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.'

the Duke's mind at that

"Who are you?"

"His friend. "

was just as composed as it had been before. Despite

It irritated him.

"Hm?"

of him began to twitch, and the Duke in front of him raised his head. Staring

the cave before turning his attention back to the hooded man and snatching his hand away from

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

the masked man fell to the ground

"You're really lucky."

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

a glance into the distance and sighed

the reinforcements arrived on

dare guess what would've happened had they

the one that had appeared before the Duke. He seemed to be

she

"Let's have a talk."

***

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

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

the guards behind him shuddered at

under control by taking a few deep breaths. After that, he smiled

know what to

immediately understood what he

bodies exposed, and don't bother covering them up. Let the world understand what it means to

eyes flickered

me a report. I'll personally get rid of them myself. If there

and looked at the two guards. A dangerous and oppressive aura erupted

head,

"Understood?"

a word and disappeared

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

mouth, his voice sounded especially

of envy, all variables

***

feels like

it's floating, yet at the same time

can't really explain

few years

Sometimes, I hear voices.

my sleep, when I eat, when I walk, when

goes on and on

was the last time that I

to be

***

to deliver a letter.

"No, have some tea."

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

I determined that it

sat. In her

thank you

next to me removed the teapot from the table

and took a sip from it. My tongue was flooded with a wave of bitterness, and the sensation

set the

"It's nothing worth mentioning."

Duchess's mansion. At that moment, everyone was standing behind me. For

sat her

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

"Oh? In what way?"

pretended

a bit

in her direction from the corner

so I didn't waste any time and

bit shameless, but I didn't

"Pretty straightforward, aren't you?"

"I indeed am."

She probably didn't see it, as the hood still

do

much can

"Twenty Jor."

life only

"Fifty."

"One hundred."

I didn't take a sip. I was just pretending to.

"Hmm."

Duchess's brows furrowed for a