Aveline could not take her eyes off the man who had entered the room.

His silver hair shimmered faintly as if each strand had been engraved with molten silver, and his obvious blue eyes were as piercing as ice. His delicate and refined features made it seem like a pale moon had risen in the dimly lit room.

Setting aside the impression that he was excessively beautiful, his appearance was entirely unsuited for the back alleys she had expected. If anything, he seemed more like a sage who had distanced himself from worldly affairs and lived a life of piety.

By appearance alone, she seemed like the most delicate and innocent woman in the world. Yet, compared to him, she looked far more suited to the shadows of the underworld.

“Oh dear. It seems I’ve kept you waiting.”

The man spoke lightly, like a spring breeze, as he approached.

He stared intently at the seat she had taken before letting out a quiet chuckle and settling into the chair across from her. He showed no particular dissatisfaction at having his seat taken.

Leaning back lazily against the stiff, narrow wooden chair, he looked as relaxed as if he were sinking into a plush bed.

The two of them, appearing as though they had lived lives untouched by darkness, now sat face-to-face in the empire’s deepest shadows.

But Aveline knew better than to judge a person’s nature by their appearance. She, after all, was often compared to a witch who ensnared and devoured people with her alluring facade.

Who was to say that this man, with his innocent face, wasn’t secretly indulging in far more wicked deeds?

Aveline scrutinized him warily.

She found many aspects of him displeasing, but what bothered her most was the sword strapped to his waist.

Annoyingly, her heart pounded. It was her phobia of swords acting up.

‘They called me here because they want something from me.’

That meant they didn’t intend to kill her. If that were the goal, it would have been much easier to bribe a servant to poison her food.

She had no recollection of earning the ire of any suspicious organizations. There was even less chance that someone had ordered a hit on her. The so-called ‘noble’ ladies of high society who resented her would never dare to step into a world like this.

Even though she reasoned through it logically, her discomfort did not ease. Simply put, she found the very presence of a sword offensive.

Revealing her weakness to an unknown opponent would do her no good.

Aveline pulled her hood lower, blocking her view of the weapon.

“What a poor way to treat a guest.”

“Ah, my apologies. I had no intention of treating you.”

The man replied with a half-hearted tone.

Aveline immediately recognized that the lazy amusement laced in his voice was closer to hostility than goodwill.

“Should I offer my thanks for gracing us with your presence?”

“That would be appropriate.”

Despite sensing his hostility, Aveline responded with the dignity of a noble who had deigned to attend a gathering beneath her status. One would never believe she had come here under duress.

The man chuckled softly again.

Due to her lowered hood, all Aveline could see was his sharp jawline and the corners of his lips, curved in an odd smirk. It was an unsettling smile that clashed with his refined features.

“You’re more interesting than I expected. Well, I suppose a lady like you sneaking into places like this proves you’re not a typical noblewoman.”

“And yet, you were the one who summoned me here. I doubt it was for trivial small talk.”

“Of course not.”

Even as he said that, he made no move to get to the point, instead leisurely crossing his legs.

Aveline, annoyed by his carefree attitude, decided not to wait and pressed forward.

“What do you want? A deal?”

“Something similar.”

“Concerning what?”

“Who knows?”

“Answer seriously.”

She sharply warned him, unimpressed by his evasiveness. However, instead of taking her seriously, he merely shrugged and responded in an easygoing tone.

“But you’re not being serious either, are you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You won’t even meet my eyes. Deals require trust, after all.”

“You already know who I am, don’t you?”

“Of course, esteemed Emissary of Light. But simply knowing your identity does not create trust where there was none.”

Though he used honorifics, there was no trace of respect in his tone—only a clear sense of belittlement and amusement.

“If you do not wish to negotiate, you are free to leave at any time. The exit is over there.”

The man gestured toward the door she had entered through. His attitude was remarkably indifferent for someone who had summoned her all the way here.

Aveline followed the movement of his smooth fingers with her gaze before straightening her head again.

“So if I really were to leave, then what?”

“Well, since the deal would be off, there would be no need to keep any secrets. Not that anything significant would happen, but you’d do well to keep your errand girl’s mouth shut. Oh, right—come to think of it, your errand girl is in no position to return, is she?”

With exasperating ease, he implied that if negotiations failed, he would use Anika to expose Aveline’s past misdeeds. He had a talent for provocation.

