“I was simply curious—what kind of nerve makes you think you can dare to threaten me? I also needed to silence you and, incidentally, see just how insane you really are.”

“So, what’s your impression now that you’ve seen for yourself?”

“Well, just as expected, you’ve got an insolent face.”

In truth, the man’s appearance was far different from what she had anticipated. However, Aveline had no intention of telling him that, so she simply shot back her response. The man, for some reason greatly amused, chuckled.

Feeling somewhat belittled, Aveline snapped at him irritably.

“Enough. Just get to the point—why did you pry into my identity and threaten me?”

“You’re rather impatient.”

“The point.”

“Well, what would a broker like me want? It’s obvious.”

The man slowly ran a hand down his sharply defined jawline before leaning forward from his seat.

Aveline found the sudden decrease in distance unsettling, but the man remained indifferent, resting his hand on the table and propping his chin on it as he continued.

“Hire me.”

A charming smile bloomed on his face. His dazzling silver hair and clear blue eyes shone unnecessarily bright.

Now that she saw him properly, it was clear he was using his beauty to full advantage. Most women—and even men—would undoubtedly fall for such an alluring demeanor.

But not Aveline.

She had spent her entire life looking at a face hailed as that of an unrivaled beauty. On top of that, she was engaged to a man widely regarded as an unparalleled handsome noble.

She gave her answer without hesitation, as if she had already predicted his offer.

“No.”

“I’ll do it for cheaper than any other broker. Half the price, guaranteed.”

“You think you can bargain with me over mere pocket change? I should at least commend your audacity.”

Aveline’s lips curled into a smirk of amusement. The scorn in her gaze was unmistakable.

Of course, it wasn’t mere pocket change. In the underground world, everything was dictated by money, and the sums exchanged were far beyond what ordinary people could even imagine.

But the truth remained—it held no real advantage for Aveline.

To the Duke of Evuteren, who owned vast natural mines in the North, it was nothing more than spare change. And he was hardly a stingy man when it came to his fiancée.

Even so, the man did not back down so easily.

“You’re going to need me.”

“For what…?”

“Clonay Huster.”

Aveline’s breath caught for a brief moment. Her mind worked at an unprecedented speed.

‘How does he know?’

Was it a deduction based on rumors? Or perhaps… Anika—?

“For the record, your little errand girl didn’t say a word. I knocked her out before she could even open her mouth.”

The moment he caught her showing the slightest hint of unease, the man’s smirk grew more relaxed as he continued.

“I’ll dig up everything as quickly as possible—anything that can bring down Clonay Huster. Even the number of rats scurrying through the holes of Huster’s estate. In short…”

“……”

“I’ll do all the dirty work in your stead.”

For an instant, the man’s blue eyes gleamed coldly, like a serpent eyeing its prey.

Then, as if it had been an illusion, his expression softened once more, and he smiled as brightly as the sun on a midsummer afternoon.

“So? Doesn’t this sound just a little tempting now?”

Aveline couldn’t answer right away.

Until now, she had gathered information through Anika. Not just confidential details about noble families, but also seemingly useless intelligence, such as the political climate of desert tribes—purchasing them at inflated prices on purpose.

It was partly to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, but more importantly, it was to create confusion so no one could guess who was truly behind Anika.

Because of that, no one could possibly sift through the irrelevant pieces and pinpoint the exact information Aveline actually sought.

And yet, this man had not only uncovered her true identity early on, but he also acted as if he could see straight into her mind.

As if he already knew precisely what information she truly wanted about Clonay Huster.

Of course, that couldn’t be. And yet, just the thought of it made her heart sink for a moment.

‘This man is dangerous.’

A loud alarm rang in her head.

He was dangerous. He had uncovered her secret maneuvers, which no one else had ever noticed, captured Anika, and ultimately lured her out. He was someone she needed to be wary of.

“And why are you going so far?”

“Obviously, for money. It’s not easy to find a client as generous with their spending as you in this business.”

“Is that really all?”

“I also happen to have a bit of a personal debt with Lady Huster. Or maybe?”

Maybe? Aveline narrowed her eyes suspiciously. He grinned boldly, as if he would fabricate a debt just to collect from Clonay.

“And, I find you more interesting than I expected.”

“What?”

“I have a weakness for beautiful but wicked women.”

“…….”

“A beautiful woman committing bad deeds while using me? Just thinking about it is thrilling.”

It was a compliment bordering on an insult. But the man grinned as if he was entirely sincere.

Aveline, who had been carefully scrutinizing him and deepening her suspicions, suddenly felt her mind go completely blank.

Her evaluation of this man—who had seemed suspicious from head to toe—was summed up in one simple conclusion.

He was just a mad pervert.

