Oh? In what way?"

chin and pretended

a bit low on

glance in her direction from the

so I didn't waste any time and simply told

but I

"Pretty straightforward, aren't you?"

"I indeed am."

see it, as the hood still covered my

do you

can

"Twenty Jor."

only worth that

"Fifty."

"One hundred."

a sip. I was just pretending to.

"Hmm."

Duchess's brows furrowed for a moment. Eventually, she nodded her