Regardless, the power was in his hands. If she wanted a negotiation, she had to play along for now.

Clutching the edge of her hood tightly, Aveline spoke.

“Send everyone else away.”

“I should warn you—we all already know your identity.”

“And?”

“If you’re trying to be difficult, I’d like to tell you it’s a waste of effort.”

“I’m not concerned about that at this point. But it wouldn’t be reasonable for me to comply unilaterally, either. Shouldn’t you show me the proper courtesy in return if you want trust?”

Aveline lifted her chin haughtily, her voice cool and composed.

Even in a situation where she was clearly at a disadvantage, her elegance and arrogance did not waver.

“…What a difficult young lady.”

At last, the man let out a shallow sigh and relented.

With a snap of his fingers, the guards stationed at the passage quickly disappeared beyond the screen.

As their footsteps faded into the distance, silence settled over the room.

“There. Are you satisfied now?”

He asked offhandedly.

His lazily crossed legs swayed slowly, making it clear just how little patience he had. The chill of his sudden disinterest pricked at her skin.

It was hardly an appropriate attitude for someone who had called her here.

But she didn’t care. If it meant cutting straight to business, it was just as well.

“Yes.”

Equally indifferent, she gave a small nod and pushed back her hood.

Her voluminous, wavy pink hair tumbled free, and her golden eyes shimmered even in the dim light.

Aveline fully removed her hood and locked eyes with the man once more.

His blue eyes, resembling an unfathomably clear lake, visibly wavered.

It was common for people to be unsettled upon seeing her beauty for the first time. It was nothing unusual.

However…

“You…”

The man’s voice, usually smooth and flippant, trembled slightly. His bewilderment carried an odd discordance—it was too intense to be mere infatuation at first sight.

“You are… Aveline Croeta?”

He asked again, as if he couldn’t believe his own eyes, as if he were looking at someone who had returned from the dead.

“And?”

Aveline confirmed nonchalantly.

She found it almost amusing that he was now double-checking her identity when he had been the one to summon her in the first place.

‘Did he think I sent someone else in my place?’

That would be absurd. Her beauty was far too famous for that—objectively speaking.

With her widened field of vision, Aveline could also scrutinize the man more clearly.

A man so beautiful he could light up the world, wasting his looks on coercing a woman. There truly were all kinds of ways to squander beauty.

But while Aveline remained unimpressed, the man’s gaze was unwavering.

He was staring at her as if she were some kind of spectacle.

Just as irritation began creeping onto her face, he suddenly let out a scoff.

“…Ha.”

He stifled a chuckle, his lips curving in amusement.

Aveline shot him a sharp glare as if looking at a disrespectful fool.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. I’m just astonished.”

He did look shaken. That was a reaction Aveline was quite used to.

However, unlike the usual expressions of admiration, his held a strange mix of shock and something else.

“You are even more beautiful than I expected.”

So it was the same as always. Aveline quickly lost interest.

Yet, in contrast to her fading enthusiasm, the man’s face suddenly lit up with a lively energy.

“The bards who sang praises of you should all put down their instruments. Their descriptions were pathetically inadequate.”

His voice, brimming with amusement, resembled that of an excited boy.

Just moments ago, he had been smirking mockingly—now he was flashing her a playful smile, his eyes curving mischievously.

With such a drastic shift in demeanor, Aveline couldn’t help but wonder—had he called her here simply because he was curious to see her in person?

The man looked beyond delighted—almost like a madman.

“Not only are you beautiful, but you’re kind as well. Rumors really can’t be trusted.”

“Kind?”

Aveline, who had not shown him a single moment of kindness, repeated the word in disbelief.

At that, a peculiar smile appeared on the man’s smooth face.

His slightly upturned eyes curved into half-moons, and his lips arched in a perfect line, as if painted by an artist with impeccable precision.

A beautiful smile, but not a natural one. Like that of a fox with hidden intentions.

“Of course. You came alone alone to reclaim your hostage, didn’t you?”

“Now that is a complete misunderstanding.”

Aveline elegantly crossed her legs and leaned back leisurely against the plush fur behind her.

“Do you really think I would personally make the journey just to retrieve a mere errand girl? You don’t seem the type, yet you’re surprisingly naive.”

Her expression remained impassive, as if she did not need to feign sincerity—because she truly meant it.

At that, the man’s eyes curved mischievously as he asked,

“Then why did you come in person? All alone and without a hint of fear?”