There was no point in applying logic or reason to someone like him—it would only lead to defeat.

“Your taste is appalling.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

The man flashed an innocent smile that didn’t match a single one of his outrageous words.

It was so guileless that Aveline felt her guard slipping, prompting her to clutch her robe tightly to snap herself back to focus. Even if she relaxed, she needed to remain cautious.

‘Because he’s still a dangerous man.’

And even worse, a mad pervert.

Of course, it was possible he had said those things on purpose to appear less serious. Which was worse, Aveline couldn’t be sure.

Either way, the key point was that this man was a danger. The question now was how to deal with him.

Aveline’s red lips slowly parted.

“Still no.”

“Ha, you’re a truly difficult woman.”

The man sighed in exasperation, then leaned back into his chair in a leisurely manner.

“What exactly don’t you like? I’m offering to serve you like your own hands and feet.”

“Well. You’re far too rude to be my hands and feet.”

Aveline’s voice was slow and languid, tinged with boredom.

“And far too arrogant for someone who claims to want a deal with me.”

For a brief moment, something flickered in the man’s blue eyes.

Meeting his gaze head-on, Aveline gave a proud command.

“If you’re so desperate, why don’t you beg for my mercy?”

She propped her chin on her hand and crossed her legs leisurely. The way she sat, bored and indifferent, resembled a goddess toying with the threads of fate for her own amusement.

The man did not laugh. Given his unpredictable behavior so far, she had expected him to burst into raucous laughter. It was unexpected.

Had he done so, Aveline might have slapped him across the face and left. A small disappointment crept in.

Instead, the man’s lips parted slightly in satisfaction as he murmured to himself.

“As expected, you’re not an easy woman.”

He stared at her for a moment, then rose from his seat and approached.

Aveline kept her gaze fixed on him indifferently as he drew closer.

For most dangerous individuals, the best course of action was to sever all ties and avoid them entirely. However, if they crossed a certain threshold, it was actually safer to keep them close and under watch.

This man was clearly the latter.

And if she was going to keep him nearby, she needed to establish the hierarchy. After all, she had no use for a dog that didn’t recognize its master.

At last, the man stopped right in front of her—and then, slowly, he knelt on one knee.

Lowering his head as if swearing allegiance, he spoke in a solemn tone.

“Please, grant me your forgiveness for my foolishness in treating someone as esteemed as you so rudely.”

Up until now, he had seemed like nothing more than a reckless scoundrel. Yet, when he chose to be respectful, his etiquette was flawless, without a single misstep.

Aveline gazed down at his silver hair, which gleamed starkly even in this dimly lit space, and slowly spoke.

“If you were a true gentleman, wouldn’t it be polite to start with your name?”

At her remark, the man lifted his head. Though he knelt before a woman who wasn’t even his lady, there was not a trace of humiliation in his bright expression.

“My name is Luen.”

“Your real name?”

“Yes.”

Luen.

Aveline repeated the name in her mind as she pressed her fingertips against her temple and let out a quiet sigh.

Keeping her nerves on high alert had left her feeling drained.

Meanwhile, Luen remained kneeling before her. Considering how insolent he had been all this time, his current obedience felt almost unnatural.

Not as a merchant proposing a deal, but like a vassal swearing loyalty to his lord.

‘What is this sense of discord…?’

The situation had already reached its conclusion, yet the lingering unease did not fade. On the contrary, it only grew stronger.

Aveline glanced down at Luen without a word, as if testing to see just how long he would remain like that.

Tok, tok, tok… The sound of her fingertips tapping against the table echoed for a while.

No matter how much time passed, Luen did not budge.

In the end, it was Aveline who raised the white flag first, eager to escape this stifling moment.

“You may rise.”

At that, Luen grinned and got to his feet, casually dusting off his palms before speaking.

“So, we finally have a deal?”

“Let’s just say we do.”

The moment she gave her reluctant confirmation, Luen smiled as if he had been waiting for it and offered a polite bow.

“It started off a bit rocky, but in the end, it’s an honor to be connected with you, Lady Croeta.”

“Indeed. It’s an honor for me as well, Luen Castaldia.”

The moment his full name was spoken—one he had never revealed—Luen, who had been grinning the entire time, suddenly froze.

The amusement vanished from his blue eyes, turning them as cold as a frozen lake. But Aveline, rather than being intimidated, felt utterly satisfied.

It was always gratifying to expose the secrets of someone who hid behind a mask of sly deception. Watching him freeze in place as his true identity was laid bare brought her undeniable pleasure.

With a dazzling smile, the kind she often wore when tightening her grip on someone’s weaknesses, she drove the final nail into the coffin.

“I never imagined that the owner of the Crimson Merchant Guild would be running around playing such petty tricks.”