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.'

crossed the Duke's mind at that moment.

"Who are you?"

"His friend. "

just as composed as it had been before. Despite the fact that his face was

It irritated him.

"Hm?"

of him raised his head. Staring into the distance, all trace of expression vanished from his face, and he quickly let go of his

wary glance toward the entrance of the cave before turning his attention back to the hooded man and snatching

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

masked man fell to the ground and heavily

"You're really lucky."

heard his words clearly understood what they meant. This

a glance into the distance and sighed

reinforcements arrived

guess what would've happened had they arrived a tad

duo before walking up toward the one that had appeared before the Duke. He seemed to be the

she stopped and

"Let's have a talk."

***

land covered in vegetation, three figures appeared. It was none other than

unfazed as he touched down on the plush grass. There was no sign of

harmless, but the guards behind him

by taking a few deep breaths. After that,

know what to do,

immediately understood what he meant. They quickly

bodies exposed, and don't bother covering them

paused, and his eyes flickered with a

If there is

at the two guards. A dangerous and oppressive aura

head,

"Understood?"

a word

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

mouth, his

of envy, all

***

head feels like

like it's floating, yet at the same time

really

years have

Sometimes, I hear voices.

sleep, when I eat,

and on

sure when was the last time that

to be normal

***

I had to deliver a letter. You

"No, have some tea."

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

I determined that it was safe

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

finally thank you for what happened

the teapot from the table

it. My tongue was flooded with a wave of bitterness, and the

set the

"It's nothing worth mentioning."

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

sat her

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

"Oh? In what way?"

pretended to

a bit low on

a glance in her direction from the corner

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

bit shameless, but I

"Pretty straightforward, aren't you?"

"I indeed am."

it, as the hood still

do you

much can you give

"Twenty Jor."

only worth that

"Fifty."

"One hundred."

take a sip. I was

"Hmm."

brows furrowed for a moment. Eventually, she nodded